Moving hints, tips, tricks, and all around good ideas

If I've learned anything in the last 6 years of moving from place to place it's been never collect too much stuff and go vertical.


Let's start with too much stuff.
We have pared down to the bare bones.
Things we just thought we had to have to make our life complete becomes a heavy load when moving. Even if a company comes into the house, loads all your crap into the back of a truck and drives away you are still left with stuff.

Stuff that you can't seem to part with.
Stuff that seems to breed.
It breeds more stuff.
And that stuff breeds more stuff
And then more stuff
Until you have stuff you didn't even know you had.

I say; enough with all the stuff.

Our stuff has to meet a certain criteria in order to make a move with us or be brought into the house to begin with.
1. It has to have been worn, used, and/or purchased in the last year.
2. It has to have sentimental, family memento or antique value. This falls under the same category as; Is it replaceable?
3. It has to fit in a box nicely (with the exception of furniture).
4. Bring in something new, take something old out. If something new is coming in what am I willing to take out?

There are a whole bunch of clauses to these 4 rules but all in all they hold true.
Sometimes if I am being particularly ruthless an item can meet all four and still lose it's place in the household move. That is just the way things roll. The stuff doesn't care.

My second suggestion in placement within the new place. If you haven't got as much floor space. Go up. Shelving is cheap compared to renting or buying a place that is bigger.

We have lots of different kinds of shelving but I like the kind that breakdown into movable pieces. Looking nice is also good. Sorry about the blurring pictures. It was early this morning. Or maybe it was because I just found the camera. The camera I worried I wouldn't find until after my upcoming trip. The camera we just bought.

$30 shelving from Big Lots goes a long way to clearing floor space.
I could actually use one more of these units. One of the nice things about not spending a lot for shelving is that when you go to move again if it breaks you are not out a whole lot of cash.

Baskets and bins are your friends. We like to buy all the same type. They stack better and last longer. If you are storing things in your attic or basement plastic bins are wonderful.
I've almost got enough room to paint. One more set of shelves on the wall over there and I'll have enough clear space.
I'm giddy.
Can't you tell?

This set of brackets and shelf has made three moves.
When I first put it up it was in the foyer of our house. It made a great place to drop your keys when you walked in the door. The next move it found a place in the breakfast room. It held tea pots and pitchers. Now it is above my dresser. Just looking pretty.

My last moving hint is to give yourself one calm place among all the boxes, wrapping paper, and clutter. A place where you can put something pretty. A place where you can stop and smell the roses. (hey, you knew that was coming)

Got a great moving tip? Post it in the comments.

Love,
M