How to make room for the one you love

If you currently live alone in a one-bedroom unit, there’s a good chance you have too much stuff. Even a 450 square foot home can contain too many possessions. So what happens when you and the one you love decide to pull the trigger and live together? Your closet doors don’t shut, the unit’s about to burst at the seams. You need to get rid of a bunch of stuff and so does your partner.

With that in mind, we’re sharing a few tips to help you and your partner cut down on your possessions to make the shift to the new lifestyle as smooth as possible.

1) Cut your closet in half

One bedroom usually equals one closet. You’re used to having free reign over every hanger, shelf, and cubby. Get ready to part with half (it’s only fair). The minimalism challenge is always a fun game to play if you have a hard time getting rid of stuff. It’s easy; if there are two weeks leading up to the move-in, every day you throw out or donate another item. For example, on day one, you get rid of one thing. On day two, you get rid of two things, and so on. It really adds up once you get to the last few days when you’re getting rid of 12 things in a single day, then 13 more the next.

When it comes to donating clothes, there are a few techniques. We like the frequency measure. If you haven’t worn something in the last year, it can’t be that important to you. Some people apply different time frames, like five or six months, but in Toronto that’s not enough time for a season to change.

2) Compare big ticket items

You and your partner should each make a list of big ticket items like furniture and appliances, then compare them and keep the better versions of each duplicate. You could end up with a new and improved couch or a larger HD television.

These lists should be made and compared well before moving day because it takes longer to offload larger pieces, especially if you’re trying to sell them. It can actually be one of the first things you do when you decide to move in together. It will get the process going and make it a reality!

3) Do the same thing for books and movies  

“Who owns books and movies these days?” If that’s what you instantly thought upon reading the above heading, then skip down to tip number four. If you suddenly realized you may not be able to keep all your beloved books and movies, then continue reading.

For movies, just have your partner come over and pick out all the ones they already have. Then you can give them away to friends, try to make a few bucks selling them online, or trade for something you need on Bunz.

As for books, we understand people develop closer relationships with them compared to tangible versions of movies. Books look good, they smell good, and you invest more time with them than with a movie. If you can keep all your books, we say do it. If there just isn’t enough space, get rid of the ones that you want to get rid of; don’t get rid of an edition of a book that you love just because your partner has that title.

4) Explore different storage solutions  

If the tips above didn’t make enough room for the two of you in your one-bedroom, then you need to explore different storage solutions. An obvious and favourite solution would be under-bed storage. If your bed is already off the ground, all you need are bins that fit. Otherwise, you can invest in a new bed frame together with drawer storage. There are also the IKEA pull up storage beds that allow you to lift the mattress and store things beneath it.

Other creative solutions include coffee tables and ottomans with enclosed storage, bench seating with storage in the seat, and wall mounted storage.

We hope these tips help you make room for the one you love!