Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 3: Decide what to love
• Part 2 of 3: Creating the room layout
• Part 3 of 3: Creating a new home together
• Tips
• Warnings

It can be a lot of work to merge two households, but if you plan well it can be easy and even fun. First take a good look around and give away anything you don't use. Think about what things you really need to keep and create a fresh, new place with a combination of the things that are important to both of you. Merging two households can also mean that you do certain things a little differently than you are used to in order to live well with the other person.

To step

Part 1 of 3: Decide what to love

1. Discuss your expectations before you start. It may seem like a very logical job, a matter of fitting two lives and possessions together in a space like a kind of puzzle. But it can be quite an intensive process because sometimes you have to give up certain things that you are attached to. Changing your lifestyle to better suit someone else's requires compromising. Before you start merging, it is good to talk to the other about all the big decisions so that you can avoid tensions and rising emotions.
   • Talk about the vision you have of the new household. What will the house look like? Is every room filled with a combination of items from both of you?
   • Talk about possessions that are dear to you. Is there anything you think your partner will want to get rid of? Are there things you really don't want to get rid of? Make it all clear right away.
2. Go through your closets and storage rooms. Whether you're moving into a whole new home or moving in together, you'll likely have to use all the space. Set aside some time to make the most of your closets, storage spaces and other nooks and crannies. Think about what you need and what you don't and make a plan to get rid of everything you don't use anymore so you can move on to the next step. Make three stacks: "keep", "discard" and "not sure yet". You can revisit the "not sure yet" stack if you find that you have more space than you thought.
   • Take a good look at your things and consider how often you use them. A good guideline is to get rid of anything you haven't used for more than a year.
   • You can rent a stall at the flea market to get rid of all your surplus items and earn some extra. You can always give away what you don't sell to the thrift store.
   • Remember, it's much easier to get rid of all your junk before packing and moving. Merging two households is much easier if you've already made those decisions.
3. Get rid of duplicates. One of the hardest parts of merging two households is getting rid of things that you both have. Depending on how much space you will be given, you will likely need to get rid of bulky furniture and smaller items such as utensils. Who needs two toasters? Sit down together and make a list of everything you have duplicate and decide which stuff is the nicest or best. Here are some things you should probably consider:
   • Furniture: beds, cabinets, side tables, sofas, dining tables, chairs, etc.
   • Appliances: blenders, toasters, washing machines, dryers, coffee makers, etc.
   • Kitchen utensils: can openers, corkscrews, pans, dishes, baking tins, etc.
   • Textiles: bed linen, sheets, towels, etc.
4. Make a list of "important things". Some objects have a strong emotional value, and as silly as it may seem to keep them, you just don't want to put them away. Sit down with your partner and make a list of your "important things".If there are items that are large and take up a lot of space, discuss where you can put it and whether it is really necessary to keep it.
   • Make sure your list is not three pages longer than your partner's. You should both have about the same amount of "important things". This is an exercise in compromise.
   • Limit the "important things" to things you really need, and see if it all fits in the new space later.
5. Take into account clothing and personal items. Think about where you are going to store these, because you will have less space if you merge two households. You and your partner will both need to plan where to leave these items.
   • You may be used to having all the closet space in the world. But from now on, you may have to put different items in your closet every season and put away things you don't use very often, so that you both have enough space.
   • Consider keeping clothes that you don't often wear in boxes or vacuum bags.
   • Organize your papers and documents. Think about what you can now throw away.
   • Throw away or store items you don't want to become common property. If you start living together, you can no longer expect the same amount of privacy and you can no longer keep things hidden. If there are things that make you feel ashamed, consider whether you want to take them with you.

Part 2 of 3: Creating the room layout

1. Draw a floor plan. This may seem like a hassle, but it makes life a lot easier when you move into a new house or when someone moves in with you. Your drawing does not have to become a work of art; just draw a scale drawing of each room. Measure the spaces. Write the measurements next to the walls of your drawn rooms. This way you can calculate what fits in it.
   • Also draw the windows, doors, cabinets, kitchen unit, and other things that affect how you place your furniture.
   • Take photos, so you can better include the small details in your sketch.
2. Think about where the large pieces of furniture will be placed. Before you pack up and move, you decide where everything will be placed. Then you immediately know where to go during the move.
   • Measure the furniture to see where it fits. Look at your floor plan and visualize how each piece of furniture will look.
   • Cut small pieces of fabric from the bottom of your sofa, chairs and other upholstered furniture. Then you can see if it fits together without having to drag them.
   • View your furniture individually and not as they are now combined.
   • Follow the usual rules when it comes to setting up to make it a lot easier. For example, a sofa must have some space on all sides. Your bed should have a prominent place in the bedroom and not be pushed into a corner.
3. Find a decorating scheme that blends your flavors. Whether you're moving into a whole new home or moving into either one, a new decorating scheme can tie all of the belongings together into a cohesive whole. Maybe you can paint the walls, put up new lights, change curtains, and so on to make the house yours.
   • See if it is possible that you each also get your own place.
   • Determine which spaces will be shared, and get those spaces to express the personalities of both of you.
   • Have furniture restored. A good furniture maker can apply new upholstery, but also change the filling, so that the shape of the furniture is adjusted. Choose beautiful fabrics together, then you can better combine your flavors.
4. Box everything per room. Now is the time to put your belongings in boxes. Go across your room and put everything in boxes. Make sure to pack fragile items in something soft for safe transport. If movers are helping out, give them clear instructions on where to go.
   • Write what's inside on the boxes. For example, you can label everything for the living room with a purple label, and everything for the kitchen with a red label, and so on.
   • In the new house, have the boxes placed in the correct room immediately.

Part 3 of 3: Creating a new home together

1. Respect each other's preferences. Realize that merging two households involves compromising. Your lifestyle will have to change, but it doesn't have to be negative. It is very exciting. Help each other make the transition easier by respecting each other's ideas and by talking everything out when there are disagreements.
   • Don't start off on the wrong foot by being stubborn about things that don't matter. For example, if you have three immersion blenders, be prepared to part with yours.
   • Don't argue about keeping heirlooms. If your partner really wants to keep that ugly table his grandpa made, don't argue about it. It's an heirloom, so it must stay in the family.
2. Be open to the end result. The new household will be different from your old home, so don't expect it to be the same. You will have to merge your flavors to create a new, fresh style. With some good preparation, you can create a place where both of you will feel at home.
   • Instead of trying to recreate your old house, try to create a new and improved household. If someone moves in with you, be prepared to make a lot of changes.
   • Remember that from now on you will have to make joint decisions about how to improve the space.
3. Involve the children. Merging multiple households can be very difficult when children are involved. The children should also be involved in certain decisions. It can be stressful, so it can be good to give them a voice in the decor of the new home. Let them help with packing, furnishing and creating their own space.
   • Let the children decide which toys to keep and what to give away.
   • Make the children feel like the new house. Tell them moving is a great adventure.
4. Make a plan that is tailored to your needs. Merging households means merging lifestyles. Consider what factors in your lives will be affected by it. Have an idea of ​​where you can pursue your hobbies, where your pets will be staying, and so on.
   • If you have pets, where do they sleep? Where is their food and drink?
   • Determine in advance who will use which cupboard or storage space, so that you can start your new household tidy right away.
   • Make a plan for sharing "extra" spaces, such as a room that can be used as an office, hobby room, or library.
5. Share the space and don't be dominant. Don't make it a nasty experience by wanting to be in control. Make sure that everyone can contribute to the new house. You both need to feel at home.
   • Let the person with the least things also contribute to the house by, for example, choosing the colors, determining the layout or designing their own space. For example, an office, reading room, fitness room, etc.

Tips

• If someone comes to live with you, make enough space in the wardrobe, medicine cabinet, linen cupboard, storage space, etc. Clean and tidy it up before he / she arrives.
• After merging, see if you can buy something new together for your common household.
• Living together can cause a lot of stress. Try to take a moment to celebrate. Give your partner a nice plant or something else for the house. You can also open a bottle of wine together or go out for dinner.
• Throwing away things you got from family members may not be very convenient. If you really don't have room for it, ask if they want it back. Sometimes people want it to stay in the family. So don't just give it or throw it away.
• Estimate the amount of storage space each will need. You don't just put furniture and appliances together, everyone has clutter.
• What is important to one person may seem nonsense to another. If you don't want your partner to mistake your childhood collection of Donald Ducks for scrap paper, let them know clearly.
• Upholstered furniture often has an extra piece of fabric on the bottom or behind the cushions.
• Send changes of address to friends and family.
• Some thrift stores come to pick up old furniture.
• Make sure you don't have pictures of you with your ex in frames. Put the photo in an album and use the frame for a photo with your new sweetheart.

Warnings

• Discuss in advance how you will pay the bills from now on. Financial stress is one of the top reasons for relationship failure.
• Don't make all decisions alone. It is now also the house of the other.