Moving into a new Home

Whether you have a room that is too large (so you feel lost in it) or too dark (one small window or no window at all), here are some decorator secrets to turn the place into a cozy, inviting area you won’t want to leave:

THINK TEXTURE. The more fabric you have, the more inviting a room will feel. From rugs to plush curtains to lots of throw pillows, you don’t need to spend a fortune to make the room “softer.” Starting with a completely empty room? Choose furniture with padding: fluffy sofas, cushioned chairs.

THINK COLOR. Dark colors make a room feel smaller, which is what you want if you have lots of space and little to put into it. You don’t have to go completely dark either. You can leave the walls untouched but choose darker pillows for the sofa, thick curtains or wood (rather than metal or glass) furniture.

THINK ACCESSORIES. A small table lamp with soft lighting can soften the feel of a room and make it seem more inviting, especially if you place the lamp on the side table and then get cozy under a blanket (remember to keep one over the back of the sofa). Candles are another great touch: they provide a feeling of warmth and make the room feel more inviting.

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Find Moving Supplies and Services Online

The Internet has made moving a lot easier and less stressful than it used to be. It has also made it cheaper, as long as you take the time to research your options. The first step in the process should be searching for moving companies. Rather than calling local ones or looking through the yellow pages, use the Internet to compare different ones or to ask for quotes. Don’t limit yourself to your town only –Look for options in surrounding areas as well.

Next, investigate the school district. If you have several options for schools, going online will allow you to compare official grading for any particular one, plus allow you to look at their curriculum, see how they rate against others and whether or not they are having certain problems, such as violence or low standardized test results.

The same is true of your neighborhood in general. Long before you move, you can use the Internet to locate basic services you are going to need, such as the post office, your bank’s branch, take out restaurants and even parks with dog runs.

Finally, look for forums where locals interact. If you have a pressing question or want an insider’s view of the area, nothing beats first-hand information from somebody who has lived there a lot longer than you.

Don’t forget that you can also buy your moving boxes and packing supplies online!

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Moving into a Dorm

Before you start decorating your dorm room, talk to your roommate. You will need to establish boundaries and understand what you can and cannot do. Once that’s clear, here are a few things you can do without spending much:

Hang a laundry line over your bed and use it to clip photos, drawings or magazine clippings. Not only will it double as a “flying picture frame” but it will also brighten the room without much of an expense. The plus? Once you’re tired of the pictures, you can simply replace them for new ones.

Buy a magnetic board (they’re available for under $10 at office supply stores) and use it as an impromptu datebook, picture frame or poetic inspiration (magnetic poetry is still around and can be not only fun but also educational!). If you can’t find a magnetic board, try a cork one, where you can attach things using simple metal tacks.

Use a string of mini-lights to create a softer atmosphere in the room. Hang them over the bedpost, around your desk or over the window, depending on what effect you’re going for. Stick to white lights to avoid a Christmasy feel.

Nothing says “college” like posters on the wall. Find out if your school has policies regarding posting things (should you use tape or tacks?) and then get to work decorating the stale walls.

Adopt a pet plant. If you’re never around, a cactus may be your best option: easy to take care and fun to look at.

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Cheap Home Makeover

Think you can’t afford to redecorate? The truth is that you can do much with just a few dollars if you know what to buy.

The first step in changing the look of a room is to move furniture around. Rearrange the position of just a few major pieces and the whole feeling of the area will change. For more impact, move the rugs too: place them diagonally rather than straight, or move them to the center of the room rather than letting them linger under the sofa.

Next, replace one major element with something of a completely different color. You don’t need to spend any money on this at all. For example, you could try switching the bedroom curtains with the living room ones, thus transforming the windows in two rooms. Or place a throw or blanket over the sofa to change the look.

Buy an old calendar and a few frames at the Dollar Store and create an art corner. Rather than hanging pictures all over the place, create a grouping over the sofa or the side table. Choose a good arrangement (create a square or a diagonal line) for even more impact.

Buy flowers. Nothing makes a room brighter than fresh flowers. Get a large vase at the Dollar store or use a jar. Stick to the cheaper, wild flowers, rather than spending money on roses.

Get some candles. Tea lights offer the most impact for the least money, since you can create groupings of three or four in different corners. You can also replace one of the light bulbs with a colored one. Red insinuates passion or a club-like atmosphere, but it can also be very soothing if you use it in the right room and at the right time.

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Moving Supplies for any move are here at Direct Moving Boxes

ADVANCED CHARGES: These are additional charges invoiced by other than the movers. They could be paid to insurance companies, storage units or craftsmen, to help ensure the safe shipping and delivery of your items. When the moving company arranges for these services, they are billed as Advanced Charges and must be paid for at the time of shipping.

CARRIER: International moving companies are officially known as carriers.

DECLARED VALUE: The value you assign to the items for insurance purposes. Most companies have a limit to which some objects can be insured, but it’s still up to you to come up with a value that you consider fair.

FULL SERVICE MOVE: Moving service in which the company is in charge of the actual packing, moving and delivery of all the items. You don’t need to pay for packing boxes or do any of the work yourself when you hire this type of service.

HIGH VALUE ARTICLE: Any item that you want to value at more than $100. Depending on the company, you may need to prove the value/price of such item by showing paperwork or an official appraisal.

PEAK SEASON RATES: Moving is usually more expensive in summer, especially if you don’t book well in advance.

SHUTTLE SERVICE: If your home is situated on a street large vehicles cannot reach, the company may need to use an additional, smaller van to move items from your home to the larger van. In this case, you will be charged an additional fee known as shuttle service fee.

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Get your packing supplies from Direct Moving Boxes at Discount Prices

More windows than curtains? In a rush to hide your rooms from the neighbors? Until you are ready to go shopping for new curtains, here are a few ideas to keep wandering eyes away:

Close the shutters. If you have them, use them, especially at night. If the room is meant to be kept private (such as in the case of the bathroom or bedroom), keep the shutters closed even during the day and use candles or a soft light.

Place a large potted plant on the window sill. It will obscure most of the view and provide you with enough privacy for a day room, such as the kitchen.

Buy removable window clings. They are sold at most Dollar Stores and usually available in either rolls or as large holiday decorations. To use them, simply spray the glass with water and place the cling on top. When you’re ready to remove it, do the same and it should come right off. Choose dark or busy patterns for the most protection.

Use a sheet or throw as a temporary curtain. This works especially well if you already have curtain rods in place and just lack the proper material to hang from them. If you are planning a move you should pack your curtains with your other moving boxes.

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Sell everything you left out of your packing boxes to bring to your new home.

Leaving things behind when packing boxes? Rather than wasting them, plan a yard sale. You’ll earn some cash (which will come in handy during the move!) and do something good for the environment, as things will get a second life, rather than end up in the landfill.

To make the most of your yard sale, plan it in advance. Don’t wait until your last weekend or you will feel overwhelmed by the whole process. That will also give you enough time to advertise as well, both in the local papers and through fliers placed around the neighborhood.

Price things accordingly. Don’t expect to make to earn top dollar for anything sold at a garage sale. If you have things that are valuable, sell them somewhere else, either through eBay or on Craigslist.org, depending on their size. Keep in mind that the idea of a yard sale is to sell everything, even if it’s just for a fraction of its original cost.

Items grouped together sell better. Rather than pricing each cup at 20 cents, sell a set of four for a dollar. Chances are you’ll sell them quicker, even if the price is higher.

Once the sale is over, pack everything you didn’t sell and bring it over to the Salvation Army or the local thrift store as a donation.

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Get wardrobe boxes and packing supplies from Direct Moving Boxes

Wardrobe moving boxes are the perfect solution to move clothes without wrinkling them in the process. This is especially true of clothes that are dry-clean only, as any problems you run into while moving will result in your having to spend a sizable amount of money to get them in top shape again.

Using wardrobes moving boxes is easy if you follow these steps:

Size your closet right. You don’t need to buy moving boxes in advance. Instead, check their width and then measure the width of your closet and then see how many wardrobe moving boxes you need. You can push the hangers together as much as possible to make the most of the space provided, but don’t squeeze too tight. You want the clothes to be able to breathe inside the box (or they will wrinkle).

If your clothes are short (shirts, skirts, etc.), you can make the most of your wardrobe moving boxes by using the bottom to store shoes, hats or other accessories.

Make sure the wardrobe boxes are not too heavy, or there is a chance the bottom will give away. Not only does this risk that your clothes will actually slip out of the box, but it also allows dirt to enter the box.

Maximize space inside wardrobe moving boxes by hanging two jackets on the same hanger, placing shoulder bags on top of coats and wrapping scarves and shawls over other clothing. You’ll save space and make it easier to unpack.

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If you’re moving to a new house that is larger than your previous residence, you may suddenly find yourself with less than enough furniture to fill all rooms. If budget is a consideration and you can’t simply go out to buy whatever is missing, there are some decorating tricks that can help you make a room feel “fuller” and more inviting.

Space out the furniture. While you may be tempted to place the armchairs and the sofa next to each other, that would probably leave a lot of empty space in other corners of the room. Instead, use a coffee table to complement the sofa but place the armchair in a different area, combining it with a side table, a large potted plant or a dividing screen to create an additional sitting area.

Use rugs. They create a feeling of unity among the furniture placed on it or nearby.

Add a few touches to increase the apparent size of the furniture. For example, a vase with flowers placed on a table can make the furniture seem taller, and a painting on the wall can make the walls feel less “naked.”

Paint the room more than one color. Choose a soft tone for three of the walls and a darker one for the fourth one. If you choose colors that complement each other, this will create a soft focal point, giving the feeling that the walls are drawn to each other.

Above all, don’t overcompensate the lack of furniture by placing lots of knickknacks on each corner. Rather than making the room seem fuller, that will only make it seem more crowded.

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As you’re preparing to move and packing things away, there are a few things you should be putting on the side to make the whole process easier.

Direct Moving Boxes is your source for Packing Boxes and Moving Supplies

AN INFLATABLE MATTRESS. The last thing you want to do your first night at the new house is to spend a couple of hours putting your bed together.

Sleeping on the floor may sound like an easy option, until you wake up the next day with a sore neck and a room full of moving boxes to unpack. An air mattress is easy to transport (you can bring it along in the trunk or even as a carry-on bag) and will provide a comfortable place to relax that first day.

TAKE OUT MENUS. If you’re moving fairly nearby and you can walk around the neighborhood in advance of your moving day, pick up a few menus

from local places that offer delivery. You will probably be too tired to cook on your first night, so this would certainly make things easier. If you don’t have the chance to stop by the area early on, search online for local restaurants and print out their menus and phone numbers.

A PORTABLE TV OR STEREO. On the odd chance that you’ll be there before the truck arrives, or if your TV is a 50-inch monster that needs a dozen cable connections in order to work, taking along an alternative source of entertainment would certainly help you relax after a long, difficult day.

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