When you’re organizing with roommates, you could be in for double trouble. Whether you’re sharing a home with one other person or several, navigating a shared space can put your organizational prowess to the test. Luckily, with some planning, teamwork, and effort, you can have a harmonious home in no time.

Read on for our expert tips on how to organize a home with roommates and you’ll be living in harmony in no time.

Plan Ahead

Every move takes some planning, but when it comes to moving in with a roommate, thinking ahead can save you a lot of stress after you settle in. Since two (or more) people living in the same space will likely result in duplicates, you’ll want to coordinate who is bringing what.

“Given that most apartments offer minimal space, you will want to talk with your roommate before moving in to ensure that you don’t end up with duplicates of larger items like furniture,” says Laura Coufal of professional organization company The Simple Daisy. “It’s a good idea to space-plan together and decide what furniture items will fit comfortably in your apartment without overcrowding the space. You may also want to assess any doubles of smaller items and store the duplicates in another location so the excess does not clutter up your small apartment.”

Vertical storage can be a useful tool when sharing a home with a roommate. Read our tips for this technique on our blog.

Designate Shared Vs. Solo

“When living with a roommate situation, I wouldn’t go out and invest in super high quality items just yet, especially items that can be “common use” like cups, silverware, or plates,” says Victoria Yost, the blogger behind Thyme and Tenderness. “When getting together with roommates, each person should have two of something that can be “common use” that they contribute. Keep your items labeled and try not to spread out in your shared spaces too much. Keep your private items in your own room, and common use items simple and minimal.”

Some items that you might consider common use could be:

• Silverware, plates, and cups.
• Cleaning supplies.
• Tools and hardware.
• Cooking appliances and gadgets, including pots and pans.

Embrace a Chore Chart

When you’re organizing a home with roommates, cleaning can be contentious—but it doesn’t have to be that way!

“Have a discussion with your roommate about organizing and tidying styles,” says Coufal. Are they neat and clean or less concerned about having a tidy space? While some people are visual and like to have things stored out where they can be seen, others may prefer that everything be tucked away so that spaces remain clean and clutter-free.”

You might use an online spreadsheet, laminated chart, or a good old fashioned chore wheel attached to the fridge to make sure everyone knows their responsibilities for the day, week, or month.

“When it comes to common areas, always think about “the golden rule”- treat others how you want to be treated,” says Yost. “Put away the things that you personally use. Clean up after yourself. If it can take you less than counting to 20 to do something, just do it!”

Yost also says that “What you don’t want to happen is one person becoming the SOLE cleaner. Try to regularly have meetings or chats with your roommates and share what domestic duties you like and what you dislike. Something you might like to do might be something a roommate dislikes doing, and something they dislike doing might be something you like doing. If faced with this situation, you could swap tasks.”

Apartment hunting with your BFF or future roommate? Search like a pro with our expert advice.

Know When to Get Personal

Personal style is great, but when you’re organizing a home with roommates, it’s important to know your limits. If you have different tastes than your roommate, decorate common areas in neutral tones and play up your style in your personal space.

A simple label maker can be a great way to mark items that may make their way out of your room (they are also great for food items and leftovers).

You might want to invest in a storage solution like a set of cubbies to install by the front door to keep separate shoes, umbrellas, keys, and other small personal items you want to keep track of.

Be sure to check out our tips for stylish small space decorating.

Use an App to Organize with Roommates

A shared space in the digital age makes organizing a home with roommates easier than ever. There are a host of apps you can take advantage of, including:

• Roomster: Rent a room or list one in your home.
• Splitwise: Easily split and pay shared expenses like rent, groceries, or utilities.
• Tody: Digital chore charts to keep things clean.
• Listonic: Plan grocery lists with roommates for seamless shopping.
• Cozi Family Organizer: Share information, images, and schedules with a group.

Check In

While you don’t have to be best friends with your roommates, having a connection beyond your shared space can go a long way to having a happy home. Avoid misunderstandings with regular check in meetings where everyone has a chance to be heard, work through disagreements, and ensure things are feeling fair. If there are issues like a future guest visiting or going out of town, this is a great way to keep the lines of communication open.

You can also establish a “communication hub” in a common space like the kitchen. A simple blackboard or whiteboard with a few slots for storage can help roommates on different schedules stay on the same page and make sure notes, mail, maintenance requests, and other important info gets communicated.

When you utilize these handy tools to get your shared home organized and roommates on the same page, you’ll be living in a happy home before you know it.

Whether you’re dealing with duplicates or just struggling in a shared space, you can always rely on one of our self storage rentals to help you make the most of your home.