If you’ve been dating your partner for a significant period, the exciting conversation of when to move in together has likely come up. While there is no exact right timeline, over half of American couples say a good range is between six to 18 months.
If you are considering taking this next step, prioritize discussing expectations around living together, including your living arrangements and how to navigate any conflicts that may arise.
SpareFoot surveyed American couples for insights into what moving in together looks like and the challenges most couples face. Ready to learn how to make this transition smooth and successful? Keep reading for valuable tips and insights.
Key Takeaways
- 52% of American couples say six to 18 months is the best time frame for moving in together, with 27% cohabitating within a year.
- 65% of couples find dedicated personal space crucial to successful cohabitation.
- Lack of space is the biggest challenge for 36% of couples consolidating times when moving in together.
- Couples say it’s most important to align on communication & conflict resolution before cohabitation.
46% of Couples Regret How Soon or Late They Moved In Together
If given the chance to do it over again, 28% of couples said they would have delayed living with their partner, while 18% would have moved in sooner.
Moving in with a partner is a big commitment, and how long to wait before moving in together differs for every relationship. Our survey found that 27% of couples believe six to 12 months is the most appropriate time frame for moving in together.
This arguably short average timeframe can be attributed to multiple factors, including the age of couples and the rising cost of living, which grew 2.7% in the last 12 months. The cost of living is higher for single individuals in the United States, providing another incentive to cohabitate.
For many, moving in sooner is a practical way to lower costs and to further test their compatibility before making a long-term commitment.
When asked if they could revisit their decision to move in with a partner, over half of couples would stick with the same timeline.
Nearly a Third of Couples Value Clear Communication Prior to Cohabitation Most
Once you have decided on the right timeline for moving in together, the next step is to align your expectations. Knowing the right questions to ask before moving in together will help guide your conversation.
Our survey found most couples believe the three expectations to align on are:
- Communication & conflict resolution (28%)
- Finances & budgeting (24%)
- Life goals & future plans (18%)
These expectations are key to the success of any relationship and are vital in the context of living together. Establishing clear expectations reduces potential conflict and helps couples navigate new challenges like consolidating their belongings and adjusting to a lack of personal space.
Individual priorities, such as personal space, are also crucial expectations to align on. 65% of couples find dedicated personal space crucial to successful cohabitation. It is important to make your new space feel safe and reflective of both your wants and needs.
Personal Space + Time Frustrate Couples Moving In Together Most
Living full-time with a partner is a significant shift to daily routines. This change creates new challenges for couples, and 57% say the most common issue is around personal space and time. That’s why clear communication and strong conflict-resolution skills are so important for navigating this transition.
Sharing space is a very intimate experience, and regardless of how often you spend time with your partner, living together full-time will be an adjustment. 37% of couples say dedicated personal space is very important when living together.
Creating both physical and emotional space within your home is vital for an easy move. Thirty-six percent of couples say lack of space is a major concern during this process. Decluttering is a beneficial strategy for balancing clutter and preserving personal space within your home.
But for those special items you refuse to part with, create space in your home for you and your partner using a storage unit.
52% of Couples Keep the Nicer Version of the Same Item
For most couples, lack of space is a major roadblock to consolidating households. Many have duplicates of household furniture or items when moving in together. Deciding which to keep can be difficult, especially if you are emotionally attached to certain objects.
While the ideal process for dividing possessions depends on what you have accumulated, our survey found that 52% of couples prefer to keep the nicer version of each item. It is a practical way to make the process easy and fair.
Other considerations when organizing your home include how to split up spaces like a bathroom, general storage, and sharing a closet.
Even after consolidating your items, space constraints in small living situations like apartments impact what you can store. When combining two households, self-storage is a useful tool to maximize your space and keep sentimental items or things you may need in the future.
Tips for a Smooth Transition to Cohabitation
Combining households is a complex and stressful process for all couples. There are many logistics to worry about, including finding a place to live, finances, lifestyle adjustments, and coordinating two moves. Careful planning and open communication with your partner is key to a smooth transition. Here are a few tips to ensure your moves are stress-free:
Align expectations
Everyone has their own expectations of what living with a partner looks like. Your expectations may differ from your partner’s, so aligning expectations for location, costs, and household responsibilities is important for an easy transition. For many this may mean meeting in the middle of what each partner wants.
Communicate
Living full-time with a partner exposes you to different sides of them you may not have experienced before. These changes can lead to conflict, so developing healthy conflict resolution skills like active listening and compromise is key to navigating any challenges you may face.
Declutter your home
Decluttering is an important logistical element of merging households, and our decluttering survey found organizing sentimental items is the #1 obstacle for 30% of Americans. Self storage is a great way to keep sentimental items without them taking up space in your home.
If you aren’t sure how to declutter your home, start small with manageable areas like bathrooms or closets.
Create a shared space
Moving into a partner’s space can create a power imbalance since only one of you is unfamiliar with the space. If possible, consider finding a new place together that fits both your needs and wants.
Prioritize personal space
Learning to share space can be difficult for couples moving in together, especially if it is your first time living with a romantic partner. To make the transition easier, create personal space for each person within the home and schedule time for yourself.
Depending on the size of your space, this could be dedicated personal areas, decorating zones, or scheduling time for individual activities.
Streamline Your Move-In Process With Self-Storage
Every couple has a different timeline for when to move in together. It is an exciting but complex process with many steps, including finding the right apartment and planning the logistics of moving your respective belongings.
Having the right amount of storage space is useful during this transition. It offers flexibility for rotating belongings and storing excess items. With different types and sizes of storage units available, couples can find the perfect solution for their needs.
Whether you are using it to speed up the process or to store things you don’t need currently, self-storage is a great tool for couples moving in together.
Methodology
The survey of 667 adults ages 18 and over was conducted via SurveyMonkey Audience for SpareFoot, LLC on January 7th, 2025. Data is unweighted and the margin of error is approximately +/-3% for the overall sample with a 95% confidence level.
SpareFoot
SpareFoot is the largest marketplace for storage, making it simpler to move and store your stuff. Our website lets you compare the most storage options nationwide and pick the best solution for your needs, whether it's traditional self-storage or full-service storage.
