Style maven Ito Kish recalled how a celebrity moved into a condominium as a transitional home while her main house was still being constructed.

 

She bought Kish’s award-winning sculptural Gregoria Lounge Chair which could not fit in the condo, let alone the master bedroom. So she gave the beautiful chair as a gift instead to a friend.

 

Moving into a compact space like a condo is fun but it also has its challenges. Inquirer Lifestyle asked interior designers—who live in condos and who have decorated such living spaces for clients—for moving-in tips.

 

Marcelo Alonzo

 

There are several reasons why people move to condos. One is downsizing, especially  for those who have lived in 2,000 sqm houses in New Manila or La Vista.

 

Moving could be a tedious effort. Here are my easy “Lipat Bahay” tips.

 

Do a first edit of your possessions. The condo lifestyle is a major change. You may have accumulated stuff all these years when you had more storage. In a condo, space is a premium. Identify only the stuff you need and the mementos that remind you of happy days.

 

Moving into a new space means new energy. Bring stuff with positive vibes. These will help you decide what to pack.

 

Note that a lot of furniture and fixtures from your old house won’t necessarily fit into your unit’s décor scheme.

 

Classify.  The hardest part is narrowing down your selection of possessions that once filled a 2,000 sqm house into a 150 sqm condo. Prepare three containers and label them with (a) Must keep (b) May Fit (c) Charity or Sale.

 

Container 1 should keep the stuff you really need and those with personal importance.

 

Container 2 contains objects  you can part with in case they don’t fit in your condo unit.

 

Container 3 are things you donate or put out on  garage sale.

 

Group and mark them. Determine which object goes to which room and label its  designations. If your recliner was in the entertainment room of your old house, it now goes to the living room. Mark this piece with “living room.”

 

Packing. Place your furniture in containers days before the move. For breakable items like bone china or porcelain, pack them with tissue paper to prevent scratches. Wrap each piece in a plastic bubble sheet available in bookstores. Place them in a carton box and label it.

 

For furniture pieces, wrap each piece individually with paper. Each leg should be covered with paper to prevent scratches during the transport.

 

Make a list. To prevent losses or misplacing objects, make an inventory of the cartons with their contents. You will immediately know the number of cartons and you will not miss out any of your valuables during moving.  Between transfers, keep all your jewelry and important documents in a vault or rent a deposit box in the bank.

 

Hire a professional mover. Lipat Bahay services are done professionally. They can even pack the furniture for you for a fee.

 

If you have extra budget, hire a licensed interior designer to help you plan and lay out your new condo unit. The designer can assist you in selecting the pieces that will fit into your new home.

 

Jigs Adefuin

 

My requirement is that the condo should be thoroughly cleaned. Having lived in several condos, I’ve experienced moving in when there was still some unfinished work. I had to put up with the construction noise and the dust. If you have new upholstered furniture, the dust will easily settle on them.

 

Upon moving in, make sure the windows are secured. You don’t want your neighbors peeping into your condo. You also don’t want insects to gain entry. Sometimes they come from other units.

 

Bring in the absolute essentials—bed, sofa, dining set, dining and cooking utensils, toiletries, towels, bedding and clothes. Your kitchen appliances should be working.

 

Measure your furniture to make sure they fit in the service staircase, elevator and hallway.

 

Ito Kish

 

Moving into a condo means scaling down. Be sure to measure your furniture. Your sofa from your previous house might not fit in your new condo. Don’t waste time by forcing things that can’t get into the condo.

 

Pack only what you need because these are the only things that will fit your condo space.

 

Examine the capacity of storage so you will know exactly what to bring. Otherwise, too many objects will clutter your new unit. Even luggage can occupy a lot of space.

 

Depending on the size, artworks will not necessarily blend with the walls of the condo because the clearance is small. Even the light reflection on the artworks will be different.

 

James Jao

 

As an architect, I look at utilities, the veins of the condo. As a designer, I view the paint and finishes and other interior treatments as the make-up.

 

People who move in take the bathroom for granted. Check if the plumbing works by flushing the toilet, scrutinizing the shower stall and floor drainage.

 

Make sure that electricity and that the lighting and sockets are functioning.

 

The windows should open easily. If you keep them shut, it might be difficult to open them.

 

Hire professional movers.

 

Bring in the furniture first before the accessories. Identify space for each element.  Don’t just dump your stuff into the condo and arrange them later on.

 

It’s harder to fix up your place if you live alone. Position each item in their respective places as you move in.

 

When it’s all done, relax in your new home, enjoy a good meal and listen to nice music. Marge C. Enriquez