Me and DP have had 5 major arguments in 20 years together, and 3 of them have been about decorating / stuff for the house.
We have very very different tastes, alongside which she likes a lot of stuff whereas I like rooms without much clutter. On top of that I don't like change, so my first impulse is always to say No (this is an impulse I've spent my life trying very very hard to squash)
So what used to happen is that DP would say "What do you think about getting a flibertygibbet". I'd reply "I don't think we need a flibertygibbet."
Now I'm expecting that if DP really wants the flibertygibbet, she'll argue her case. But instead she just says "OK then" so I assume she wasn't actually that bothered about it. Meanwhile I've mentioned about getting some knicknacks at various points, she's said "Do we need a knickknack?" and I've argued my case successfully.
Repeat ad-nauseum for 5 years and we've got a house with very few flibertygibbets, plenty of knickknacks and one DP who's about to burst into tears because I'm about to pooh-pooh one too many flibertygibbets.
And so the argument begins. She feels that I get everything my way, nothing in the house is how she'd want it. I feel that she doesn't speak up enough, that she's too much of a pushover and I'm happy to compromise as long as I know that she actually wants the damn flibertygibbet.
We resolve the argument. I agree to say yes more readily, she agrees to try to fight her corner. I feel massively bad that DP doesn't feel at home in her own home. We buy a bunch of flibertygibbets and I find myself repainting a room I painted 6 months ago because it turns out she really did care about that particular shade of maroon.
And then 9 months later she asks "What do you think about getting a whoojamawotsit?". I'd reply "I don't think we need a whoojamawotsit." and so the cycle begins anew.
3 times we went around this merry-go-round. And the last time I came to a realisation. I just don't care that much. Or rather I do, but I care less about living in a house decorated to my tastes, than I do about not making my DP feel like shit.
So now I just say yes to everything. I live in a house teeming with flibertygibbets. I will happily be the one to compromise because unknowingly I let DP compromise for 15 years.
I'd be even happier if DP had just been willing to fight her corner over the things she wanted though. I'm not saying my situation is the same as yours @Lollyp2 , but on the off chance it is, then speak up about the things you want, and just buy the bloody doormat.