Mi Casa, su casa

Moving in with a partner, friend or family member? Sure, you can wing it - or you could avoid unnecessary drama with our expert's seven golden rules for cohabitation

- ROBYN MACLARTY

Ah, cohabitation... Moving in with your amor is the stuff magical memories are made of... like discovering their preference for storing underwear in the freezer, or their strange aversion to using the laundry bin (for laundry), or their quasi-religious attachment to 23 different kinds of hot sauce.

MERGE MANIA!

Whether you’re shacking up with your soulmate, your bestie or (gulp) your mother-in-law, sharing a living space is about more than merging Netflix algorithms (that deserves an article all of its own). It requires decisive enthusiasm, a truckload of tolerance and, most importantly, a plan.

“Moving in with someone is a big step! It can be exciting, and it is certain to be an adjustment,” says Cape Town-based relationship specialist and coach Jane Mills. “Setting up a few intentional ground rules from the get-go can make the transition so much smoother than just winging it.”

So, before you start drawing battle lines over laundry etiquette, or passive-aggressively labelling half the contents of the fridge, consider Jane’s golden rules for cohabitation. Just a few strategic conversations and agreements now could save you from the kind of situation that makes The War of the Roses movie look like a sitcom.

WALKING ON EGGSHELLS?