You and your partner are at that stage in the relationship where you’ve decided to take things to the next level and live together. Having them move in with you means you get to see all sides of them, the good and the bad, every single day. Before you move in, comes the stressful process of rearranging things as you’re not just combining your lives, but also combining your stuff. To make this a fun and less hectic activity, here’s what you need to do:
The talk before the move
Clothes, gadgets, apparel, and decor will surely make the list of things to pack, but the crucial thing you have to bring with you from one house to another is your patience. By having it with you, the entire process of moving in with your partner becomes simpler. Should you argue while moving things, remember why you and your partner decided to move in together in the first place.
Coming to communication—a key to any long-lasting relationship and the events in them, remember to talk about everything and set up a robust framework. For example, do you want all boxes placed in one room and moved to the rooms later, or have the boxes placed in the rooms that their contents will be in? Simple questions like these need clarity, so you should have the answers. Lastly, be accommodating before stepping into new accommodation, and don’t turn down each other’s ideas when you’re deciding how the place is going to look.
If you’re moving into your partner’s house:
Think of it as a situation where you’re moving into a completely new space instead of their place. While they may be the original inhabitants, you—as the person moving in should have an equal say regarding what’s going to stay and go and feel that the house is yours as much as theirs. This means making space for your belongings, a task done well in advance of the move to ensure the mover feels welcome when they arrive.
It’s time for an inventory
While you speak to your partner, you’ll realise who has what and how much, thus helping you decide what you want to keep. There’s no way you’ll need two toasters, coffee tables, or ironing boards for example, so keep the newer one and donate what’s old. Moving in together with your partner is the right time for both parties to downsize and get rid of things that you won’t need in your new and beautiful shared space.
Remember, everything you’ll keep will add to the cost of your moving as the price will be quoted as per the weight (especially if you’re going to hire movers). There will also be a lot of stuff you’re going to be selling as well. Do so as early as possible as you’ll get more time to sell it before you move. What you certainly shouldn’t do is wait for you to move and delay getting rid of items just to see if they’ll look good in the new place or not. Letting go of stuff can be hard, but you've got to do what you've got to do. That said, you and your partner should be mindful of any emotional and sentimental attachment to certain items that you two have and discuss why they deserve to stay.
A space for you and them
Moving in with your loved one sure is awesome, but it’s important to have a space in that home that’s all about you where you can just be yourself. When you move in, you and your partner can create a comfort zone of sorts that you can call your own, with the rest of the house being a reflection of both your personalities. It needs to feel like both for both of you. For example, if you’re a gamer and your partner likes to unwind by reading a book, make sure that there’s space for them to read and fully immerse themselves in the fascinating novel that they’re reading and for you to show you’re the best player in the game. Establishing personal spaces, or even just personal home storage is a great way to organise your belongings without encroaching on one another and causing stress.
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Also read: Signs it’s time to take your relationship to the next level
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