Plan Your Next Home’s Decor While Your PCS Is On Hold
By Dawn M. Smith for MilitaryByOwner
For many, the pause in the moving schedule is pushing PCS stress up a few levels; in some cases, the unknowns outnumber the definitives. On the bright side, however, remains the excitement and anticipation of furnishing your next house. These feelings don’t change due to an extended schedule. Just the thought of moving into a new home with fresh possibilities is enough to get the Pinterest searches revving into overdrive.
While the extra time staying put isn’t ideal, it can provide an opportunity to focus on what your family really needs and wants in order to be comfortable and productive at home.
Organize!
When preparing to move to a new address, the urge to jump in and pick paint colors and fabric samples can be strong. Setting aside time now to plan for and address organization issues paves the way for a simpler decorating process later.
Create a List of Measurements
It’s well worth your time to begin measuring the large furniture items you’ll be packing. These numbers are important for creating a furniture flow plan, particularly if you own a large sectional sofa that has to be configured in one direction. Measure the length, width, height, and depth of your furniture to accurately envision which placement works best.
Don’t forget to size your rugs! These dimensions are also important, since rugs lay the groundwork for furniture placement. If you need help with the overall configuration of a room, consider accessing an online virtual space planner like Modsy or Design a Room to help “see” where your furniture will fit.
If a pre-PCS trip is in the works, prepare to take measurements of your new home. Window sizes vary throughout the house, as does the square footage of rooms. Determining if your current furniture fits into the space (and doorways and staircases) is information you’d rather have before arriving. This allows the opportunity to sell or store items that won’t fit. If you’re unable to visit before arriving, ask your real estate agent or homeowner to provide as many details as possible about the floor plan.
Envision Your Items in Place
After reviewing each room, envision your personal items in the cabinets and closets. Is there enough storage? If not, portable solutions such as a kitchen island, shelving systems, and furniture with built in storage, such as under mattresses and within an ottoman provide additional storage.
Throughout the years of multiple moves, you’ve likely learned about the wall-saving technology offered by removable adhesive hooks. Take time to review multiple vendors and their various products online (there’s often more listed than in stores), as they’ve increased and improved their offerings to support not just picture frames, but curtain rods, heavy decor, kitchen storage, and bathroom fixtures.
Plan Your Decor
It’s not uncommon for service members to ditch old furniture and decorating items pre-PCS, especially they’re preparing to move into their forever home post-military service. This often means a decorating wish list begins.
Sorting and preparing for the new purchases before arrival cuts down on time spent searching for the most needed items, such as seating. Prioritize each item and shop for discounts on customization and free shipping. Don’t forget to ask for a military discount; it often saves hundreds of dollars on large purchases.
Renters have their own set of challenges when attempting to decorate a home. A distasteful paint color is usually one of the first problems to tackle, but outdated furnishings are a close second. Today, the option to temporarily cover just about any surface exists. Removable wallpaper, temporary countertop resurfacing, and faux stainless steel sheets exist to boost outdated looks into the current decade.
Follow the Pros
Follow your favorite furniture stores, design bloggers, and Pinterest pages. You’ll find inspiration in ideas you might not have considered. With the stop movements in place, you’ll have enough time to take your favorite trends and craft them in a way that suits your home. Vary your home decorating sources. You’ll be surprised by options offered by non-traditional home furnishing stores such as Costco or Home Depot.
If you do end up ordering from mainstay stores like Ethan Allen or Pottery Barn, be sure to take advantage of their free home design professionals. They often come into your home either virtually or in person to make suggestions on purchases, color stories, and furniture placement.
Consider Color
Color is the most impactful investment an owner or renter can change in a home. Affordable and one of the quickest DIY projects, a new paint color is a dependable option to improve aesthetics. But many people are overwhelmed by the options in colors and formulas.
Instead of standing in front of a wall of paint chips at a home improvement store, start your search online with a couple of major paint companies. Each has their own technology to match colors online and offer the option to upload photos of your room to virtually “paint” walls in various shades over and over again until the perfect color is found.
They also make it simple to match colors by presenting them as “stories,” or collections, meaning professional colorists have picked colors for the trim, walls, and ceiling. These bundles avoid the confusion of choosing colors one by one that aren’t cohesive and don’t improve the room. The work is already done by professionals.
Even a small decorating budget allows for new linens. Colorful towels and rugs elevate a dated bathroom quickly, while patterned throw pillows and blankets on sofas and chairs divert attention away from any unattractive feature in a room. Sales and clearance rack selections allow them to be affordable enough to change with the seasons.
An unavoidable delay in moving isn’t any military family’s first choice. But, the extra time allows for careful planning to seamlessly organize and decorate your new home. Take advantage of the bonus days and plan for a project you’ve always wanted.
