Planning to Move-in Together? Storage Tips for Newly Cohabiting Couples

So, you've decided to take the leap and move in together - exciting, right? Whether you’re blending two full apartments or just a few boxes and a dog, cohabiting brings both joy and… a surprising amount of duplicate furniture. The good news? A storage unit can help make this transition smoother, tidier, and way less stressful. Here's how to make the most of it.

1. Take Inventory Together Before the Move

Start by making a complete list of what each of you owns. Compare furniture, kitchenware, electronics, and decor. Do you both have coffee tables? Two microwaves? Three blenders? Identifying duplicates early on gives you a head start on what stays, what goes, and what might need a temporary home in storage.
Pro tip: Use a shared spreadsheet or app to keep track and avoid disagreements later.

2. Prioritize What You’ll Actually Use Daily

Your apartment only has so much space. Be realistic - if one of you owns a massage chair and the other has a standing desk, you might not have room for both. Instead of making quick donation decisions or forcing everything into closets, consider placing lower-priority items in a storage unit until you’ve settled in and figured out what fits your lifestyle.

3. Store Sentimental Items (Even If They’re Not “Pretty”)

Grandma’s rocking chair, your childhood yearbooks, or that vintage comic collection - some things are emotionally valuable but don’t match your partner’s aesthetic (or your new living room). That’s okay. A secure, climate-controlled storage unit can protect sentimental items until you have space or decide how to incorporate them.

4. Avoid Overcrowding Your Shared Home

Moving in together is a fresh start. Don’t fill your home with clutter from day one. Use a storage unit as a buffer space while you settle into a routine. It helps you:

• Keep seasonal items (like holiday decorations or winter gear) out of the way
• Rotate wardrobe pieces for limited closet space
• Store large items until you decide whether to sell or repurpose them

5. Keep Backup Furniture Handy for the Future

You may not need two sofas today, but maybe one will be perfect in a future house, office, or nursery. A storage unit lets you hold onto quality furniture without overloading your current space - and without causing arguments over whose couch gets the boot.

6. Choose the Right Storage Size

For most couples, a 5x10 or 10x10 unit is plenty for extra household goods, decor, and keepsakes. If you’re combining full apartments or downsizing from a house, you may want to go bigger. Not sure what size is right? Many facilities offer size guides or can walk you through what fits in each unit.

7. Label, Organize, and Create an Inventory

Label every box clearly, and make an inventory list. Organize the unit with accessible pathways, so if you need to grab your air fryer or hiking gear mid-year, it’s easy. Consider using clear bins for commonly accessed items or seasonal rotations.

8. Set a Review Date

Six months after moving in, check your storage unit together. What’s still worth keeping? What can be sold, donated, or finally brought into your home? Storage works best when used intentionally - not as a dumping ground.

Moving in together is a major relationship milestone and a little storage support can go a long way in keeping it smooth and stress-free. By keeping only what you need in your new space and storing the rest safely, you’re setting yourselves up for a happy, clutter-free start to your next chapter.

Located near Middletown, New York in Orange County? Give All Seasons Self Storage a call at (845) 342-5017 today for storage you and your partner can rely on for years to come.