If you don’t love it, don’t pack it into the cardboard moving boxes to begin with. Moving stuff is expensive and if you can easily and cheaply replace something once you arrive, then don’t take it along.

1. Wardrobe moving boxes can become heavy when packed to the brim. Be ruthless when going through your clothes. If it doesn’t fit, you don’t love the color or you haven’t worn it in over a year, toss it instead of packing boxes with it.
2. Other things that make no sense to pack into moving boxes and take along (unless they have sentimental value or they’re antiques): rugs, workout equipment, handyman tools, playground equipment, heavy furniture and CDs and DVDs that you don’t plan on watching again anytime soon.
3. Don’t pack anything moving boxes that may be difficult to insure or may affect your claims. This includes items forbidden by moving companies, such as flammable items, aerosol cans, frozen foods and valuable paperwork. They should be either left behind or carry in smaller moving boxes that can fit in your own car.
4. Buy your packing boxes and moving supplies well in advance and pack with time. This will allow you to throw away whatever you don’t want or need and to donate things that still a useful life but you no longer need.

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Small spaces present special challenges to decorators, as they often require non-standard furniture to fit into corners and crevices where “normal size” items would not. If you have a small room but little money to spend, though, there are still some things you can do to make the most of the space.

Buy furniture that serves more than one purpose. An ottoman can become a coffee table in a pinch and a bookcase can serve as a room separator if you live in a studio or need some privacy for your desk or work area.

Get rid of clutter. Nothing enhances space in a room like getting rid of things that don’t belong there. You don’t need to get rid of all your magazines, but throw away the ones you already read (or don’t plan on reading) and then arrange the rest on a nice basket in the corner. Or buy a TV stand with drawers and store your magazines inside.

Avoid making the room look too busy. Resist the urge of decorating the walls with a dozen small framed photographs and instead hang a single medium-size painting. Stick to just a few pillows for the sofa and choose flat ones that can be used on the floor as additional sitting if necessary. One large couch is better in a small room than three small chairs, as the second option would not only take more space, but also reduce the walking area considerably.

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Lately, it seems as if just about everyone is having to keep a closer eye on their wallets than they would like to. So, with this in mind, spending thousands of dollars to gut and replace cabinets may not be feasible. Still, for homeowner’s seeking to improve the value of their house, waiting for that bucket of money to drop out of the sky is not an option.

As an alternative, consider refacing existing cabinets and use the extra money elsewhere. Taking much less time to complete, refacing cabinetry can make old cabinets shine like new at just a fraction of the cost.

Refacing is just a face lift of sorts. Doors are usually replaced while the cabinet box itself receives a veneer of some kind, matching it to the new doors. Drawer fronts are often replaced as well. When the basic work is completed, detail work and new hardware is installed to finish the transition.

Additionally, if the existing cabinet doors are smooth (also known as flat panel), then replacing the doors is not necessary, as a veneer can also be used in a different style or color. This means further savings.

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