Roommate Etiquette: Space and Storage

Take up only the fraction of space you are entitled to. If there are four of you and four shelves in the pantry closet, you each get one self - and no more or less. Same goes for shelves in the bathroom and refrigerator. The drawers and cabinets in the kitchen should be used for things like dishes, pots, silverware, etc., and can be used for overflow from the pantry if necessary. But always be mindful of how much room you're taking up.

When you first move in, err on the side of taking up less space than you feel entitled to. Everyone is going to accumulate stuff over time, and you'll want room to put it all without invading someone else's shelf. And if other people are moving in after you, make sure they have room to put their belongings. It sends a pretty bad message to a person when they find their roommates didn't leave space for them.

Avoid bringing things in bulk when you move in. They may help you save money, but they take up a lot of space. If you must stock up at Costco or BJ's before moving in, consider only taking half and having a parent send you the rest when you run low, or waiting until Thanksgiving to get it. The other alternative could be to keep most of the stuff in your room until you need it. Avoid storing huge cartons of milk or juice in the fridge.

On the issue of storage, always store food - especially refrigerated food - in airtight, plastic containers, or wrapped in foil or plastic. Never put pizza boxes in the fridge, they take up more room than they have to and make the whole fridge smell like pizza. Don't use pots to store your leftovers, transfer anything cooked from the pot to a plastic container so other people can use the pot for cooking.

Some items can understandably be kept on kitchen counters, especially if cabinet space is tight, and as long as they're kept neat in appearance and don't take up a lot of room. Cooking sprays, oils, syrups, condiments, etc. can be kept in a small cluster, or along the wall, or even along the back of the stove if it's raised like a shelf. Other foods suitable for shelves or tables are fruits that don't require refrigeration such as apples, peaches, plums, etc., and birthday cakes - as long as everyone's on the same page about what's fair game and what isn't, and as long as there's still space to prepare food on the kitchen countertops.

Minimize what you store in the bathroom. Try to only take up your share of space - for example, if there are four of you and six shelves, each person should use no more than one and a half shelves; if there are four of you and four drawers, each person should use one drawer. Only keep one of each shower product in the shower (per person). That means one bar or soap or bottle of body wash, one bottle of shampoo, one bottle of conditioner, and if you use it in the shower, one bottle of facial cleaner. Don't try to use suction shelves, they never work and just fall when other people are using the shower.

Apart from food, kitchen gadgets, and toiletries, try to keep your belongings in your bedroom. You should feel free to take things out into the common room, but unless you plan on using them out there frequently (such as DVDs or video games), take them back into your room when you're done. Never use the hallway as an extension of your bedroom. The hallway should be kept clear at all times.

If you have your own room, you're free to keep whatever you want wherever you want! After all, it's your space. If you're sharing a room, try to keep your belongings contained to your area, and make sure each person in the room can walk from the door to their area with ease. This is especially important in small rooms, where you may need to keep your things very much contained in order to maintain a walkway.

Dealing with issues related to space can be easily managed as long as people only take up the amount of space they're entitled to, and keep their belongings relatively contained.