The decision to move in with your romantic partner can be a difficult one, whether that’s because you don’t know if you’re ready or because you don’t know if parents or society will approve.  However, over half of all couples today do decide to live together before they get married (if they get married).  If this big moving day is on the horizon for you, here are some important tips to keep in mind when it comes to decorating your new shared space.

Before you even decide upon a place, you will want to take an inventory of the furniture that you own separately so that you will know how much space you need.  This will most likely include the sometimes painful process of narrowing duplicate items down to one.  For instance, most couples would not have a use or space for two dining room tables, so you will need to decide which one you will keep.  It is better to not assume that you will keep yours and get rid of your partner’s, even if you consider yours to be “better” they may not feel the same way.  Instead, be up front in talking about it with your partner and come to agreements together about which furniture you will keep and which you will give away or sell.

Consider Getting a NEW Place
Rather than one of you moving into the other’s place, you may want to consider getting your own, new place that you can always consider “ours.”  This is not just for emotional reasons, like past associations or old flames that are associated with the old place.  This can also be important for decorating.  Your partner may not have the same tastes as you but if he or she moves into your place, they may not feel comfortable trying to change the décor that you have already worked hard on.  Therefore, it may be better to have a new place that the two of you can decorate together from scratch for a style and space that belongs to both of you.

Give Each Other Space
When you are moving into your new place, be sure that it is big enough.  Even if you are moving in together in the hopes of saving money, you will want to be sure that the place you choose has enough space for both of you, even if that means springing for an extra bedroom.  Moving in with someone can be stressful and that stress is compounded if you feel like there is nowhere to escape from your partner.  Whether it is an office or even just a corner of the living room that belongs to you, it is important to make these allowances.

No matter how compatible you are, it is going to be a challenge to live with someone at first.  There will be a learning curve to getting used to the quirks and habits that you didn’t have to deal with when you were living apart.  However, starting with a serene and shared sense of style and décor can be a great first step on your way to cohabitating bliss.

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