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

And yet… More needs to be done.

Once you have arrived in your new house, you just want to feel at home. We can’t blame you. But you are surrounded by boxes and feel overwhelmed. (We can’t blame you either.)

Fortunately, there is a strategy for unpacking after a move. With a little preparation, you can quickly unpack and settle in so you can relax in your new place.

Organize first

Moving day is a crazy time for everyone, and it is not much you can do about it. Between emptying your old spot into the moving truck, tying up loose ends, unloading the truck into your new home, and all the bits and pieces in between, it makes for a hectic (and exhausting) day.

Hopefully, you labeled all your boxes when you packed them. By clearly labeling the boxes, you ensure that they end up in the right place in your new home. Unpacking the right boxes in the right place makes the whole process much easier.

Cleaning after the move

The landlord or previous renter may have cleaned the place before you arrived, but technically they only need to clear it of visible dirt. So before unpacking the boxes, take a moment to do a little cleaning.

Grab the cleaning supplies: broom, all-purpose cleaner, wipes, and paper towels. Quickly clean floors and surfaces in every room before you begin your unpacking project. Protect your floor by covering it with a floor protection roll. You will feel much more at home knowing it is free of any sign of the previous tenants.

Unpack the essentials

Have you packed an essentials box? Hopefully, you took one of our favorite pieces of advice and packed a box (or two or three) of your most essential items. That includes sheets, pillows, bath towels, toiletries, medications, pajamas, and clean clothes and underwear. Of course, the coffee pot and mugs are also essential for some of us!

If you unpack your essentials first, you’ll be ready for a shower and a good night’s sleep when the time comes. It also saves you from frantically digging through boxes and hunting for the things you need.

Prioritize your rooms

If the thought of unpacking an entire house overwhelms you, remember not to do it all at once. Instead, start with the most important rooms first and move on from there. And depending on how you label your boxes, start with the most important items in the most important rooms.

In general, we recommend starting with the bedrooms. Start making your bed and move on to the other parts of the room. Fill your drawers and closet so you can easily go about your daily life (like getting dressed for work or the gym) without tearing open all the boxes.

Then move on to the kitchen, living area, 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, another living room, and storage.

Tidy up while unpacking moving boxes

When unpacking, remember one thing: make sure you don’t make a mess along the way. First, of course, you empty moving boxes and have to find a place. But stay organized and clean up as you empty your boxes. You’ll thank yourself later, we’re sure. Because of this, you may be able to empty your moving boxes a little more slowly, but it’s best to take your time.

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