Putting two households together can be quite tiring, but with careful planning you can do it easily and even feel fun. First of all, get rid of it and give the things you no longer use to others. Decide which items you need most and create a room with a new atmosphere that combines the equipment of each occupant of the house. In the end, the union of the two households will lead to slight changes that are intended to allow you to live well side by side with the other householders.
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Part 1 of 3: Decide Which Items to Keep
Step 1. Discuss your desires before starting
Merging two households may seem like a relatively easy task, that is, a matter of fitting the residents together with common property in the same room like puzzle pieces that fit together. This process can be quite stressful as one of the parties may have to give up some of the stuff. Adjusting your lifestyle to that of others is a learning process that requires many compromises. Before you start the merging activity, talk to your potential house mate to discuss all major decisions that will be made so that there are no overly emotional or tense situations in the future.
- Discuss your plans for new household appliances. How does the new house look? Will each room have a combination of shared items?
- Talk about things you both love. Are there any belongings to your spouse that you are likely to get rid of? Are there any of your items that really need to be preserved? Find the answer right away.
Step 2. Clean your closet and storage space
You may want as much space as possible to meet your needs whether you are moving into a completely new home or when someone else is moving into your home. Take the time to remove all the contents of closets and storage spaces as well as all the nooks and crannies where you might be hiding items that are rarely used. Determine what you need and what you don't, make a plan to get rid of unnecessary items right away so you can move on to the next step. Make three groups of items marked as “keep”, “throw away”, and “not sure”. You can check back into the “uncertain” pile if you get more space than originally planned.
- Go through all the items and determine how often you use them. As a reference, you can get rid of any items that haven't been used for more than a year.
- Holding a secondhand sale at your doorstep is a great way to get rid of unnecessary items and earn money as a result. Make sure that you have announced the sales plan on the sales forums so people will know about it. Used goods sales are often done in the spring, summer, and fall when the weather is good. You can donate the rest of the unsold items to people in need.
- Keep in mind that it will be easier for you to get rid of items before packing up and moving. The activity of putting together household items will become easier if you make a decision first before you start regretting when you find items that don't work.
Step 3. Get rid of items that have the same function
One of the most difficult parts is deciding whose property to keep when you and your housemate have the same things. You may have to give up some large and small pieces of furniture such as kitchen utensils. Who needs two toaster ovens at once? Sit down together and make a list of all the items that have the same function, then decide which items are most worth keeping. Here are some home furnishings you may want to consider:
- Furnishings: bed, dressing table, side table, sofa, kitchen table, chair, etc.
- Electrical appliances: blenders, toasters, washing machines, dryers, coffee makers, etc.
- Kitchen utensils: can opener, wine bottle opener, pots, frying pans, baking utensils and more.
- Fabric accessories: sheets, towels, etc.
Step 4. Make a list of the items you really want to keep
Some items have such strong sentimental value that even if they sound irrational, you still can't leave them. Discuss with your housemates and make a list of the things you want to keep. If the items on your list are large enough to take up a lot of space, discuss where to place them and considerations for keeping them.
- Make sure that the list you make is no more than three pages long than your housemates. Each party must have the same rights in determining the goods to be preserved. This is one way of practicing compromise with one another.
- Reduce the list of items that you will keep by turning them into a list of most needed items. Then go back and check which items fit into the new room.
Step 5. Consider clothing and personal items
Think about where you will store it while you only have a limited amount of space after the merge. Both you and your housemate will need a plan for where to store these items.
- You probably used to be free to use the entire room in your wardrobe before there was a mix-up. But now you may need to set up a storage location for clothes that are rarely used and move clothes that are not used anymore so you can make room for your housemates.
- Consider storing clothes you rarely wear in a storage box or using a compact vacuum bag.
- Organize all your documents and notes. Determine which documents are in good condition if you have several years of financial records.
- Get rid of or keep items that you think will be rarely used. Now that you are living with someone else, you cannot think that you will get the same personal freedom as before. You also cannot keep certain items confidential. Therefore, if you have something that seems to be embarrassing, reconsider the decision to keep it.
Part 2 of 3: Planning the Division of the Room
Step 1. Draw a house plan
This activity may seem a little complicated, but it will definitely make life easier when you decide to move to a new place or when someone else moves to yours. The floor plan you create doesn't have to be perfect. You only need a scaled sketch for each room. Measure the new room you will occupy. Record the size of each room along the walls of the room in your sketch. This way you will know how to place each item.
- Include windows, doors, cabinets, kitchen cabinets, and other amenities that can affect how you arrange the furniture in the space.
- Take a few photos to help you remember every detail so you can more easily pinpoint the exact location for each item.
Step 2. Decide where you will place the large piece of furniture
Before you start packing and moving, you have to determine where to put each piece of furniture. This way, you can put each item right away when you move to a new place without having to place everything at the front of the room while waiting for you to think about where to put it.
- Measure each piece of furniture to estimate where it will be placed. Review the floor plan you have created and visualize an estimate of how each piece of furniture will be arranged.
- Prepare small pieces of fabric from the bottom of the sofa and chairs. This method will make it easier to determine the suitability of the furniture before you actually move it.
- You should consider the arrangement of the furniture without being influenced by the way it is currently arranged.
- You can follow the general rules of how to decorate a room to get a fun decoration model. For example, on all sides of the sofa there should be an empty area surrounding it. In the bedroom, your bed should be the main focus without having to be placed in the corner of the room.
Step 3. Find a decorating theme that both parties like
Whether you are planning to occupy a new house or the same house, you should choose a decoration theme that can combine all the tastes of the residents to get a compact home atmosphere. You may want to paint the walls, install new light fixtures, new curtains, and so on with the aim of creating an atmosphere that is acceptable to everyone in the house, not just one person.
- Check if it is possible to provide a private room for residents of the house.
- Decide which room will be the family room and is intended to represent each personality of the occupants of the house.
- Consider repairing damaged furniture. Furniture workshops are not only able to change the sofa fabric, but can also add or replace the foam filling so that the shape can be changed as desired. You have the opportunity to choose the type of fabric together that suits the tastes of all residents of the house.
Step 4. You should group your items into storage boxes based on their space
Now is the time for you to move all the items into the box. Pack items from every room in your house. Make sure that fragile items are wrapped in soft materials to keep them safe during transportation. If you hire a house moving service, make sure that you have provided a complete explanation of the new location of each piece of furniture.
- Put a tick on the item box and remind other people who moved with you to do the same. For example, items that will be placed in the living room are marked with a purple label, items for the kitchen are marked with a red label, and so on.
- Make sure that the boxes of goods are placed in the right rooms in your new home.
Part 3 of 3: Creating a New Home Together
Step 1. Respect the wishes of each householder
You must realize that household unions require compromise. Your lifestyle can change, but that doesn't mean it's turning in a negative direction. You'll find that the changes can be fun. Each member of the household must help each other so that the process of change takes place more easily. The trick is to respect each other's thoughts and immediately discuss it if there is a conflict in it.
- Don't blame each other and be stubborn about trivial little things. For example, if you have three food mixers, you should be proud to be able to give up yours for the sake of the household.
- Don't fight about wanting to keep a valuable relic. If your partner wants the table specially made by his grandfather to be kept, then don't worry about this, even if you don't think it's worth it. The table is a relic of the family so its place must always be in the middle of the family.
Step 2. Be open about the final result of the decorating activity
Your new home doesn't have to be the same as your previous life and you shouldn't think so either. You can combine tastes with your partner to create a fresh new atmosphere. With careful planning, you can create a fun room for the whole family.
- Strive for a new, better household without trying to copy the previous one. If your spouse moves into your home, be proud to make a big change.
- Remember that you need a joint decision on how to further optimize the space in your home.
Step 3. Get the children involved
The union of two households can be difficult for young children. When children are involved in household integration, they will be involved in decision making. The union of the household may make them uncomfortable. It is helpful for them to understand that they have the right to say what they want about the room they like. Involve the children in the activities of packing, decorating, and preparing a private room for them.
- Let the children decide which toys to keep and which to throw away.
- Get the kids excited about their new home. Tell them that moving house is an exciting adventure experience.
Step 4. Create a personal plan that fits your needs
The unification of the household also means the unification of lifestyles. Think about all the areas of your life that might be affected by it. You should also have a plan to accommodate each new family member's hobbies.
- If you have pets, where would you put them? Where will you place the cage? Where will you prepare the food and drinking water?
- Determine in advance who will get this or that type of wardrobe and also the type of storage space before you start the moving process. This way you can organize all your new household items neatly from the start.
- Make a plan to divide the remaining space that is still empty, for example a corner of the room that can be used as a place for children to study, a craft room, or a reading room. Determination of the use of the room depends on your wishes.
Step 5. Be willing to divide the room and don't be selfish
Don't create an unpleasant experience out of self-interest. Make sure that everyone has the right to the house and that no one is trying to control the other. Both you and your partner should feel completely comfortable in your new home.
Give freedom to someone who brings a few items to choose a decorating theme, spatial arrangement, or decorate his personal room such as a work room, reading room, sports room, and so on
Tips
- If someone is moving into your house, you should take the time to prepare the room along with a wardrobe and jacket, medicine box, blanket cabinet, storage area, drawers, and so on. Clean and tidy up the entire room and its contents before he comes.
- Once the merging activity is complete, you can buy something to share in your new household.
- The activity of uniting households is a stressful one. Take some time after this activity is over as a celebration. Give a plant pot or something else to your partner to be used to decorate the house. You can also celebrate with a bottle of wine or take the time to have a romantic dinner with him.
- It's best not to throw away family-given items even if there is no room to accommodate them. Call a sibling or parent to ask if they might be able to get the item back. Sometimes an item is indeed given to be kept in the midst of the family. Therefore, don't think that you can just get rid of the item.
- Estimate how much storage space each person will need. You don't just combine furniture and household appliances because everyone has personal needs.
- Items that you think are important may not necessarily be considered valuable by others. That's why it's a good idea to let other family members know if you're worried that your childhood comic books might accidentally end up in the trash.
- Some furniture pieces have excess fabric stuck to them. You can check under the furniture or under the pads where the seat connects to the back of the chair to get the desired piece of fabric. Another way is to look for hidden parts of your furniture. You may have to cut off the excess 0.3 cm from the end. Heed the warnings so you don't damage the furniture. Some types of furniture are indeed equipped with additional cloth as material for patching when needed. You can also ask for the availability of pieces of fabric at the place where you bought the furniture.
- Submit a change of address card. You should be careful about announcing that you are living with your partner to friends and family. Some people and family members who think conservatively may find it problematic if you and your partner lived together before marriage.
- Some thrift charities are willing to take furniture home, but you'll need to contact them weeks to two months in advance. Make an appointment so they can come at the time you agreed. Even if you only have a few items to give, you still have time to add a few more.
- Don't forget to move all the special items left by your ex-spouse. It will be very uncomfortable if you and your partner find the first pair of Christmas decorations that do not represent the two of you at all.
- This merging activity is a good time to make sure that you no longer keep photo frames with your ex. Paste the photo in an album and reuse the frame for another photo.
Warning
- Talk about billing costs and how you manage your finances up front. Financial problems are the main cause that interferes with marriage.
- Don't make your own decisions and don't give other people a chance to have an opinion. Don't forget that this is also their home.
