Thanks to PODS® for partnering with us on our move!
We are finally moved in, and it feels amazing to be all together under one roof again. Our beds are set up, the table and chairs are in place, and our familiar furniture has arrived. If you want to see where “here” is, you can view the before house tour video to get a sense of the layout and what we started with.
Being “all here” doesn’t mean we’re fully settled yet — settling in takes time. After many moves I’ve learned there isn’t an instant trick to feeling completely at home. You can minimize belongings or buy a fully customized space and move in faster, but even then there’s still unpacking and making decisions about where things belong. When a house is new to you or planned for gradual remodeling, everything comes together slowly. That unfolding process is part of the fun and the journey of turning a house into a comfortable home.
We were especially relieved when our PODS containers arrived so we could see our furniture again. After nearly a month without it, having places to sit and familiar pieces to rest on made the new house feel more like home. The dogs seemed reassured too; Jack was thrilled to have his ottoman back so he could look out the window. The PODS solution worked well for us — they stored our belongings safely while we were between houses and delivered containers one at a time so we weren’t overwhelmed on moving day.
We hired movers through Hire-A-Helper, who connected us with Washington Moving Labor Services. Their crew was professional and efficient; they had packed our PODS containers so neatly that reversing the process went quickly with their help. It was a relief to have experienced movers with strong arms to get heavy pieces into the house without a fuss. Since this is a single-level home with easy garage access to the basement family room, moving in was straightforward and didn’t involve hauling furniture up or down stairs. The only container we unloaded ourselves contained outdoor furniture, which went straight to the backyard.
To help with room planning and to guide the movers, we taped paper plates to the walls to indicate where furniture should go. It was a quick and simple trick when we couldn’t find other supplies, and it helped ensure that each piece had a planned spot. Even with that planning, a few items surprised us and required on-the-spot decisions. Some things will feel a bit out of place until we rearrange and settle them properly.
The furniture delivery was the exciting part; the bins and boxes are where the real work begins. Despite years of downsizing and being organized in our previous home, seeing cupboards emptied and belongings stacked in bin-lined walls creates an overwhelming maze. If you ever needed motivation to let go of more stuff, unpacking after a move is it. Our kitchen here is noticeably smaller than before, which gives us another good reason to pare down further and be intentional about what we keep.
I enjoy a design and organization challenge, so planning how to live well in a smaller space is an engaging puzzle. To make packing easier and reduce waste, we rented reusable plastic moving bins from EZ Binz in Seattle. They dropped the bins at our house and will pick them up when we’re done. Using these bins is convenient and motivates you to unpack sooner instead of leaving stacks of cardboard everywhere.
We kept many bins in the garage and basement to avoid feeling overwhelmed in the living areas right away, though we still have several inside the house to work through. My schedule includes a sizable book project, so I’m balancing unpacking with deadlines and pacing myself. We labeled bins by the furniture or room they belong to, and bringing along freestanding cabinets, dressers, and bookcases from our previous home made it easier to return contents to their rightful places.
Yes, those are dog scratches on our leather couch — a bit of character Jack added. We still love it and I’ll share an update on that sofa soon.
Although the house feels temporarily turned upside down, I’m confident it won’t be long before we feel comfortably settled. I’m excited to add our personal touches and make the home reflect our style over time. In the coming weeks I’ll share a closer look at each room: what we’re starting with, the strengths and challenges of each space, design ideas we’re considering, and the next steps to make those rooms more ours. I’ll also pass along practical tips for anyone planning a move.
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.