The average American moves every five years or so, which means that if haven't thought about your living situation recently, you may be about to do so. So I thought you might like some tips to help you through the process.

First, photograph your entire home before you start to pack things up. Or take your camcorder around and make a video tape of every room, including the garage. I did this for insurance purposes, and it's a good idea to do it every year just for that purpose. I move my furniture around quite often and purchase new accessories and take down old ones and so forth. So I need a visual record once or twice a year just for insurance purposes. When you arrive you'll be able to check to make sure everything you had out has also arrived.

Before you begin setting up your furnishings at the new location, review your photographs or video tape to remind yourself of what all you have in those boxes. This is a good way to re-evaluate what you have and what you'd like to continue using and what might be best to leave in the boxes.

Now is the time to also re-evaluate what pieces of furniture you place in the new space. Just because you always used a particular arm chair with a particular sofa in the past, doesn't mean they have to stay together in the new space. See how you might change up your configurations. Don't get tunnel vision. Open your mind to new combinations and possibilities.

Perhaps some art that was separated in various locations previously will now look fantastic when grouped together in the new space. Perhaps a chest you had in your bedroom will work much better in the family room at the new digs.

Perhaps your previous style was very cluttered and rather disorganized as things have a way of getting when you tire of the way you've decorated it. So perhaps now you're ready for a more simplified look that will be cleaner and less layered.

Perhaps now you're ready for a change in one or more colors. Maybe before you were accenting with blue and now it's time to go to a lively red.  Tweak your designs and see what surprising elements you can now introduce that may even surprise you!