Decorating With Roommates

Tips on Dividing the Decorating Costs for Roommates

By
Relationship Advice Expert April Masini

I am moving to the east coast with a friend of mine in the Spring. We're both excited, of course, and have finally found an apartment, but we will have to buy nearly all new things. I sense this could lead to some sticky situations, so how should roommates go about furnishing together?

Sincerely,

Two's Company

Dear Twos Company,

Roommates -- can't live with 'em, can't live without 'em. They provide companionship. Sometimes they become best friends. Sometimes they become lovers and sometimes they become spouses. But sometimes ... they become enemies.

To make the best of your roommate, follow these Do's and Don'ts when decorating:

1. Set up the ground rules from day one. You can always revisit them and change them, but it's much easier to start working from a structure than from a fly by night model of communication.

DO -- Decide who gets to decorate what part of the home and what parts are to be jointly decorated. That's one idea of a way to start.

DON'T -- Run out and start buying big ticket items without checking on the decorating plan with your roommates.

2. Respect differences.

DO -- Open your mind to your roommates taste if it's not yours. Try to find positives in the roommate experience -- through decorating.

DON'T -- Get divisive when it comes to taste and differences. Don't criticize or speak negatively about your roommates' decorating choices.

3. Look to the future.

DO -- Remember that this is not the last living situation you will be in. Try to go with the flow when your roommate wants to do something you hate.

DON'T -- Feel victimized. Remember that this is a temporary situation, as most roommate situations are. It's for now.

4. Set budgets.

DO -- be upfront and honest about what you can spend and what you want to spend.

DON'T -- agree to get involved in decorating budgets that you can't meet. It's much better to set boundaries and deal with them up front than after you're in debt because you didn't say no at the right time.

April Masini -- nicknamed "the new millennium's Dear Abby" by the media, is author of the best-selling books Date Out Of Your League and Think & Date Like A Man, the two (just released) step-by-step dating and relationship manuals, Ideas for a Fun Date and Romantic Date Ideas, and the critically acclaimed dating and relationship online magazine www.AskApril.com.

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