Move Smart Solutions Blog

Everyone is ready to change something big in the new year! If your big change happens to be your home’s interior this year, here are some of the top design trends for 2019 to inspire you!

The Color Green as an Interior Design Element

Kermit got it wrong, it’s so easy being green. The color of tranquility and ambition has been seen a lot in designs leading up to the new year and may even take over 2019! Many say it also helps remind people to be eco-friendly and live a life of sustainability. Whether you choose to paint an entire room, or to add a pop of color with some accent pillows, green is where it’s at.

Out with the old, in with the new! If you’re ready for a new year and a new you, putting your holiday decorations away once the festivities are over, cleaning thoroughly, and getting organized can get your new year’s resolutions off to a great start. Making sure everything has a place to be put away is the first step to a clean and organized home.

From the yummy treats of Thanksgiving time, to the wonders of the Christmas season, the holidays can be a wonderful time for children—but they can also be dangerous. From poisonous plants to electrical hazards, fun holiday festivities can pose potential dangers for your kids, especially younger ones.  

Here are some simple steps to keep children safe during the holiday season:

So it’s the week before Halloween, and you just got invited to a costume party with no time to prep costumes for yourself, let alone your kids. Don’t panic! There are loads of quick last-minute costumes that you can throw together in a pinch, with just the items you have in your closet already. Your kids will love the creativity, and you’ll save money in the long run!

Here’s our top 5 picks for simple DIY Halloween costumes your kids will love:

If your children have left for college or maybe to start families of their own, your home might be suddenly quieter and better organized than it’s been in years. Now that you can finally hear yourself think, you may have realized that you have more space in that big house than you know what to do with. If you’ve found yourself with an empty nest, downsizing might be the perfect solution for your new lifestyle needs.

Here are five things to consider when thinking about downsizing:

It’s that time of year again, and parents everywhere are starting to round up the little ones from their romps in the great outdoors, and rope them into backpacks, uniforms, and shoes. Your older kids may be used to this, but your little ones may need some help adjusting to their new schedule. We may not be Pinterest, but we’ve got some suggestions for five easy ways to transition your kiddos into the new school year.

It’s summertime, and things can get a little wild out there. You mow the lawn one Saturday, and before you know it the grass has shot up, the bushes are invading the neighbor’s driveway again, and no one’s seen the mailbox in weeks. Yikes! Is it your backyard or a jungle out there? Never fear! For families looking to keep their yard a fantastic play-friendly habitat, we’ve got the tips for you.

1. Spray for mosquitos This is perhaps the best thing you can do in a Texas summer if you ever want to go outside again. Get a professional to treat your yard for mosquitos so your kids can return to the great outdoors bug-bite free.

Are you planning to move soon? If so, now’s just the right time of the year to make the leap. Summertime is the best time to relocate, whether it’s across the country or just across the neighborhood. The sun is shining, the kids are out of school, and the future looks nothing but promising. If you weren’t convinced yet, here are five more great reasons that summertime is the best time to move.

1. Summer is the best time to sell your home

Statistically speaking, summer is the best time of year to sell your house. June, July, August, and even September are when houses really start to move off the market, and selling your current home is pretty integral to moving into a new one.

With summer right around the corner (we’re already feeling the heat), you’ll likely spend countless days at your favorite spots to cool off. For families looking for fun beyond the trips to the pool or the park, we’ve compiled a list of family-friendly activities to kick off the summer!

Planning to sell your home soon? To sell your home quickly and get your asking price, it’s imperative that you prepare your home for showings with staging. However, deciding to stage your home doesn’t mean you have to blow your budget. If you don’t have the time or budget to hire professional stagers, try our easy staging tips to get your home ready to hit the market!

The arrival of Spring might make you feel inspired to tackle that spring cleaning list or - it may leave you wanting to breathe new life into your home’s interior design. By adding new design trends, revamping your home’s interior design can keep you feeling refreshed and excited.

While décor and design trends like all-white kitchens and neutrals quickly become a fad you’ll need to forget in order to stay on top of current trends, you’ll want to embrace these unique 2018 home design trends with open arms. 

Spring is often an optimal time to list your home for sale and to start looking at what’s on the market. Many families begin their search for a new place to call home during this time because more homes are listed on the market and families are eager to move into a new space by the summer. While you can’t reasonably expect someone to buy your home as soon as they walk through the door, you can take the following steps to make your home an attractive option on the market. 

The homes we choose are not always perfect for forever. Situations and circumstances can change very quickly. For the time being, your home might be the perfect size for you and your family…until it’s not. At a certain point in your life, you’ll outgrow your home.

Whether this means you need something larger or opt to downsize to a smaller home with newer amenities or even buy your first home, we’re here to help you figure out which option is best for you!

Moving can be stressful during any time of the year, but even more so with the added chaos of the holiday season. You’ve got holiday parties, baking, dinners to plan, presents to wrap and lights to hang – but all with the added stress of packing your belongings and making sure your utilities are turned on in time and your decorations go up before Christmas. With our tips, you can get organized to move into your new home and enjoy the best of the holiday season.  

1. Combine your new address cards with your holiday cards 

Instead of dealing with the stress of placing two orders of cards this season, include your new ‘we’ve moved’ message on your holiday cards, with your new address. This can save you time, money, and the hassle of sending out twice the amount of holiday mail. 

2. Pack and label your holiday décor separately

When moving just before or during the holiday season, be sure to pack your holiday decorations and décor separately. Label the boxes clearly and have your movers place them in the living room once you arrive at your new home. This way, you can unpack and hang your holiday décor as soon as you get to your new home! 

3. Find out the federal and state holiday schedules 

If you’re moving in close to Christmas, check with your electric and gas company to determine which days they’ll be closed over the holiday season. You want to avoid moving into your new home with no lights and no heat during the winter season. Make sure you plan for potential weather delays, too! If you’re moving to a new state, stay tuned to the weather ahead of time. 

4. Order a Christmas dinner dish instead of baking 

Christmas dinner is exhausting work for hosts. If you’re not hosting this year, opt to pick up a dish or dessert from a local store or bakery instead of baking. Your baking dishes will likely be in one of the dozens of packed boxes and will be difficult to find anyway. If you’re stuck hosting this year, ask your guests to bring certain dishes or sides to alleviate the majority of the cooking from you. Alternatively, you can order much of your holiday dinner from local bakeries, restaurants, and more. 

When we think about the traditional Christmas or holiday experience, we often envision a big green tree, never-ending strands of tinsel and an overwhelming number of Santa decorations. While these decorations might bring you cheery nostalgia of holidays past, it can be hard to steer away from the traditional holiday decor to make the holidays reflect your own unique style. With these unique holiday décor ideas, you can create a stylish and sophisticated holiday look that stands out from traditional.  

Skip the traditional ornaments

Does the interior of your home have an aesthetic you don’t want to shy away from? You can incorporate your holiday décor into your home by matching the aesthetic you’ve created. How? Choose unique decor that embodies your family’s style. Or just choose décor that best reflects your family’s values. You can do this by adding unique ornaments that represent special moments or your family’s interests such as picture frame ornaments, specialty ornaments or even customized ornaments. You can also go out of the box with tree ornaments by creating your own. 

Go beyond red and green

When you think of the holiday season, flashes of the traditional red and green color combination typically come to mind. Go beyond these Christmas color expectations and opt for something bold, yet wintry, such as Amethyst or a Midnight Blue. These colors will fit well into almost any winter theme and add a unique and sophisticated style to any home. You don’t have to stick to the traditional decorations in these colors – buy vases, candles and other home decor in these colors to complement your specific style.

The last few months of the year tend to become the busiest for most families. Between the kids being in school, to all the activities you try to fit into your calendar on weekends, and the holidays, there just doesn’t seem to be any time leftover for anything else. When you throw holiday guests into the mix, things tend to get a little hectic. However, we have some tips to help you prepare your home long before the holiday guests arrive. The key is to plan ahead and start early. 

1. Clean and organize your home one room at a time

The thought of cleaning your entire house until it’s spotless for arriving holiday guests likely seems overwhelming on top of the other million to-do’s you probably have on your list. Cleaning up your home doesn’t have to be anxiety-inducing, as long as you have a strategy and plan ahead. This means you shouldn’t attempt to clean your entire house thirty minutes before your guests are scheduled to arrive. Start a week in advance and tackle your house one room at a time. If you find it helpful, make a checklist for each room.

Fall is a favorite season for many. The colorful foliage, décor, comforting smells of pumpkins and apples bring a delightful and familiar comfort to many that adore the fall season. In addition to the smells and colors of fall, the cooler weather often lures people outdoors in search of events that can offer fun and bring the whole family together.

1.State Fair of Texas

Dallas, TX

September 29 – October 22

Settling somewhere new isn’t always easy. For everyone in your family, moving away from familiar places and people can leave you with feelings of discomfort and fear. After you uproot your family out of your familiar neighborhood and community, it’s important to leave your comfort zone in order to plant your family’s roots in a new community. Establishing connections and forming relationships with your community can help to make your new home – well, feel like home.

   1. Get to know your neighbors

Many people don’t take the time now to get to know who their neighbors are. Take the time to introduce yourself and learn more about them. You never know the kinds of relationships you can form with someone living right next door – or when you might need their help in a pinch. If they don’t beat you to it, take the time to bring your family next door and introduce yourself.

   2. Join online neighborhood and community groups

Nowadays, there’s a lot less walking door-to-door to talk to your neighbors and more jumping into online forums or groups. There are plenty of neighborhood and community groups formed online these days. One of the popular online neighborhood networking platforms is Nextdoor, a private social networking for your community. Many neighborhoods and communities also establish an online presence by forming a Facebook group.

From the long sunny days to the evenings buzzing with fireflies and families enjoying the outdoor weather, summer is an ideal time to host a get-together with family, friends, and neighbors. With the flexibility that summer offers, it’s also one of the easiest times to plan family fun, so why not host the entertainment right from your own backyard? We have a few ideas for backyard entertainment so fabulous you’ll wish you’d thought of them yourself!

Host an outdoor picnic or dinner party

Have you stocked up on summer recipes? Plan an afternoon garden party with friends or arrange a picnic right in your backyard! Avoid the hotter day temperatures and opt to host a dinner party at dusk. Include refreshing drinks, jazzy tunes, captivating games and delightful conversation and you’ve got yourself a thrilling backyard party! You can also create a sparkling atmosphere and string some outdoor lights or lanterns from your trees!

Put your game face on

Think games can only be played on a console or at the kitchen table? Think again! Bring the competition outdoors this summer and play entertaining games made for the outdoors like life-size Jenga or Backyard Twister. You could also host a game of charades around a small campfire! Bring friends, family, and even the neighbors to get in on the competition.

Temperatures are rising and schools are out, which can only mean one thing: Summer has officially arrived. While your kids are likely looking forward to three months of glorious free time, as a parent you’re probably wondering what on earth you’re going to do to prepare your home for the lengthy routine-less days of summer. Whether you’re a working parent or have the summers off, take stock of these home preparation ideas that’ll keep the kids busy and safe during the summer.

Stock up on library books and keep them around the house

Keep your kids busy this summer and keep their brains active by encouraging them to read books throughout the summer. Help your kids create a summer reading list based on their unique interests and head to the local library. Not sure what to include on their summer reading list? Find out what’s on the academic reading list for the new school year or find out what’s popular among your child’s age group. You could also explore lists of classic, must-read books suitable for your child’s age.

Buy healthy snacks so they’re not tempted by junk food

More than likely when your children tag along to the grocery store, they’re eager to pick out snacks that are tasty but not filling and most likely not at all nutritious. Make a list of healthy snack choices to leave for your kids – especially if you’re not at home during the day to supervise snack time – and head out to the store exclusively for these snacks. You can include a non-nutritious snack or two. It is summer, after all.

Create a list of chores

Want to encourage your kids to develop a chore routine or help out around the house? Design a chore chart for the kids when they’re home during the summer days. Simple chores for kids can include unloading the dishwasher, wiping off counters, taking out the trash, feeding the pets, and cleaning their rooms. For parents with kids who are addicted to using internet devices, parents can reset the WiFi code in the morning and kids can retrieve the code from you when they finish their chores.

Invest in home security monitoring

If you’re worried about solicitors or strangers stopping by while your kids are at home, it might be a good idea to invest in a security system that includes video monitoring. Popular systems involve a doorbell camera, where you can see and chat with someone at the front door without being at home. This is also an excellent time to teach your children about home safety and what they should or shouldn’t do if someone comes to the door. Although your kids may know what to do, a home security system might give you more peace of mind when you’re unable to be at home.