Whatever type of living space you are renting, whether it's a stylish loft or an airy apartment, there can be numerous benefits to bringing a new roommate into your pad. But before you can enjoy such benefits, you may need to make some adjustments. 

If you’re currently living alone, your place is perhaps a haven filled with many of your favorite things and outfitted with the familiar feeling of home. But to your new roommate, sharing a space can feel less comforting - having a place filled with uncertain rules, routines, and boundaries. To let your roommate feel at home from the start, here are some warm ways to welcome him to your place.

Minimize your decor on walls in shared areas. Even if you have perfectly decorated that area, it's important to give your new roommate enough space to express his or her own style too. Clear up all the decor before move-in day. Take out the clutter - whether it's a few shelves in the living room, in the kitchen cabinet or the entire storage closet, your new roommate will appreciate your subtle disposition to equally share the common spaces.

Show your roommate a warm welcome at first arrival on moving day. While it's best to welcome them in person, if you can't leave work or if you're out of town, an inviting welcome letter or note will work too. It's also a fun idea to host a dinner party to welcome your roommate to your newly shared space. You can invite some of your friends and some of theirs while sharing all your favorite flavors as you enjoy a tasty feast.

Prepare a welcome basket complete with snacks and goodies such as candies, chocolates, cookies, fruits and waters to make them feel at home while unpacking. They will surely notice your good hospitality.

Try to invite your new roommate to attend a community event together. Whether it's a farmer's market, a festival, or a sporting event, take time to dive into the local culture with your roommate. Plan a movie night and binge-watch a show that you both like. Finding an activity to enjoy together will help you build a good relationship and live more harmoniously.

When you want to maintain a good relationship, effective communication between you and your roommate is crucial. Although you may find it awkward to converse with your roommate at the start, it's essential to be up front with each other and set your expectations for each other as roommates.

Decide if you split your monthly bills equally or choose which and what utility bills you want to shoulder each month. Ask your roommate if there are specific services that they would or would not want to share, such as internet upgrades, streaming services, and groceries.

While it's always a good idea for roommates to spend time together, it's also essential to give them space to have time to adjust to a new home. Try to spend some time outside or in your room, so your roommate can get acquainted with the shared space at their leisure. This time can be helpful to familiarize with all the little things that will make the space feel more like home.

The way you previously paid bills is going to change now that you have a roommate who is also contributing to the living expense. Be clear about who is paying the bill and when the money is due. While it can save you money to have a roommate, if there is any confusion on when bills are due, it could end up costing you your good credit score, if the bills start to be paid late.

A new roommate doesn't automatically understand how your apartment functions, so it's always a good idea to go over ground rules right upon move in. Here are some of the essential home items that most roommates want to share: 

· Grocery shopping & sharing meal preparation 

· Bathroom/morning routine schedules

· "Policy" on keeping the doors locked/spare keys

· Parking situation

· Replenishing shared goods (like toilet paper, garbage bags, etc.)

· Household chore schedule.

When you are transitioning to a new living arrangement with a roommate, a warm welcome right from the start will go a long way to making it feel like home right away. Use these tips to get off to a great start!