Eight Tips For Moving In With A Partner

Moving in with a partner can be exciting as well as nerve-wracking. After all, you love each other and have spent so much time together, but living together can change the dynamic. If it's the first time you're going to share a space with a loved one, you might want some tips for a smooth process.

Before moving in with a partner, discuss your aesthetic desires for your future home. From there, you can decide which furniture and decorations you plan to bring or buy for your new space. More importantly, remember to discuss your budget, delegate chores, and respect one another’s personal time.

Don’t worry if you disagree about a few things along the way. As long as you respect each other, compromising shouldn’t be too hard. Follow along as we highlight eight tips for moving in with a partner.

What To Do Before Moving In With A Partner

1. Take Inventory

Merging your belongings as a couple can be difficult if you don’t plan ahead of time. That’s especially true if you’ve never lived with a romantic partner before. However, the process will go easier if the two of you take inventory of your belongings. This includes everything from clothing and decorations to furniture and household supplies. You may not be able to fit everything, so you'll need to decide what should make the cut.

This will require some honest conversations about space and practicality to get off on the right foot. For example, if you both have a big couch and your first home together has limited space, you'll likely have to get rid of one. This should be relatively easy if you and your partner communicate well. 

2. Develop A Shared Aesthetic

As a couple, is having a stylish space important, regardless of your home’s size? Whether you have a studio apartment or a two-bedroom home, you can personalize the space with an style that fits your personalities. It may take some trial and error, but merging your tastes and desired aesthetics is the best way to do this. You can make a mood board and share some pictures of homes that represent your desired aesthetic.

From there, talk through the examples and split the difference between your visions. It’s also important to prioritize practicality, spatially and financially. You don't want to argue about space and money right after moving together. Don’t feel obligated to settle on an aesthetic right away, as it may take months or longer to know what you want as a couple. However, you should at least talk about these things before the move to minimize surprises.

3. Establish A Budget

Money can strain any relationship, but it doesn’t need to. Since you must both pay rent and bills, you should have some important conversations about money. This could be as simple as starting a list of bills and your rent portions to see how much you spend per month. Use those recurring costs as a baseline, and calculate other expenses, such as food and toiletries.

Set some money aside for date nights and savings. You may not open a joint bank account, and that’s okay, but you must at least plan a budget. It’s better to have these conversations before moving in together to avoid unwanted surprises and unnecessary arguments. Whether you have a joint account or not, you must trust each other to pay the rent and bills on time.

4. Delegate Chores

Moving in with a partner for the first time is incredibly rewarding, but only if you keep up with your responsibilities. The never-ending cycle of chores can be tough when you live alone, but now you have another person to share the load and keep a clean, stress-free home if you stay on top of chores. This is much easier if you delegate tasks, so you both know what you’re responsible for.

Consider your schedules, talents, and comfort levels when divvying things up. Your partner may feel upset cleaning the bathroom and dusting the apartment after a 12-hour shift. Talk about what you’re willing to do and ask what you can do to be the most helpful. Keep in mind, you can revisit the chore schedule as needed based on work and life obligations.

5. Maintain Personal Space

While you’ll be shareing your new home with someone new, it's important to maintain some personal space. You may think it’s impossible to do this in a small apartment or even a one-bedroom house. Open communication and mutual respect between you and your partner can make it easier. You can designate areas for each of you to relax individually after work.

This may not even require a conversation, as it can develop naturally, but it’s worth talking about to be safe. Even just a corner of the living room can work if you relax there alone after work. You can create personal space by wearing headphones and trusting that your partner will respect your decompression time. It may take some trial and error, but figuring out how to coexist without constantly engaging is important.

6. Compromise

Part of being in a relationship is knowing you can’t always have it your way. Finding a happy middle ground between you and your partner’s ideals doesn’t have to be hard. Compromise is key, and it can help keep you happy individually and as a couple.

Meet each other halfway about everything from chores and kitchen etiquette to budgeting and sleep schedules. It’s hard to live together and thrive if one of you constantly sacrifices comfort for the other person's needs.  

7. Create An Open Line Of Communication

Individuals change, and so do couples. Continual, open communication with your partner long after moving in together is key. You may change your mind about chores, budgeting, and aesthetic choices, and that’s okay, especially if you trust and respect each other enough to broach these topics without fear of arguing and retaliation. Listen to your partner if they feel overwhelmed by chores and need you to step up more. This goes both ways, and communication can prevent many unneeded tense moments.

8. Don’t Forget About Romance

Moving in with a partner can diminish some of the mystery and longing between you as a couple, but it doesn’t need to. Small romantic gestures can go a long way to maintain romance and keep a happy household. That can be as simple as cleaning the apartment and stocking your partner’s favorite snacks while they’re gone.

It’s also important to plan date nights to get out of the house and keep the magic alive. On a tight budget, you can cook a nice homemade meal for your partner and light some candles. Living together doesn’t mean romance is dead.

Summing It Up

Taking inventory of your belongings and decluttering as needed is important before moving in with a partner. Compromising on your shared aesthetic, furniture, decorations, and chore checklist is key. Split the chores fairly, plan a budget, and give each other plenty of space to keep the peace and maintain the magic.

Related Guides:

• Mistakes To Avoid When Moving Into A New Home
• 11 Money-Saving Tips When Moving