Making Moving Easier Step IV

(click on image for larger view)

Step #4: Mapping

Imagine how easy it would be to unpack if you already know where the majority of your things will go? Like the floor plan, this isn't about having everything 100% set in stone. It's to give you a realistic view of what you have (seeing it in print is a big eye-opener), and gives you an idea of how much, if any, additional storage you may need.

MAPPING: Marrying step 1 + 2, give all your things a home within the home keeping in mind how you want to function in your new space. Use a copy of your proposed floor plan to draw it out (use pencil).

Making Moving Easier Step III

Step #3: Edit + Sort

Now that you have a idea of how you want to live and an idea of the new space itself, it's time to go through your things. This is so you get reacquainted with what you have, edit out (donate, sell, give away, recycle, and/or trash) what's not adding to your life, and get things sorted so you can move onto the next step, mapping out the new space! Plus the less you have, the less you have to move.

EDITING: I believe our things are tools to help us live the lives we want to live. Ask yourself "does keeping this inhibit or enable me to live the life I want to live?". Don't get rid of something just for the sake of it, or because you haven't used it in X amount of time. Keep things you'll actually use (even if only once a year) and are worth the 'cost' of keeping; we pay by square foot here in NYC, so we literally pay to store things in our apts.

SORTING: Group like things together; all kitchen stuff, office supplies, clothes, tools, batteries, vases, etc. A key concept to being organized, this also helps you edit. Example: seeing a vase on it's own, it's hard to know whether to keep it, but seeing all your 15 vases together you can see maybe it's time to let go of a few. Use shopping bags or designate surfaces for each category and use labels to keep things straight (believe me, it helps!).

It's never too soon to do this as it can take quite some time depending on how much you're starting with.

(click bolded text for more details)

Making Moving Easier Step II

(floor plan option 1)

(floor plan option 2)

Step #2: Create Loose Floor Plan

you need: graph paper, pencil, measuring tape

Measure the new space and with graph paper, draw the space to scale.

If you're moving with your existing furniture, measure your pieces and start playing with placement thinking in terms of function. Figure on a few options, it doesn't have to be ONE master plan. The point is to see which if any pieces may not work so you can donate, sell, or give them away as not to lug them to the new space, or how/where you would store them in the new space. For those smaller pieces you are unsure of, bring them and figure it out after you move in.

If you're not moving with existing furniture, this step is important to get you thinking of how to set up your new space. This is how most interior designers start the process of figuring out what's needed, and (very important) what size pieces, so you're not buying random furniture hoping it will work.

This is to get you started thinking about how you'll use your new space, it's not about making 100% of your decisions. Once you're in your new space, you can see what works and what doesn't. You'll also then see where your holes are and what else you may need.

The Accessories Closet Continued...

(note: these are progress shots)

I wanted to show you how we reused a few things for the accessories closet from the previous post.

The existing tie rack is now holding belts. The belts that couldn't be hung, sit nicely in a box the client already had. We used the built in drawers to hold handbags. If you look closely, I placed a shoe box in the drawer as a divider.

The rug was rolled up in the coat closet and was on it's way out since she's redecorating. This small one fits well enough in here and she has a larger one that's now in the walk-in clothes closet. I love a rug in a closet; it gives a finished and elevated look to the space...

The Accessories Closet

(before)

This client has a fourth closet (1. walk-in clothes closet, 2. coat closet, 3. linen closet) that she wanted to make an accessories closet exclusively for shoes, belts, and bags. Since it's a rental, the built-in cabinets needed to be kept but I removed the one shelf and installed custom cut wood shelves up to the ceiling.

These shoes aren't frequently worn so we put them in clear shoe boxes to keep them from getting dusty, and they're organized by type; off-season, special occasion, heals, flats, boots, then by color light to dark.

Much better right?