Young couples have it easy. They get engaged after college, register for shiny new coffee makers and stackable dishes, and move on with their lives together. But if a couple has two separate homes already stuffed with stuff, the thought of merging two households is a little more daunting. Ease the burden with these tips for moving in together.
4 Tips for Merging Households
- Make a list. How can you start your life together on equal footing? Make a list of your must-haves (“I spent 6 weeks refinishing that dresser; it’s staying.”), your duplicate items (we promise, you don’t need an extra couch in the living room), and the furniture that could use an upgrade (joint purchases are a great way to make your new house feel like a shared home). As you work through your stuff, make compromises about what stays, what goes, and what needs refurbishing.
Converge styles. Chances are you and your partner have different decorating tastes. Brainstorm creative ways to combine your individual tastes into something that works for both of you.- Take pictures. If you’re moving into a new house, walk through the space, snapping pictures of the rooms. Sit down together and decide whose dining room table or quirky love seat would be a perfect fit for that cute corner of the kitchen. If one of you is moving into the other’s home, have a frank discussion about creating a shared space, not simply filling the gaps.
- Keep an open mind. Don’t throw a wrench in the works because you loathe that antique barrel table your significant other loves. Talk it out, but be willing to make a few concessions for your new home.
Don’t let the “something old” in your union be a fight about stuff. Call Mr. Junk and start your life together with a clean (or at least less cluttered) slate.
