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Post-Move Unpacking Strategy

couple unpacking moving boxes in their home

You’ve arrived in your new place! You must feel so relieved! Moving is hard work, and it starts with planning your relocation. Chances are, you’ve been on a long journey already, and you finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.

And yet… There’s still more to be done.

Once you arrive in your new home, you just want to feel at home. We can’t blame you. But you’re surrounded by boxes and feeling overwhelmed. (We can’t blame you for that either, for the record.)

Luckily, there’s a strategy for unpacking after a move. With a bit of pre-planning, you’ll be able to unpack and settle quickly so you can relax in your new place. 

Get Organized First

stack of moving boxes

Moving day is a crazy time for everyone, and there’s little you can do about that. Between emptying your old place into the moving truck, tying up loose ends, unloading the truck into your new home, and all of the bits and pieces in between, it makes for a hectic (and tiring) day.

Hopefully, you labeled all of your boxes when you packed. Clearly labeling your boxes helps to ensure they make it to the right place in your new home. If you unpack the right boxes in the right place, you’ll find the whole process much more straightforward.

Clean Up

Your landlord or previous tenant may have cleaned the place before you arrived, but the most they technically need to do is clear it of any visible dirt. Before you unpack boxes, take a moment to do a bit of cleaning.

Grab the cleaning essentials: broom, all-purpose cleaner, rags, and paper towels. Give a quick clean to floors and surfaces in each room before you start on your unpacking project. You’ll feel much more at home knowing it’s free of any sign of the previous tenants.

Unpack the Essentials

Did you pack an essentials box? Hopefully, you followed one of our favorite bits of advice and packed a box (or two, or three) of your most essential items. That includes bed sheets, pillows, bath towels, toiletries, medication, pajamas, and a change of clothes and underwear. For some of us, the coffee pot and mugs are also essential items!

Unpacking your essential items first means you’re ready for a shower and a good night’s sleep when the time comes. It also saves you frantically digging through boxes and hunting for the things you need.

Prioritize Your Rooms

middle aged couple unpacking kitchen boxes

If the thought of unpacking an entire house leads to overwhelm, remember you’re not doing it all at once. Start with the most important rooms first, and go from there. More than that (and depending on how you labeled your boxes) start with the most important items in the most important rooms.

Generally speaking, we recommend starting with the bedrooms. Start by making your bed and move to the other areas of the room. Fill your drawers and closet so you can easily carry on with your daily life (such as getting dressed for work or the gym) without tearing boxes open.

Next, move on to the kitchen, living space, and home office if you have one. Once you’ve tackled all of your main rooms you can move on to the rest, such as the dining room, any other living room, and storage.

Declutter As You Go

While you’re unpacking, remember one thing: make sure you don’t create a mess while you go. Of course, you’ll empty boxes and need to find a place. But keep organized and declutter as you empty your boxes. You’ll thank yourself later, trust us. You may empty your boxes a little slower, but it’s best that you take your time and empty your belongings into their rightful place as you do.

About the author

Unpakt Team