Would you rather the couch be facing the other wall? Want to hire a cleaning service? Plan on holding a loud tribute to your Greek days with a couple hundred friends? Ask your roommate first. Even if you know they don’t care, won’t be home, or it is none of their business, asking makes a huge difference. By running plans that affect the two of you by them, you not only say that you value their opinion, but it makes it clear that you’re aren’t replacing the microwave just to be malicious. People need to feel comfortable in their own space and by altering it without their permission; you’re saying that you don’t want them to feel any sort of ownership.
Remember, you don’t have to ask about changing the toilet paper, only the things that really matter—and could blow up later.
Proper phone etiquette
I know you love to watch Law & Order and talk to your mom, but it may not be the best way to score points with your criminology student of a roommate. It may seem inconsequential, but not everyone wants to hear one side of a conversation.
Another big way to lose favor with your housemate is by having a long-distance boyfriend or girlfriend. The phone may be the best way to keep your relationship going, but believe me, three or four hours of baby talk will drive your roommate nuts. If you have to talk on the phone, be respectful of your roommate. There’s nothing wrong with picking up the phone in the middle of dinner, but if you’re going to stay on the line, step away from the table, preferably into another room.
Offer alone time
You may love spending every evening on the couch, or in the kitchen, or in your shared bedroom. That’s great, but it doesn’t hurt to take a break and mix it up a bit. Give your roommate a chance to host a dinner party for her friends. Let him spend the night without having to listen to you snore. You know what they say, “Absence makes the heart grow fonder…”