Unclutter a little so that there is enough space for his things like his books, cds, knick-knacks. Hang a few of his things like photos, posters, art work. Get rid of something of yours that he doesn't like. Think about how he uses the apartment and if there is something you should change to accomodate him, like maybe he uses his laptop on the couch a lot- get a little laptop stand for him. Or, he likes to listen to music in the kitchen- get something cheap to enable him to do so.

1) Clear out some drawers/ shelves/cupboards/closet space etc. so he can unpack and put some of his stuff away and is not living out of boxes.

2) Make sure his side of the bed has a light and a place to put things . Maybe get some kind of extension cord or surge protector so he is able to plug in an alarm clock and recharge his phone etc.

3) Put away any extremely girly art/decorative accessories and clutter. Together buy some new cushions/art/rug/accessories that you can move to your new place.

4) Make sure the bathroom has room for his stuff. Think about new towels, if yours are old or really girly at any rate, make sure there are enough for him.

4) How about new bedding that you choose together for the new bed?

5) Make sure he has a place to sit in the evening, a place to put/charge his computer, a place to put his favorite things.

Embrace his style, even if it's in little ways.
My husband adores batman, so we have a batman alarm clock. Not the style choice I would have made, but I chose him, so I'll be happy with the action figure alarm clock as long as he's beside me.

For a longer list check out our blog that deals with this very subject, finding the balance between batman and paisley.
www.everafterblueprint.com

I went through this exact scenario last fall. First thing I did was buy a wardrobe since my tiny closet is barely big enough for my stuff. Next came the bedside table and then an extra bookshelf in the living room for books, DVDs, etc. My boyfriend hates knick-knacks, so I have reduced the clutter on the shelves to useful items.

For us, the biggest adjustment was splitting up the household responsibilities, and learning how to share a tiny bathroom.

Finally, if you're renting, get his name on the lease. It will make it easier if either of you get audited.

1. Urban Outfitters has some tapestries on sale for like $19 right now. I did that in college on my bed when I couldn't afford an actual comforter.
2. Not sure where you live, but if it is outside of NYC then thrift. Thrifting in NYC royally sucks. Back in VA I got a vintage vanity for $20 and a vintage lamp table for like $10. If you go to Salvation Army dig up the hidden stuff because it goes 1/2 off if not sold in 6 months (why to hit small towns).
3. Yard sales are also extraordinarily cheap because most are just doing them instead of tossing.
4. And the last big deal you already missed -that is driving around a college town after move-out day and picking up stuff by dumpsters. You can try move-in day in August.

5. Lastly, hit up biglots, ollies and tjmax for the basics: curtains, bath mats, towels, random little furniture.

Ah... finally a question I can answer. Good luck with everything!

Here's something small that makes a big difference in my experience: Put up a few pieces of his art on your walls. My BF takes gorgeous photographs, and when I moved into his condo, I busily filled up his once pretty barren walls with all of my stuff. Once I realized that he still wanted to keep some sense of himself represented on the walls, it made decorating a bit easier. We framed and hung some of his photos and he kept the sense that it was his apartment AND mine. It doesn't have to be his art per se, but a poster or a picture that is quintessentially *his* makes a big difference.
It takes a while for it to become "our" apartment and not just yours, but you'll get there. You know, it's all about compromising and communication!

I recently did the opposite -- moving into his home. In some ways, it feels like "ours", but in other ways it's still "his". Make room for his stuff, including on the walls. Don't shove nearly all of his stuff in the same space, mix it throughout the apartment.

Single Most Important Item on your List: Make sure there's a Bear Cave for him. Men don't watch TV; they become one with the screen. If he's like most men, he needs a place to watch sports, action films, and news, a place to put chips and drinks, something to put his feet up on, and the freedom to yell at the screen when the guy on second base loses the game for his team.
Do this for him, and he'll forgive you a lot of clutter.

@rapunzel - Haha. You know, in an apartment this might be a little hard, but I can see how some men appreciate having the space they feel they can unleash rage at their sports team. ...then again, in our apartment, I'm usually the one to yell at our sports team.

Make space for his favorite chair in your livingroom. If he doesnt have "art" - many men don't, splurge to frame a few of his favorite family photos and hang them. Make sure he has closet and bathroom storage space. Go through your kitchen items and choose the best of his collection and donate any duplicates in yours.

The idea of giving him his own nightstand and putting his lamp, his alarm clock etc there for him, is also a good one.

Pack up any non-essential items that are feminine, now, anticipating your future move. Declutter now.

Make sure he has a space that he can clutter however he likes. When my boyf moved into my one bedroom (not apartment! just a room!) this meant getting a cheapo set of metal shelves from ikea, but it was great that he had a place that was just his because realistically (and this might be true for you too), that room was mine and it wasn't worth getting rid of ALL MY CLUTTER when we were only there a few months.
I also got him a fancy patterned key cut and made a little gift tag for it saying "you already have the key to my heart, here's the key to my house".
I'd suggest buying some new bedlinen (ikea is super cheap and you can pick together on the phone/internet). But for the most part, relax, you'll make him feel welcome but realistically, you're not there together for long - it will always be a little bit "your" apartment and that's ok. Go to town on the next one making it totally shared - once you've lived together a bit you'll know better how to do this (i ditched/stored some stuff my boyfriend hated when we moved in together properly).
Have fun!

I would paint some walls shades of chocolate brown, not only will it tone down any pink appliances but it will compliment them! :) Congratulations on the big relationship move!

@qtcrondesign - I don't think the photos with the post are of the person's home.

I ust went through the same situation and was worried about my style being too girlie and over-powering. We went shopping together and picked out new sheets, painted a few walls and rearranged some of the furniture to make it feel like we had *both* just moved in to a new place. It wasn't an expensive process and it worked wonders! I blogged about the experience here: http://sistersnotdesigners.com/2011/04/the-night-i-made-a-lemon-pie/

Congratulations and enjoy!

As someone who had to adapt to a bachelor pad I would suggest you do nothing other than let him do what he wants. If he really really hates something try to be open to change even if your mommy bought it for you (insert sarcasm). Make changes together if you want the relationship to work as you would be surprised what can kill a relationship.

One thing I really recommend has less to do with "stuff" (though that is very important and the above suggestions are great!), but with how you speak about your place. It will be hard at first but really try to say "Sarah and Soandso's" rather than sarah's place and encourage your friends to make the switch sooner than later. Also, other little things like a key already made the day he moves in. If your name is on the mailbox, make sure his is too. Additionally, if there are food items that he likes that you don't normally have in the house, make sure those are there (2% milk rather than skim, or the coffee he likes - frosted flakes...you get the idea), so he feels like he can go to the fridge and get what he wants to find. And finally, just give it time. Over the weeks you'll notice he keeps putting his coffee mug in a certain space, that he puts away your towel, etc. It's all about paying attn and being respectful...and having fun! good luck!

Ditto special photos and art, as well as music you both love. And if your place needs painting you can get his input on color. Also, I think eating together is a huge part of living together, so stock the fridge with his favorites (and pretty soon you can even shop together! although I actually do my best food shopping alone).

On pink: originally my non-interior design-y man's one decor rule was no pink. Now we have hot raspberry lamps in the bedroom (which he approved of and thinks are very cool!). If you're an apartment therapy reader I take it you're into decorating, and therefore if your man is anything like mine he'll trust your eye.

Anyway, it sounds like you're taking care of the essentials; you can purchase other stuff over time as you build your lives together. :)

1. Clear out his closet (or half of the closet), half of the medicine cabinet, half of the shoe rack, coat closet, etc.
2. Make space around the sink and in the shower/bath for his stuff (razor, shaving cream, etc).
3. Replace a few of your personal photos with photos of the two of you together or photos of him with his friends/family.
4. Spend a little time going through his kitchen items and bedroom items as well as yours to figure out which plates/cups/can opener/bed sheets are going to be used for the time being and pack the rest away. Sure, you may have everything, but if some of his stuff is better, integrate it...hearing about how he misses his can opener because yours stinks will get old fast.
5. Find out what his favorite decor items are at his place and find a way to integrate them...don't forget any favorite blankets or comfort items.

Don't worry about how your place looks. If he is just moving in after a long distance relationship, you will mostly be having sex, and so decorating, drawer space, cooking, etc, will be the last things on your minds. So what if he is living out of boxes for a few months..if you will be moving soon this will save time, in fact you might as well start putting your stuff in boxes, too. More important than the apartment is how well you actually get along once you are together.

Clear out 1/2 of the storage space in EVERY room for him. A full 1/2...not a drawer, not a foot on the closet rod. Half. Be deliberate about it.

So many girlfriends think they deserve more space for their "stuff." You don't. He might be nice and give it to you when you move in a few months, but make a VERY BIG EFFORT to give him 1/2 in this space.

It says I'm glad you are here and I am making room in my LIFE for you (not in my home...in my LIFE!)

I'm doing this exact same thing right now! Our tastes are vastly different - I love dark wood, he likes light wood. He also insists that shams are really pillow cases and he can sleep on them. We're still fighting that one out.

@ cagutierrez: Awesome advice! I just busted out laughing at my desk at work reading your comment....

i totally agree - the # 1 thing you need to do (perhaps the only thing) is free, which is to make room for his crap.

i also think, since it sounds like you're planning to move in the near future, the advice not to buy more stuff right now is very good advice. wait until after you've moved into the new place together and lived there for a little while to really know what else you will need.

If you're moving in a few months, I would start packing some of your things now to A) free up some space for his day-to-day stuff as suggested above, but more to signal that you're getting ready for the move physically and mentally.

More important -- because everything is temporary, I suggest saying "mi casa es su casa!" invite him to do whatever he wants, and keep your mouth 100% shut. Just oberve his tastes and habits, and let him observe yours. Telling him what he can do, in spite of best intentions, is actually reminder that it's still your space and you have the "authority" and even the inclination to grant as much or little space for him as you like.

When my husband moved in with me temporarily (before we married), I cleaned out my studio and gave him 100% of the room as his own and asked him to hang, move, rearrange to his heart's content. He still felt like it was my space (after all, it was!), but it made a huge difference for us when we moved into a new place together because he felt like he had a voice.

PS, correction, "and asked him to hang, move, rearrange the rest of the house to his heart's content.

Lots of practical suggestions were made. Release or pack your nonessentials to free space for him and to prepare for the move. Buy as few furnishings as possible while in your current home. Move, unpack, and then buy only what's needed, preferably with him.

My guy and I had unrealistically expected a smooth transition to our relationship's new stage before moving in together. That we were vocal helped in the long run, but initially living together involved dismaying arguments. That conflict's normal during major adjustments is reassuring.

I agree with other commenters - put some of his art, memorabilia, etc around the house! It will help make it feel like home for him right away, with very little investment of time or money.

@ShanLin73 what is a sham?

I think it's adorable that Sarah's convinced herself that this is about her boyfriend, when really it's a deep part of her brain going "Squeee! An excuse to redecorate!!!"

We know nothing about this boyfriend, but the majority of men would be satisfied with the ideas listed in Nexa's comment. It's not about having an excuse to go shopping, it's about making space for the guy.

And let's not forget that in a 1 bedroom NYC apartment, just his bodily presence will change the entire tone of the place.

This question actually applies to me too, except it's a barely 410sqft studio. It is also only temporary, which is why there won't be many changes made. However, if we move in together in the fall [pending grad school acceptance], I will definitely take everyone's suggestions about merging lives into consideration. Thanks all!

@rapunzel: Believe it or not, not all straight men need a bear cave, not all straight men like sports, or need to watch tv, or eat while watching sports on tv. Or maybe I just lucked out with my guy? We don't own a tv. When he moved in, he got complete control of the study (he's a writer), his side of the bedroom, and we rearranged a few of the rooms. We also dedicated the living room mantel to his and my collection of handmade wooden toys, including his own work. In the study, he's got his collection of toys and action figures on display on the mantel there. It's not to my taste, but it's his study and I love it because it's his.

@Pi-yeah, I thought of that RIGHT after I posted it...oh well...such a pink room! ;O
Thanks,
M'wa