From Transitioned to Settled
As I looked at the numerous amounts of packed boxes that consumed every inch of my new home, I wasn't sure if I could come out alive.
If you've ever moved from one location to another you know what I am talking about. That overwhelming feeling of panic that can consume you. Why didn't I get rid of more items, where am I going to put all this stuff, oh gosh where's that picture going to go? Ok, so after I had a brief moment to hide under the covers with the pillow over my head, while pretending I wasn't the adult anymore, I faced the elephant in the room. This was our 5th time to move during our 17 years of marriage. You'd think I was a pro by now.
Some of my insane amounts of boxes
It just so happens during each move the stuff we brought to each home tripled in size. It was much easier when Eric, my husband and I were childless or moving with a 6 month old. But, this move well, it was unusual. Two teenager's and their childhood memories, my craft/decorating habits, husband's love for books along with computer gadgets can resemble a one stop shop for unwanted items. So like any sane person would do, I try to purge some more. Please don't think I'm cured and my house has become a no junk zone, even a pillow hoarder has her flaws, it's baby steps. Right?
Enough about that elephant. Let's talk fun stuff, settling in. Getting a home decorated and organized can be a challenge. The good news it doesn't have to be all done during the first month you move in. I found just getting everything out of boxes was the first step. After that it was helpful to focus on certain rooms to complete instead of doing the whole house. Like we all know that elephant is easier to take down one step at a time. Here's the rooms I recommend tackling first, kitchen and bedrooms. Kitchen because the longer it's not done the greater the excuse to go out to eat it is. Believe me I could make this work to my advantage. Honey, I don't know where the pans are, we'll have to go out to eat again. Trust me your pocket book will thank you along with your waistline. Bedrooms are next on the list because your day starts and ends there. Finding your clothes and having a place to lay your head is a must. So make sure you know where you packed those bed linens.
Trying to get the kitchen organized
Even though tackling boxes and organizing is part of the agenda, another thing you might want to consider is painting walls or changing flooring out. I can't tell you how many times I wish I had done all of those things when we moved in. If you can't do it all because your on a budget, I'd recommend doing the one thing that will be harder to do later down the road. I think floors fall into that category. Once you have all your items in your house no one wants to go through the pain of moving furniture. So when we moved in, our upstairs flooring needed to go. We changed out all the carpets within the bedrooms, mainly because they needed it and they had an animal stench from previous owners. Yuck! In between our bedrooms is a 2nd living room plus the landing area off the stairs. Here we went wood because this area would probably have a lot of traffic.
Before, after picture of the landing's upstairs floors. I used Gunnison 3/8" x 5"; Brown Sugar Walnut click HERE
Here's a look at the new carpet for all of the bedrooms. We went with Dreamweaver Marquis 3022. Sorry for the text on the picture. I guess I only took a photo for instagram stories. Wanted to show you what it looked like right after it was installed. If you have pets that their nails are long and sharp this carpet may not work for you because of the loose loops in the middle of the tight weave. We've already had a few snags from the Dog chasing our cat or he gets excited and runs fast down the stairs. It's not bad but it's a lot like when you get a piece that starts to unravel which you then have to cut it off.
My older son and I painting his bedroom. Yes we're goofy like that after paint fumes. Hehe
Older son's room, Colin the one in picture above. His room was green to begin with and we changed it to SW Functional Grey.
Aiden, my younger son's room. Here it was brown before and we changed it to SW Repose for walls and ceiling is SW Eider white
Even though I recommend these rooms to be the first to tackle, please keep in mind completely decorated is not top priority. Getting your items out of boxes, dishes/pots and pans, food, clothes, toiletries, you get the picture is the main objective. The things that you need daily. After all, boxes in a room can feel like still in transition, I'm striving for transformation. Once these rooms were unpacked, items put up, I gave myself permission to go to the next rooms; Living rooms, guest room, dining room. Within our house my husband and I both have offices. These rooms well, they are seriously on the bottom of the list. Right now we might have to secure it with caution tape or an enter at your own risk sign. Again, give yourself permission to not have it all completed.
After being in our house for almost 4 months now we are settled in but no way would I say we are done. As someone who is a perfectionist while also lover of those finishing touches this is hard to accept. So if you are going through a move or have just moved, I'm giving you permission right now to accept what is done. If your washing clothes, food is on the table, your family isn't tripping over items then I say you're more than 50% on your way to being settled in.
You got this, rooting you on passed settled to living! :)