![\"Young](\"https:\/\/www.cubesmart.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Couple-1024x633.jpg\")
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You\u2019re finally ready to join forces, pool closet space and unite your bills, once and for all. Moving in together means you get to see each other\u2019s habits, and you learn what makes you tick. It also means taking that next, exciting step in the relationship that makes it all worth it. It\u2019s not always an easy transition so we\u2019ve put together a few tips to consider when making the new transition.<\/p>\n
Follow these 10 tips for living together and the only thing you\u2019ll need to figure out is who\u2019s going to take out the garbage.<\/p>\n
Moving in together is a big step. The most important thing to do to prepare your move is opening up the line of communication. Talk about your expectations early on. If you\u2019re moving into a new-to-both-of-you place, what are your must-haves on the home search list and what could you give up? If you\u2019re moving into one of your existing homes, how do you plan to divide the space? What can be given away, cleaned out or put into storage ahead of time to make room? Which items do you both love and want to prioritize? What possessions will you integrate and what areas will be devoted to your discrete effects?<\/p>\n
You don\u2019t want to encounter last-minute surprises that will require you to leave beloved furniture on the curb. Be sure to take pictures of the new space and measure any areas where you plan to put sofas, shelving units or beds. Consider drawing up a floor plan to sketch in which pieces\u2014from furniture to art\u2014will go where. With this piece of moving advice, you can avoid future headaches on move-in day.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019ve lived in your own place for any amount of time, you have your own set of household items, ranging from kitchenware to towels to TVs. Which of the duplicates will you keep? Discuss who has the better-quality, better-fitting, most-useful-for-your-life-together items. You can create a moving checklist along the way of items you may need to keep as well as items you may need to forego.<\/p>\n
Yes, you love your grandmother\u2019s china collection\u2014just as much as your partner loves their father\u2019s vintage magazine rack. Just know that some things are worth fighting for and other issues will require compromise. The end result is about living together<\/em> with both individuals feeling that their needs are respected.<\/p>\n If this is the beginning of a lifetime together, there\u2019s no benefit in dancing around financial issues. How will you deal with money? What kind of debt are you bringing to the table, and how will this move affect your monthly budget? What expenses can be minimized or eliminated? What will you individually pay for and what will you cover together? Be generous with your partner but also practical\u2014don\u2019t sign up for expenses you can\u2019t afford.<\/p>\n Unless either of you is an interior designer, it can be a little tricky to blend two different styles. Our advice is to keep everything simple. Find the looks you can agree on, including some unifying colors to tie it together. If you can\u2019t find common ground, then agree to each pick spaces that you will decorate.<\/p>\n Often, the ability to fit everything in a limited space without it looking like a hodgepodge requires inventive solutions. Maybe that little bookshelf you kept in your office would work as a nightstand, or vice versa. A favorite chair can be painted or reupholstered to fit in to the color scheme. A trunk can become an end table with extra hidden storage space. If your new place doesn\u2019t offer a lot of square feet, then it becomes important to maximize storage by making furniture versatile.<\/p>\n Figure out what you\u2019ll need to make the house truly feel like home. Plan to shop together for the throw blanket that will make the living room more comfortable or the rug that will marry the mid-century modern couch and the Shaker table.\u00a0That way, each person feels like they had their say in making the place come together.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re not ready to give away your doubles or no-longer-neededs, find self-storage near you<\/a> and tuck them away\u2014especially if you think this living situation could be temporary. Anything that you might save for a family member or a bigger home can go into a unit. Your seasonal or sentimental items that take up too much space can also be kept safe for the time being.<\/p>\n Inevitably, whether you\u2019re only one or both of you are moving, you will have to get rid of some personal possessions to make the new situation work. Feel good about decluttering and find a donation center near you so they can find a new home. The following are some resources in the D.C. area for donating your goods:<\/p>\n You\u2019re finally ready to join forces, pool closet space and unite your bills, once and for all. Moving in together means you get to see each other\u2019s habits, and you learn what makes you tick. It also means taking that next, exciting step in the relationship that makes it all worth it. It\u2019s not always […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[649,655],"tags":[773,986,985],"class_list":["post-13756","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-dc-moving-guide","category-relationships","tag-dc","tag-living-together","tag-relationships"],"yoast_head":"\r\n5. Be Real About Money<\/h2>\n
6. Keep Design Simple<\/h2>\n
7. Be Creative<\/h2>\n
8. Bring It Together<\/h2>\n
9. Store, Store, Store<\/h2>\n
10. Let It Go<\/h2>\n
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