The moving in together chat couldn’t have gone better, and you can’t wait to start feathering your love nest. Taking your relationship to the next level is a beautiful thing, as is streamlining your belongings so you merge them, fair and square.
Especially if one of you is moving in with the other, or the other’s parents, or your parents. Even if it’s your first flat or house together, you might not be able to squeeze it all in. Trip hazards are passion killers.
There are bound to be duplicates in your stuff and at least some kind of downgrade on wardrobe space is to be expected, and Dumfries Self Storage can make all the difference.
Here are a few tips from us to help you merge your belongings.
Operation declutter
Before you even think about who’s bringing what, you should both seriously consider a clear-out of all that ‘just in case’ clutter, not that it all must get the old heave-ho, even if there’s no room for it where you’re headed.
This all operates on a spectrum, of course, with the stuff that hasn’t seen the light of day for many moons probably going into the ‘donate to charity’ pile or given away, while the more precious stuff can be stored with us. Try not to be too cavalier about giving stuff away during a time (the first bloom of love) when it’s thought that our critical faculties are dulled or switched off entirely. You might come to regret it once you do come back down to earth.
Always a pleasure
Sharing household chores will likely keep the romance alive longer. Areas in which you each excel and enjoy often dictate how chores fall, like one of you being the better cook, while the other does the laundry and the vacuuming. And all of this is made easier in an uncluttered environment.
Compromising has a practical element to it, like when discussing duplicate kettles, blenders, tin openers – do you really need two of everything?
You might want to ask yourselves which one is of better quality, or newer, or it may come down to aesthetics, and whose fits the new space best. Then there’s sentimental value, and it might be that you decide to keep two of the odd thing, one as a backup.
Brush folks
And speaking of aesthetics, if one of you is moving into the other’s house, it might be a good idea to decorate in colours and styles that you both enjoy, so that it feels more like both your homes. This is especially good if your tastes are a wee bit adrift, as it might help you merge your tastes, even a wee bit?
One of you being more minimalist, the other maximalist.
Okay, so this might not go totally smoothly, but it’s part of the fun of getting to know one another.
There are usually compromises to be reached, although it’s often more the province of one partner, interiors, so it can be easier not to try and win and just to let the partner with the most interest in interior design to take up the cudgels here.
The case for self storage
If you store with Dumfries Self Storage, it will take an immense amount of pressure off you and your burgeoning relationship, at what is a sensitive time, and one where you’re distracted and not really interested in thinking much beyond this first chapter.
That’s why a self storage unit in Dumfries is a lifesaver when you must downsize, and while your first crack at cohabitating might not have all the room to accommodate all your stuff, who’s to say that you won’t move into somewhere bigger in the near future? This might be a mere stepping stone, and that’s why having a storage unit on hand to keep it all in rather than throwing it away on a whim, is an idea to fall in love with.
Do yourself a favour and take a leisurely approach to this process. A storage unit is very much a neutral zone, and it’s here that any disputes can be removed rather than resolved in a way that is one-sided, only for the resentments to build and then surface in the future. This isn’t the time for wrangling.
Space and sentiment
Especially if this is your first time cohabiting, you might need more space than you think, and feel like your shared living space likewise reflects your individuality.
Too much furniture is a huge passion killer. Stubbed toes will only leave you hopping mad, so you might want to measure up before you move in with chests of drawers, sofas, tables, appliances, shelves, TV units, etc.
Then you can store them with us for the future once you’re a bit more settled and are using the rooms in ways that suit you as a couple.
It usually takes a while before you know which rooms you’re going to use for what, and it’s good to be flexible should one of you need to start working from home in future, etc, and a storage unit will give you the extra bandwidth you need, as you can increase or lessen it as and when. This gives you both a bit of breathing space and is less taxing on any new relationship.
Certain belongings hold sentimental value, markers of your life before you met, as well as since.
Keepsakes, photos and souvenirs are, therefore, an important part of any new home together, and respecting one another’s need and right to have some of them in your new home is part of this contract. They don’t have to dominate, and, again, can always be stored safely with us if one or both of you is cut from a nostalgic cloth.
Happy campers
Camping, sports gear, Christmas paraphernalia – precious cupboard, loft, or shed space shouldn’t be taken up by such stuff, and that’s why you might find yourself calling our magic number or booking online. We’ll gladly talk you through the best options.
As well as not eating into all that valuable space, it will also mean it’s kept in good nick, rather than getting shoved in wee spaces where it could get damaged.
Get a system
Sounds simple, but if you agree on where things are kept from the start, it can mean far less argy-bargy and falling out over petty stuff.
Wardrobe malfunction
Allocate space in the wardrobe and in chests of drawers, and try not to ever overstep the mark by invading each other’s territory.
The heart of the home
All good parties end up in the kitchen for a reason – this is often at the heart of any home. That’s one reason for both of you to have a handle on where all the utensils, pans, and whatever else live because it creates a stronger sense of togetherness. You want an incoming partner to your home to feel like part of the furniture.
Bathroom tales
Joan Collins says separate bathrooms are what keep her fifth marriage from going the same way as the others. But we don’t all have that luxury, but you can get caddies to hold all your toiletries.
Go on, admin it
Not being able to lay your hands on important documents and paperwork can also be a source of stress and tension further down the line. You can also store that with us if you really don’t have anywhere for it, or there is, but it’s right next to the cat’s litter tray.
Get creative
Even after decluttering and using a storage unit, you might be able to make use of hidden home storage, like ottoman beds, over-door organisers, boxes under beds, vertical shelving, etc. These little storage pockets can make a world of difference and can also make the home cosy and creative.
Revisit your stuff in storage after three months
Once you’re settled in and blissfully happy, it usually takes about three months to identify what you need and what is gathering dust. Then you can bring it along to your storage unit, and take stuff out that you’ve missed at the same time.