*The a lot of exciting thing about He Said, She said is wondering if we’ll still be married by the end of each post! We both write on the same topic but only get to read the other’s work after it’s published.*

He Said:

Mark your territory and don’t back down… just don’t expect too much territory! just kidding. It’s all about communication.

She Said:

Encourage your partner to cull their clothes. then get another wardrobe!

Bonus tip: Don’t go to Ikea together without a plan.

What’s more, he says:

When we first moved in together, Mrs romance and I were in a share house that wasn’t exactly well-furnished.

In fact, we managed to consist of our clothing spread on a single free-standing clothes rail in the corner of our room in Paddington, Sydney.

That rail held all of our clothes, the poor old thing. All clumped together looking like a returns rack of a busy store’s changing room. but we’d organised that little rail a lot like we were ourselves: there were two clear hemispheres.

There was no bleeding into the other’s side of the rail. That way there was never any argument.

These days we’ve got a bit a lot more storage – and a lot a lot more clothes. but the same policies apply.

Whenever you step into a new place, there have to be ground rules. just basic ones. but if you get them in there from the start, you won’t have to worry about it all later.

For us, we worked out who was to have what half of the wardrobe, who was to have the drawers, who was to have the storage elsewhere – like the top of the built-ins or the other chest-of-drawers.

Of course, Mrs R needed a lot more storage than me from the start, so we had to aspect that in. Now, she has a whole wall unit and several boxes above the built-ins. and stuff under the bed. and stuff at her mum’s.

But that’s not the point, is it? The point is this: we don’t have that much storage, but the space we have is divided ‘equally’ (plus the percentage allowance the lady of the house needs).

And if either of us needs extra space, we talk about it and work it out together. We don’t just invade an already occupied area. history tells us this is how wars are started!

And another thing, she says:

So we live in inner-city Sydney. We love the location and for that we have sacrificed space.

We live in a one-bedroom apartment or condo and while it’s not huge, I love the space.

However, I believe though no matter how big your house is, there is always the issue of dividing up a shared wardrobe space.

Do you split it 50/50? So all his clothes hang loosely and yours are cramped in the other half?

I don’t want to reveal all my secrets here, as I’m pretty sure it may start a fight with Mr R, but I have a calculated technique from all sides to make sure my wardrobe is the way I like it.

First, encourage a wardrobe clean out. suggest your partner clean out their closet and ditch the 17 blue t-shirts they don’t need and old jumpers with holes.

Take this opportunity to do the same to your own closet. get rid of everything that doesn’t make you feel awesome.

Then offer to help your partner to put everything back in the wardrobe. This allows you to surreptitiously steal some of their space for your side. Your careful organisation will make it look equal, but still have a lot more space for you.

It’s likely this is still not enough space, so I recommend purchasing a separate wardrobe and / or drawers.

Most homes never have enough closet space. In an optimal world I would have a separate room for all my things (like styling You) but for now in our amazing city pad, I have to keep it minimal.

The greatest issue in our wardrobe is hanging space.

We only have one long rack and while the Mr R thinks I have a lot more space than him, I vow it’s equal. He has so lots of shirts!

At my end of the rack I have a rotating selection in there. I sort it at the start of every season, clearing out coats to make space for summer dresses.

Now when it pertains to purchasing that extra wardrobe, don’t go to Ikea unprepared, or without eating first. You don’t want to risk either of you feeling hangry.

How to manage a trip to Ikea with your partner is absolutely a tale for another He said / She said post.

How do you divide wardrobe space with your partner? Are you blessed with custom-made walk in robes, or do you struggle over the one hanging rail like us?

—

This He Said, She said post was suggested by Nikki from styling You. thank you, Nikki!

If any of you have a good idea for a He Said, She Said, send it to us and we’ll give you our insight!

 Image of Mrs R’s dream wardrobe by means of breakfast with Audrey