Six things you need to know. Apartment? New construction? Existing home? These tips will help no matter where you’re moving to.
“As an expert on all of the above, experience has shown that no matter where you land, you do not have to sacrifice great decor in the meantime.”
APARTMENT LIFE
When I speak to groups, invariably someone asks how to decorate while they are renting. Not owning your space does not have to be a deterrent for not decorating, but you do want to make the right purchases.
1. Be sure that the big-ticket items can pull double duty when you move to your next home. For instance, maybe the dining table in your rental could turn into a breakfast table later. There are several furniture purchases can pull off a transition— like couches, loveseats, beds, and nightstands, which leads to the next tip.
2. Get your bang for your buck in items you can take with you. You can’t take it all with you, but like Steve Martin in “The Jerk,” you can take lamps, wall hangings, and general decor. And if those do not match your new home, they are low budget items that won’t hurt your pocketbook to swap!
NEW CONSTRUCTION
Building a house is not for the faint of heart. I attended many “design meetings” helping clients choose finishes on floors, stone, brick, tile, wood, light fixtures, paint, and that is only the first 30 minutes. If it can be lot of decisions for me, I can’t imagine how the quick-fire design meetings feel to someone who is not immersed in it day to day. Oil rubbed bronze or polished nickel? Contrasting or matching grout? Decision overload! However, there is a major factor to help you come to the building meetings prepared to meet with the building’s designer.
1. Know the look you desire before you step in the door. Since most builders provide a base choice with upgrades, pick 1-3 “must-haves” to allow in your budget. That way, you will be able to spend on the items that achieve your goal, while scaling back on the items that don’t. For instance, if shiplap is a must for you, maybe you can save your budget by choosing a lower base tile in the powder bath.
STAYING PUT
Finally, are you staying put this summer? Me too! Let’s say a note of thanks that we are not packing boxes! Then let us look around and make sure we have not neglected our lovely space.
Is there any freshening up we need to attend to? Since we are staying in our space, we don’t have the pressure of upkeep to put on the real estate market. But let’s use it anyway. If you were to move, what items would you need to address first to prepare it to show to buyers? Could you address it now instead? Is there a room you strongly dislike? What is stopping you from making a change now?
“Be sure that the big-ticket items can pull double duty when you move to your next home. For instance, maybe the dining table in your rental could turn into a breakfast table later?”
Of course, these hints are just skimming the surface, so if you feel yourself overwhelmed with preparing for a move, staging to sell, or decorating your home, drop me a line.
No matter where life is taking you this summer, I think we can all agree that Ellis County is a great place to call home! Moving, Renting, New or Existing… use these tips to settle in, enjoy the your new space, and celebrate with a snocone.
