Living together. It’s enough to turn best friends into enemies and married couples into non-married couples. But whether you’re sharing a dorm, apartment, or house, there are a few ways to avoid some of the most common cohabiting pitfalls. And as luck would have it, they’re all found at your local Pier 1 store. See, things are going well for you already.

This has to be one of the top complaints among roommates. Microwaved food, litter boxes, trash cans, dirty laundry, bathrooms, all things with a frequent funk. Lined laundry hampers can contain the smell of gym socks, but what about the others? What to do when most dorms forbid the use of candles? Never fear, reed diffusers are here. They’re a great way to cover up unpleasant smells and come in all sizes for all kinds of rooms. Alternatively, potpourri, room sprays, and fragrance beads are also available in a number of fragrances. So many ways to ditch the stench makes living together a breeze.

We all love our pets, but chances are others don’t feel quite the same way. Especially when a puddle appears on the living room floor and your deposit begins to dwindle. This is where outdoor rugs and outdoor furniture come into play. They’re designed to withstand the elements—including a little liquid—and when they need a bath, you can just take them outside and hose them off. It’s a great way to protect your carpet and your relationship.

Anyone who has ever shared a dorm room will tell you light is an issue. No one enjoys being awakened earlier than they have to, especially if they have a test that day. An easy compromise is a sleep mask for them and a table lamp or floor lamp with a three-way switch for you. Most Pier 1 lamps over $50 come with this feature, which makes it easy to dim things down a bit. They’re also designed to accommodate the energy-saving CFL bulbs to reduce utility bills and arguments.

Everyone knows you should consult your roommate when deciding on a theme. 80’s, pirates, famous couples or decide together. While you’re at it, you may want to have a conversation about laying down plastic tarp over the floors. Or, if it’s just going to be you, a few friends and several bottles of wine, an outdoor rug will keep things covered. Outdoor furniture and outdoor glassware are great for living the wild life without having to fight about stains or shattered glass the next day. Durability makes every party more fun.

It is a universal truth that at some point in your life you will fight with someone about the dishes. They’re not fun to do and left alone, they attract swarms of creepy crawly bugs. If you’re afraid your roommate might be a little wishy-washy about the washing, talk to them before you move in together. Express your fear of bugs and embarrassing conversations with friends. Swear on a scrub brush to seal the deal.

Like food and water, TV is something no one can live without. Misplacing the remote is an unforgivable offense, especially if your roommate is a film buff, reality show junky, or hardcore gamer. Imagine not being able to fast-forward through the commercials during a season finale! Avoid being voted out of your own house by finding a special place to keep the clicker. Decorative canisters, vases, bowls, and baskets all work wonderfully. Another option is to use a serving tray for remotes as well as magazines, coasters, and other living room essentials. With the remote in place, the arguing stops and the fun resumes.

Another easy way to make someone deeply resent you is by losing their mail. Birthday cards, letters, checks - these are all things that everyone loves to receive and hates to lose. Worse still, late fees can be incurred whenever bills are misplaced. Part of the problem is often not having a designated place to drop the mail. Easy fix. An inexpensive console table by the door is a no-brainer. For a bolder option, a bright red bowl or large platter are standouts when it comes time to deliver. Get creative. Find something that fits your style and keeps your roommate from, shall we say, going postal.

In the pantry, food tends to blend together. A few weeks after a trip to the store and who can remember whose is whose? Labels just seem mom-like and passive aggressive, but what other options do you have? Try adding more personal space with folding shelves. Then sort things out with open-topped baskets. They work especially well for canned soups and packaged goods and make better use of counter space and super-high shelves. Clips for chips and reusable ice cubes are also excellent ways to keep your friends. No one likes opening the freezer to find an empty ice tray. No one.

It’s also true that no one likes to share a place with a packrat. Worse still, cords and shoes become something to curse about in the middle of the night. The easiest way to tidy things up is with a large wooden trunk. They’re a great place to drop in video game equipment as well as clothing and accessories (imagine: the purse trunk- the grownup girl’s toy chest) and also can be used as a creative coffee table. A pair of storage ottomans works just as well and work wonderfully as extra seating. In a shared bathroom, a great way to keep things clean is with a pair of lacquered serving trays. You get yours, they get theirs. In an organized home, everyone’s happy.

When sharing a place, you’re also likely sharing furniture. Accidents will happen, no matter how careful you are. But you can avoid apologies with a few preventative placemats. Use them in the kitchen with table runners to protect wooden dining tables from scratches or bring them out to the living room to protect end tables and coffee tables from rings. Remember: the more surface you can cover, the less fights you’ll have. Plus, you can go shopping together and update them for your favorite holidays. Roommate bonding, exclusively at Pier 1.

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