Home Decor
How to Merge Two Households Successfully
Setting up a household by yourself can be tricky; setting it up with someone else who has his or her own stuff, ideas, likes and dislikes can sometimes be impossible. It takes a lot of organisation, compromise, and concessions to get it right, but fear not! We’ve put together some handy tips to help you out!
Take Inventory
If you’ve both lived by yourselves before you decided to move in together, then make a list of things you have and sort them in terms of, for example, kitchen > appliances, to make sure that there are no duplicates - no one needs two kettles after all! Also, get rid of anything that you haven’t used in a while or which is unwanted or broken.
Assess the Space
Taking measurements and really observing the space you have to work with is crucial in making the most of what’s available. If you both have a sofa and only one of them fits in the space you want to allocate to it, but you like the other one better, then either buy a new one or make do with what you have. It’s all about being reasonable and practical.
Have a Plan
Sorting out a house takes time and lots and lots of patience, particularly if you’re doing it with someone else. Sit down and discuss what’s on your mind; talk about things like style, feel and design, and finalise every decision before you start working on making it just right.
Involve Each Other
The kitchen may be your ‘domain’ while he’ll be more at home in the garage, but do take the time to involve each other in your design decisions. Look through magazines together to find styles you both like and set time aside from your schedule to shop together.
Take Your Time
A home is never fully done up; there will always be something to change or fix or buy, so take your time and enjoy the process. Stick to your budget and make sure that whatever you get is because you both want it in your new home.
Have you successfully merged two households? Or did you both struggle to give and take? We’d love to hear more!
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