Believe it or not, there are very cheap and easy ways to recycle your existing décor to completely change the look of a room. Here are some quick tips.

1. Love a certain fabric or pattern? Frame it! From pillowcases and scarves to dinner napkins, don’t be afraid to re-use these household items by framing patterns for all to see!
2. Paint décor for consistency: Paint can be a great way to dramatically change the look of a room – if you’re painting an accent wall, consider using the extra paint to also paint some of your décor. Think about updating shelves, picture frames, or tables to add an extra splash of color in your freshly painted room.
3. Get inspired: Browse through communities like etsy.com or lonnymag.com to view handmade artwork, pictures and décor. Try to replicate some of the ideas in your own home!

Have other ideas? We’d love to hear them!

Paint – it’s one of the easiest ways to transform the look of your home. Draw attention to a focal point in your home, freshen up a room, set a mood or make a statement. Whatever you desire, there is a shade of paint that can help.

How do you choose the right paint color? Here are a few tried and tested ways to make sure you’re choosing shades that will complement your décor and furnishing.

1. Pick colors that are complementary by using the color wheel: Here’s a wheel example for you to use: http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/photos/0,,20161202,00.html
2. Create a custom color: In love with a shade? Most paint stores will mix a custom color for you!
3. Try it out: Before you commit to purchasing a paint color, buy a pint and paint a small square on your wall. Be sure to look at the color in all lights throughout the day to ensure you’re happy with the shade.

Here is a video from Lowe’s that will give you some additional tips:

Allied is please to announce its Van Foreman of the Month winners for May, June and July. This prestigious award is presented to the Master Mover who continually exceeds our customers’ expectations. These Van Foremen are not only dedicated to our van line, but have a proven track record of success in safety, hauling and customer experience.

May Van Foreman of the Month: Philo Frost Agent: Kent Moving & Storage, a Grand Rapids, Michigan moving company

June Van Foreman of the Month: Dax Mahaffey Agent: Citizens Transfer & Storage, a Tucson, Arizona moving company

July Van Foreman of the Month: Chris Casasanta Agent: Federal Warehouse Company, an East Peoria, Illinois moving company

Congratulations to our drivers and keep up the good work!

Ready for a change? Maybe you’re looking for a new job? Before you make a final decision, it’s always important to do your research and understand exactly what you’re getting into. Here’s our recommendation for finding the best and cheapest city for your specific situation.

1. Decide what’s important to you. It’s best if you sit down with all involved with the move and agree on your priorities. Maybe your first priority is for the city to be pedestrian-friendly, while you’re wife wants to ensure the schools are highly-rated. It’s important to sort these things out before you start your search.
2. Once you pick a few cities of interest, compare them: Use tools similar to the free tool below to compare neighborhood and community statistics. a. Free community comparison tool: http://www.onboardnavigator.com/1.5/webcontent/obwc_search.aspx?AID=63
3. Find best option for your profession: Use the below salary calculator tools to get an estimate of your potential salary in the new city. a. Salary calculator tool by Monster: http://monster.salary.com/
4. Do a cost of living analysis: Use this free tool to analyze cost of living for the new city. a. Cost of living tool by Sperling: http://www.bestplaces.net/col/
5. Talk through the pros and cons: Once you’ve pulled together all of this information, get together with your family to discuss the pros and cons of each place.
6. Make a collective decision and start the move or job search process!

Does anyone have other tips? How did you decide where you were going to move?

OK, here it goes. Our best-of-the-best list of free moving resources and tools that you should know about during your next move. So, bookmark, save and forward this list to those who you think could benefit from knowing about these free tools.

1. Moving “How-To” Videos: 
   1. http://www.allied.com/moving-education-and-resources/online-moving-videos.aspx
2. A Moving Terminology Dictionary: 
   1. http://www.allied.com/moving-education-and-resources/moving-terminology.aspx
3. Information about Your Rights and Responsibilities: 
   1. http://www.allied.com/moving-education-and-resources/rights-and-responsibilities.aspx
4. Free Community Information and Statistics: 
   1. http://www.onboardnavigator.com/1.5/webcontent/obwc_search.aspx?AID=63
5. Free School Information and Statistics: 
   1. http://www.onboardnavigator.com/1.5/webcontent/OBWC_Search.aspx?&AID=63&CD_SID=SC001
6. Loan Qualification Calculator: 
   1. http://www.allied.com/moving-education-and-resources/loan-qualification-calculator.aspx
7. Loan Payment Calculator: 
   1. http://www.allied.com/moving-education-and-resources/loan-payment-calculator.aspx
8. Rent vs. Buy Calculator: 
   1. http://www.allied.com/moving-education-and-resources/rent-vs-buy-calculator.aspx
9. Moving Timeline:
   
   1. http://www.allied.com/moving-checklist/moving-timeline.aspx
10. A list of Frequently Asked Moving Questions: 
    1. http://www.allied.com/moving-checklist/moving-faq.aspx
11. Moving Day Check-list: 
    1. http://www.allied.com/moving-checklist/moving-day.aspx
12. Packing Calculator: 
    1. http://www.allied.com/moving-tips/packing-calculator.aspx
13. Packing Guide by Room: 
    1. http://www.allied.com/moving-tips/packing-guide.aspx
14. Free Moving Community: 
    1. http://www.facebook.com/AlliedVanLines?ref=ts
15. Access to Moving Experts: 
    1. http://twitter.com/alliedvl
       1. Use “#alliedvl” to ask a question

Know of any others? We would love to hear about them.

We’ve compiled some of the top tips for moving to New York City and we hope these will help you on your upcoming move to The Big Apple!

1. Buy a back pack. You will be walking a lot – use a back pack to transport things from one side of the city to another.
2. Carry a small umbrella at all times. Having a small umbrella at all times will be a life-saver when you’re across town and it starts to rain.
3. Don’t bring a car to NYC. If you can avoid it, don’t bring a car to New York City. Parking is scarce and extremely expensive.
4. Find a bank as soon as possible. In order to avoid expensive foreign withdrawal fees, it’s recommended that you open a local bank account as soon as possible.
5. Know how cab signs work. You will know a cab is occupied if either the “off duty” light on the top of the cab is illuminated or if the cab number light is off. If a cab number is illuminated, the cab is available.
6. Understand parking meters. If a parking meter is broken, it’s legal to park in the space for one hour.
7. Use these websites to find a place to move.
   1. http://www.craigslist.com: This site will help you find an apartment or house in your price range.
   2. http://www.villagevoice.com/: Once you find a few interesting apartments research the neighborhoods.
   3. http://www.onnyturf.com/subway/: Figure out how close these apartments are to the nearest public transportation hub, it could help you make your decision.
   4. http://www.nyc.gov/: Check crime rates by neighborhood to ensure the area is safe.
   5. http://www.hopstop.com/?city=newyork: This site will help you map your route once you decide on a few apartments and schedule a trip to see them.
8. Get rid of what you don’t need. Because housing is expensive, you’ll more than likely be moving into a smaller place, so it will be important to purge the items you don’t need. This will help lower your moving costs when moving to New York City.
9. Enjoy all of the free things that New York has to offer. Get a library card, walk in the park or read free local papers for free city events.

Do you have other tips for moving to New York City? Leave a comment below!