Moving in Together Tips for Couples Sharing a Space
Moving in together is a huge step in any relationship, and like any other step, it’s not without its challenges. You’re going into an entirely new lifestyle and living side by side with someone you love.
Before you merge your lives, a few tips can help to ensure a smoother transition. It’s always best to be prepared, and you can spend more time enjoying this new phase of life, including what to do with the belongings and furniture you’ll both be bringing with you.
Discuss Your Expectations Before Moving In
Before moving in together, figure out how you’re going to fit the two together by communicating any expectations you might have. Making a list and outlining expectations ahead of time takes care of any stressful surprises. Your list should include finances, housekeeping, and furnishings.
Discuss openly what you’re going to do with the space and how you’re going to take care of it. Items not immediately needed or those that contribute to a cluttered space can find a suitable temporary home at a self storage facility.
Creating A Functional Living Space Together
Maximizing your space and minimizing your clutter helps to keep the space balanced, it minimizes clutter-related conflict, and it gives you space to live harmoniously together.
- Designate specific spaces around the home for certain activities is an easy way to keep things functionally organized
- Create separate work spaces if you’ll be working from home
- Make use of self-storage for sentimental items you may not have room for, seasonal décor, and extra furniture to keep spaces clutter-free and organized for your everyday use
- Research organizational strategies can help to make the most of your space, and one strategy worth your research efforts is self-storage
- Storage containers help to keep cabinets and countertops clutter-free
- Storing seasonal clothes like coats, boots and sweaters during the off-season frees up closet space
Utilizing self-storage makes it easier to seamlessly fit your two lives together into one cohesive and happy one.
Establishing Household Responsibilities
Establishing household responsibilities is one of the key points that couples should figure out before moving in together. Chores are often a big source of conflict, no one partner wants to feel like the workload is off-balance. Communication about household responsibilities should be kept open, and any changes or concerns should be discussed with fairness in mind.
Cleaning routines and chore charts aren’t just for managing a household with kids; they work just as well for an adult couple. Write out your responsibilities, add them to the schedule, and make easy work of regular housekeeping.
Managing Finances Together
One of the most important expectations to discuss before moving in together is how you’re going to divide financial responsibilities. Determine what your long-term financial goals are together, how you’re going to merge finances for a house budget, and how your expenses will be divided equitably for fairness and success.
Utilities like electric, water, sewer, and trash and rent or a mortgage payment are the most obvious expenses, but make sure to consider entertainment expenses, food budgets, insurance, and any other shared expenses as well.
Maintaining Individual Identities And Personal Space
Personal space is necessary for health and happiness, but it can be tough to make adjustments and maintain balance when moving in with a partner for the first time.
Even with limited space, you don’t have to give up your hobbies. Self storage is a solution that keeps your hobby supplies safe while not taking up too much daily space in your home. You can move your hobbies in, move them out, and they’re always available when you need them.
Love to camp? Your tent is safe in your storage unit.
Can’t find somewhere to store your mountain bike? It’s just a short trip away.
Even more delicate hobbies like scrapbooking, crafting, or restoring antiques can be kept safely outside of the home when not in use by using self-storage.
Balanced togetherness and individuality is key, so boundaries should be respected to ensure both partners have the space they need. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, even while you’re living together.
Self storage makes the merger between two lives easy. It allows you to compromise without throwing away anything you want to hold on to. Self storage makes organizing your new space a breeze. It even keeps your seasonal clothes or décor well taken care of during the off parts of the year. If you’re planning on that big move-in soon, looking into self storage is one of the easiest steps you can take to ensure a smoother transition.
Looking into self-storage for your upcoming move? Have belongings you’re not sure will fit in your new space? EZ Storage has just what you’re looking for. Check out our three Boston area locations.