Need help combining two households

by SB
(Fort Worth, TX)

We have combined households! I am searching for a person to help me put the furniture in the right places and to decide what to toss. We have bunches of furniture and no organizing skills or decorating skills. Can you help? Thank you for your comments and response. SB/Ft. Worth

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Shelly's Comments:

Hello SB! Thank you so very much for your trust and for contacting me. I was curious whether you were wanting someone local to physically come help you or whether you simply wanted some advice. I sympathize with your problem. I got married 1-1/2 years ago. We both had our own homes full of stuff. Combining 2 complete households was a task!

Shelly Morton
www.straighten-up-now.com

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Hi Shelly, I would like some physical help moving things around. My husband overwhelms and is just not into that part. I want it done when I do, so I must find a solution. I want to move furniture out of rooms and change it for the stuff we just brought over. And, knowing when the room is sufficiently furniture-ized! That's the hardest part for me. SB

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Shelly's Comments:

Dear SB: I can put you in touch with furniture movers locally if that will help. In the meantime, here are a few suggestions that helped my husband and me work through our process. Maybe they will help you as well.

1. We spent time discussing what we wanted our home to look like (design style). When we reached an agreement, we went to step 2.
2. Next, we decided what furniture, furnishings, etc. should be kept in light of our design style choice and took functionality, age, wear and tear into consideration. This also applied to whose washer-dryer, lawn mower, tools, etc. we decided to keep.
3. We decided to let the original owner of an item being dispensed with decide how to dispose of the item. For example, instead of selling them, I decided to donate my sofa, chair and ottoman to someone who was going through a divorce and desparately needed furniture.
4. We held 2 garage sales to get rid of everything we decided not to keep. We put the money in a joint bank account toward the purchase of anything we might need in our new home. Any items that did not sell we donated to Goodwill, ARC of Texas, etc.
5. Once we moved into our new home and got settled in, we jointly decided on items to add to our new home. We went shopping and purchased those items with the money from the sale of items we dispensed with.
6. We organized each room as we moved in and purchased items necessary to achieve the desired result. For example, in the master bedroom we purchased closet organizers prior to moving in our clothing. We then were able to use these closet organizers to put our clothing up in an organized fashion. We did this room-by-room as we continued to move in.

I hope these suggestions will be helpful to you. Best wishes for your new future.

Shelly Morton
www.straighten-up-now.com


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Thank you, Shelly. I think I have it under control now. I just have to get help moving the beds and bookcases and setting the stuff up. I have someone coming this weekend. YEA!!! SB

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Shelly's Comments:

You're very welcome! Glad to be of service.

Shelly Morton
www.straighten-up-now.com