Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Step1
Keep Your Wardrobes Separated
Whether you separate your clothes or use two closets, it is a lot easier to manage two wardrobes when they are not mixed together. It may seem romantic to finally be sharing a closet with your soul mate, but the first time you are late for work because you can’t find your black cardigan, those warm fuzzy feelings quickly fade.
Step2
Have a Yard Sale
This doesn’t mean sell off your prized possessions for the sake of space and organization, however, after a wedding, a yard sale is a smart idea. A new couple is usually blessed with dozens of gifts from family and friends, some of which they already own. The best rule of thumb is always “out with the old, in with the new.” No one needs two toasters (three if you count the one your spouse brought from his bachelor pad), so having a large yard sale will help make a place less junky and more palpable during the transition of combining spaces.
Step3
Make Lists for Chores
Keep a running list for the two of you regarding household chores. Separate the kind of chores that require daily, weekly, and monthly attention. Try to keep the list fair and balanced, but at the same time realize that it takes two to disorganize a house and it definitely takes two to keep it clean.
Step4
Invest in a Storage Unit
Sometimes the first home is a small apartment or other living space. In that case, a couple may have several heavy pieces of furniture that, while in the way now, may be used in the next living space. There are several available storage options for furniture, including temperature controlled units.
Step5
A Place for Everything and Everything in Its Place
This tried but true adage is especially important for new roomies. Make sure you keep like things together (i.e. all bills and financial records should be stored together in an office space). Especially when the first home is small, it is easy for the space to seem askew when only a few things are out of place.