If it's your first time to live on your own and you are looking for a good roommate, then good luck, as finding the right one is not always an easy task. You have to make sure that a roommate can be trusted, is easy to get along with, and has respect for others. People usually look for a roommate that is the same gender, but there are people out there who think that sharing an apartment with the opposite sex is a great choice too. In this mixed- gender style of living, you may need to set a few rules and boundaries to ensure harmony with your roommate. Here are some important rules to consider.

First and foremost, you must agree with each other that you will both avoid entering into a romantic relationship together. Although co-ed living has been represented on TV shows, this situation typically can be a little messy in real life. Roommates of the opposite gender should agree to keep things platonic, so they both enjoy living in a drama-free apartment.

Since you both agree to live together without romance, it's understood that you are not dating each other. But soon, it's likely you and your roommate will be dating someone else. If your roommate has a significant other, make sure their partner is comfortable with your living situation.

What if your roommate's future partner isn't thrilled about your living situation? You're both single adults; it's best to talk about all of the "what ifs" before moving in. Discuss how you'd handle that scenario so that you can avoid an awkward situation later on.

Try not to get romantically involved with one of your roommate's friends, which can be a recipe for disaster later. If the relationship does not run smoothly, it can put your roommate in an uncomfortable situation and force him/her to take sides. And even if all goes well, there can still be issues with feelings of exclusion.

Dating your roommate's close friend is not a good idea. He or she may disclose personal details about your life or personal habits, which you aren't ready to share in that dating relationship. There are so many other people you could choose to date, which will allow you to draw the line on privacy issues and share only when you're ready to do so.

Setting boundaries can help make your situation with your opposite gender roommate create harmonious living. Just because you're sharing a space, doesn't mean everything is fair game. Do you think it's cool that your male roommate walks around the apartment in boxers? Or your female roommate goes from the bathroom to her room in a towel? You both must establish what's acceptable for everyone to be comfortable in the space. Try to be cognizant of knocking before opening the door and respect privacy in general.

Roommates need to set regulations regarding guests. Figure out if it's okay to have guests over and how long they can stay. Set a rule to let each other know how long a guest is staying beforehand. Setting specific standards will ensure you won't come have to come home to your roommate having a get-together or party, when you thought you'd be having a quiet evening.

It could be disappointing if you find yourself walking into the bathroom and see facial hair in the sink or locks of hair stuck in the shower drain. Living with the opposite sex means you both have different cleaning habits. A man should not expect a woman to do all the dishes or the man always to take out the trash. It's important to divide up specific chores, and be clear about when they should be done. Setting a schedules for the tasks may help ensure that you both know each others expectations.

Always let your roommate know if you have a problem. Before you both move in, know that each of you has an equal voice in what happens in the apartment. Keep a line of open communication so you can quickly address issues that may arise. This rule is great for roommates of different genders, but it also applies to any roommate situation. Regardless of the gender of your roommate, be open, honest, and let your roommate know about your expectations.

If you want to avoid cabin fever with your roommate, make sure to spend an adequate amount of time away from your apartment with other friends. Try to set aside a couple of hours every week to go out and do something fun.