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Relationship-Saving Tips For Sharing A Custom Closet

Sharing a closet goes smoothly with four habits. Set ground rules first, including who gets how much space. Purge before you merge, letting go of anything unworn in two years without sentimental value. Store off-season clothes in under-bed bins. Then create visual boundaries with different basket and hanger colors.

Updated February 28, 2019February 28, 20193 min read

Relationship-Saving Tips For Sharing A Custom Closet

Key takeaways

  • Agree on ground rules and space allocation before moving in together.
  • Purge before you merge: donate what has gone unworn for two years.
  • Store off-season clothes in bins under the bed.
  • Different basket and hanger colors create clear visual boundaries.

Having a custom closet is the dream. But what happens when your significant other moves in and wants to take over half of it? Sharing a closet can lead to daily arguments and long-standing resentments, especially if one person is very tidy and the other is messy. If you’re about to start sharing your custom closet with the love of your life, here are some tips for keeping your relationship intact as you configure your storage: ‍

Set Ground Rules

‍Before you start dividing space in your master closet, agree upon some rules. For instance, maybe you want to keep your dirty laundry separate or establish a “no clothes on the ground” rule. Having boundaries from the beginning may stave off passive aggressive behavior later on. You should also decide who gets how much space. If one of you is a clothes horse, it might make sense for that person to get an extra set of shelves. Don’t just take as much space as you want without discussing the rules first.  

‍Purge Before You Merge

‍Despite how organized your custom closet is, it can always runneth over. A major point of contention for a lot of couples sharing a closet is that at least one person simply has too much stuff. Before you combine your belongings in your closet, each person should do a serious decluttering. If you haven’t worn something in two years and it has no sentimental value, it’s time to donate or sell it. You’ll avoid a lot of strife if you purge old stuff before you enter into a closet cohabitation experiment.

‍Keep Your Closet Seasonal

‍Keeping out of season items elsewhere in your home can also help you avoid an argument over your custom-built closet. If your partner is trying to find space for their new jeans in July and you’re wasting tons of closet space hanging cable-knit sweaters... a conflict is bound to brew. Put winter boots, coats, and sweaters in storage bins when they’re not in use; it’s easy to tuck them under a bed. Likewise, your swim coverups and flip-flops should be unseen during cold months.

‍Create Visual Boundaries

‍Another point of contention for couples is one person’s stuff drifting into the other’s territory. Thankfully, custom closets make it easy to divide the space with clear boundaries. Fill your custom shelves with baskets in different colors – white for one partner and black for the other, for instance. Use black wooden hangers for one partner’s clothes and dark oak for the other. These colors complement each other while also creating clear visual boundaries.

Are you about to start sharing your beloved closet with a significant other? It’s time to think about how you’ll mingle your clothes without losing your minds. A solid organization plan and some clear boundaries are a good place to start, but a custom closet can seal the deal on your peace treaty. Contact Closet World today to learn more about how to transform your closet into a custom space built for two.

Frequently asked questions

How do couples share a closet without fighting?

Agree on ground rules before dividing space, declutter individually before combining belongings, keep off-season clothes elsewhere and use colors to mark each person's territory. A custom closet makes clear boundaries easier.

How should a shared closet be divided?

Discuss it before anyone claims space. If one partner owns more clothes, it may make sense for that person to get an extra set of shelves. Agreeing up front prevents resentment later.

How can we keep our things separate in a shared closet?

Create visual boundaries. Use baskets in different colors, such as white for one partner and black for the other. Choose two hanger finishes that complement each other, such as black and dark oak.

CW Man, Closet World's guide

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