Thanks to PODS® for partnering with us on our move!
We are finally moved in, and it feels wonderful to have everything here. Our beds, table and chairs, and all our furniture have arrived. We’re thrilled to be in the new space (see the “before” house tour video to get a sense of the layout).
Being “all here” doesn’t mean we’re completely settled. Moving never seems to come with a magic shortcut to instant coziness. Unless you own almost nothing, or move into a fully customized home where every item has a ready-made place, there’s always unpacking and adjusting to do. In a new or renovated house, things come together slowly and in different ways than they did before. That slow process is part of the adventure — making a house feel like home is a journey, not an event.
We were excited when our PODS containers arrived so we could see our furniture again. After almost a month without it, it was comforting to have places to sit and familiar pieces to lean on. Even the dogs reacted with relief — Jack was overjoyed when his ottoman returned so he could look out the window again.
The PODS experience worked well for our situation. They stored our belongings in the same containers while we were between homes, and we appreciated being able to have a container returned one at a time so we weren’t overwhelmed. That flexibility made the transition much easier.
We also hired local movers through Hire-A-Helper; Washington Moving Labor Services did a fantastic job. They had packed our PODS so efficiently that we wanted their help to reverse the process — professionals with strong arms made unloading smooth and quick. This house was particularly easy to move into since everything is on one level, with a basement family room accessible from the garage. The only container we unloaded ourselves contained outdoor furniture, which went straight to the backyard.
To help with placement and to guide the movers, we taped paper plates to the walls to mark where furniture should go. If you can’t find professional supplies, improvise with what you have. Those simple markers helped us visualize each room and ensure every piece had a spot, although a few items still surprised us and required on-the-spot decisions. Some things will feel out of place until we rearrange and settle in further.
The furniture delivery was the best part. The bins and boxes, however, are another story. Even after years of downsizing and being organized, seeing all your belongings out of cabinets and closets and stacked into piles is disorienting. It creates a maze of boxes to navigate and a long list of things to unpack.
If unpacking this mess doesn’t motivate you to let go of more, nothing will. Our new kitchen is much smaller than before, which gives us a perfect reason to downsize further. Moving into a smaller home forces intentional choices about what to keep and what to release.
I actually enjoy the design and organization challenge. A new house or a smaller space is like a puzzle — a chance to rethink how we live and store things. To make packing and unpacking easier we rented reusable plastic moving bins from EZ Binz in Seattle. They dropped off bins at our home and will pick them up when we’re done. Using reusable bins cuts down on leftover boxes and encourages faster unpacking.
We left many of the bins in the garage and basement to avoid feeling overwhelmed, but there are still plenty inside the house. We’ll take it room by room and work through the boxes at a comfortable pace. I’m balancing unpacking with a new book project, so I’ll be patient and methodical rather than rushing.
From our previous home we brought along several freestanding cabinets, dressers, and bookcases. We labeled the contents of each bin so we can unload them directly where they belong, which will streamline the process and help rooms come together more quickly.
Yes, those are dog scratches on our (fairly) new leather couch — character from Jack. We still love the sofa and will share an update about it soon.
Although the house currently feels a little turned upside down, I know it won’t be long before we feel grounded again. I’m excited to add our personal touches and make this place our home, step by step.
Now that we’re moved in, I’ll share room-by-room looks at the house, pointing out the starting points, pros and cons of each space, design possibilities, and next steps in our plans. I’ll also share tips for anyone preparing to move soon.
Have you moved much? What are your “settling in” tips?
Thanks again to PODS for their great service and support through our move.
Catch up with all of our moving posts here!