When living in a shared flat, it is essential to establish clear rules and consider several tips to maintain harmony in the house. This applies even more in shared spaces, such as the kitchen or bathroom. As you may both need to use these spaces, it is essential to have some rules regarding cooking and cleaning.

The kitchen is the heart of the house, and it serves several roles, which is why both you and your flatmate will need to use it on a daily basis. However, as the kitchen is a high-traffic room, it can be quite challenging to accommodate the needs of both.

This is why, if you don't want an unclean and messy cooking space, it's a better idea to consider some tips that will surely help you in this regard. In this article, we will delve deeper into the subject, so keep reading.

Communicate

Effective communication is crucial when sharing common areas in a flat, as it can reduce the likelihood of arguments. Sharing a room and maintaining harmony in the house requires both good communication and compromise. Additionally, it is a good idea to set some things from the start. So, ask questions like, 'Do you like to cook meals?' 'For how long?' 'How does a clean kitchen look in your vision?' By having the answers to these questions from the start, you can be better prepared and set realistic expectations about living with a person.

If you keep the dialogue open from the start, you can really have a happy and healthy life with that person. Every individual is unique, and each sees things through their own perspective. So, what is clean to you might not be the same for another person.

Additionally, check if the kitchen units can meet the needs of two people. If not, it might be good to make a small investment and look for kitchen cabinets with enough room to store the items of both of you. If you're also looking for a budget-friendly option, consider Kitchen Warehouse Ltd, where you'll find a great variety to suit every budget.

Set some cleaning rules

One of the most frustrating things is coming home to a messy kitchen because your flatmate has cooked a meal and didn't clean up after themselves. Perhaps because they were tired or short on time. The reason doesn't really matter in this scenario, as the reality is the same: You have to deal with the mess. This is even more likely if you need to use the kitchen right away and your flatmate is not home to clean.

This can be frustrating. Therefore, it is a much better solution to establish some cleaning rules from the start to reduce the likelihood of encountering this scenario. Discuss your expectations and ensure you specify that you would like the dirty dishes, splatters, and spills to be cleaned in a timely manner. If not, your job will get even more difficult, as they will be harder to clean. Additionally, spills might leave stains if not cleaned promptly, which is certainly something you don't want to happen.

You can also create a cleaning schedule that alternates weekly, ensuring your house looks amazing. If not, and you want to finish the tasks sooner, it can be a good choice to clean together. In this way, you will have fun while cleaning and will also complete the task much faster. This is a win-win scenario, isn't it?

Decide whether you have a shared budget to buy food

When living with another flatmate, you also need to decide whether you want to have a shared budget and eat from the fridge what you wish to, as you both paid for it. The other answer is to keep your stuff separate. There is no secret recipe that works for all, and it really depends on how well you get along.

If you want to keep things separate, you can have the top place in the refrigerator, and your flatmate the next one. This way, you won't mix your items, which can be a happy scenario. However, for others, it can be a great idea to set a budget and buy things together. This approach can also reduce the chance of food waste.

When you buy your things, you might not eat all the food, especially in the case of ingredients used on a daily basis. In this regard, sharing the most common ingredients, such as condiments, oil, sauces, juices, or butter, can be the best solution. This can also help you save a few dollars.

Set a cooking schedule

If you and your flatmate share similar food preferences, you can also create a cooking schedule. This really makes things easier, as you can switch the days when each of you is cooking. If this idea doesn't work for you, or if some of you have allergies, you can eat the food you cook separately. A cooking schedule can also be beneficial in this regard, making things much easier in terms of scheduling your cooking time and using the kitchen.

At this time, everyone will have enough time to cook and a suitable place for it. This is especially true if the kitchen is small, as it may not allow flatmates to cook different meals simultaneously.

Have fun, and eat together

Having a flatmate is always a fun experience, as you get the chance to spend time with someone, learn many valuable lessons, and even discover yourself better. Therefore, it's a great idea to make the most of this process and have fun. Additionally, it can also be beneficial to sit down once a week and have a meal together, as this allows you to strengthen your relationship. There is nothing worse than living with a person you don't really get along with, as the chances are high you will get into many arguments. Instead, spending more time together can increase the chances of becoming good friends.

We hope this article provides you with valuable information and practical ideas to help you utilize the shared rooms more effectively.