Living With a Boyfriend

When I first moved out at 18, my little studio was my pride and joy — perfectly arranged, clutter-free, and 100% mine. I hosted friends, binge-watched Netflix in peace, and never once tripped over someone else’s shoes.

Fast forward a few years, and Friday nights looked different. My ex–best friend (now boyfriend) would come over, we’d eat junk food, play video games, and laugh until 2am. The best part? I’d have the place to myself again by morning.

But life has a sense of humour. In 2012, we packed up and swapped Surrey for Edinburgh… and that’s when living together officially began.

The quirks you only notice when you live together

Moving in with a partner is exciting, but oh boy, do you learn things fast. Like the fact that the bin is apparently invisible to them, or that the washing machine might as well be NASA tech.

Here are some “classic” live-in partner traits you might recognise:

• The Bin Blindness – Empty cans and food wrappers live on countertops, never in the bin.
• The “I’ll Do It Later” Syndrome – Also known as: never.
• The Shoe Migration – Somehow, footwear ends up in every room except the one it belongs in.
• The Ironing Board Fear – They treat it like it’s a dangerous alien species.
• The Spray-and-Pray Bathroom Clean – Everything smells like bleach, but the towels are still on the floor.
• The Sacred Sports Zone – Football matches cannot, under any circumstances, be interrupted.
• The Xbox vs TV War – One wants to play FIFA, the other wants to watch their favourite show.

And yet…

The perks make it worth it

For every shoe left in the hallway, there’s a warm hug waiting at the door.

Living with your boyfriend means:

• Coming home to someone who has your back, on good days and bad.
• Movie nights with junk food (and someone to steal the popcorn).
• Having dinner cooked for you… sometimes.
• Discovering little surprises left to brighten your day.
• Never facing creepy crawlies alone.
• Being loved exactly as you are — quirks, messy bun, and all.

How we make it work

Cohabitation isn’t all sunshine and scented candles. It takes patience, compromise, and the ability to laugh when your frog dies while you’re away (true story — came home after six weeks to find it… floating. Romantic, I know).

Tom and I have lived together for years now, and I wouldn’t change it. The cuddles, the in-jokes, the “can you fix this?” moments — they’re part of our story.

At the end of the day, living with a boyfriend means learning to share space, chores, and the remote… but also your life. And that’s the best part.

Related reads you might love:

• 10 funny things couples argue about (and how to win)
• The surprising benefits of doing absolutely nothing together
• Why love languages aren’t just for Valentine’s Day