Communication

• Because roommates are sometimes strangers at first, communication is essential. Pushing past the initial uncomfortableness of living with someone you don't know to honestly communicate with each other can be difficult, but without it arguments occur. Friends who move in together must be honest, instead of protecting each other's feelings. Without honesty, one roommate could feel lied to, uncomfortable or not wanted. Talk about small issues you encounter; don't let them build up.
  
  

Compromise

• Sharing a living space requires the ability to compromise. When two people live together, their differences become clear. While your roommate might prefer to go to bed in the early evening, you might stay up all night. To avoid problems, being aware of this and not making unnecessary noise at night is a reasonable compromise. When decorating, making meals or picking shared entertainment, both roommates must be willing to compromise.
  
  

Open-Mindedness

• When new roommates are strangers, they can experience anxiety about their living situation. People coming from entirely different cultural backgrounds sometimes end up as roommates. People of different, conflicting religions could find themselves housed together at college. Going into your new life with an open mind about other points of view is a way to avoid stress and conflict. Accept new, different people into your life, and allow yourself to learn about them instead of being afraid.
  
  

Personal Space

• Friends moving in together might envision a perfect life filled with fun in their new home together. Even strangers moving in together can be enthusiastic to make new friends. While getting along is important, spending all of your free time together is also a bad idea. When people are together too often, they sometimes begin to annoy each other. When living with one person, have other friends to spend time with as well.