You’ve just moved into your new home, congrats! But do you now find yourself surrounded by tons of boxes and have no idea where to begin? Don’t stress — NewSpace Home Organization has got you covered!
Unpacking doesn’t have to be a difficult step in the moving process if you follow our unpacking guide. You will be settled in your new home and have an organized space in no time!
Quick Tips to Keep in Mind:
- Arrange each room’s large furniture to help situate all of the other items after
- Get rid of packing materials while you unpack to not have them pile up and slow down your progress
- Save rooms like guest bedrooms or offices until after the essential, most lived-in rooms are unpacked
- As you unpack, have a donation box nearby for items you thought you should bring into your new home but no longer want or have a designated spot for
- Decorating should be a task saved for after you’ve settled in a bit longer
Unpack the Essentials First
Locate your “essentials box,” which should include items you’ll need the first few nights in your new home. Already having these items will make your life easier while you unpack the rest of your boxes.
Each family member should have a personal box and there should be an additional box for the entire household.
Your essentials boxes may include:
Personal Items
- Clothes and shoes
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- Personal hygiene items (deodorant, razor, etc.)
- Prescription medicines
- Glasses/contact lenses, case, and solution
- Electronics and chargers (phone, laptop, tablet, etc.)
- Makeup
- Hairbrush
- Child’s toys or comfort items
Household Items
- Toilet paper
- Hand soap
- Towels
- Body care items (shampoo, body wash, loofahs, etc.)
- Shower curtain
- All-purpose cleaner
- Rags
- Paper towels
- Trash bags
- Bed linens (sheets, pillows, blankets)
- First aid kit
- Pet items
- Snacks and drinks
- Plastic utensils and plates
- Basic tools (scissors, knife, can opener, bottle opener, flashlight, etc.)
Get Beds Set Up
Unpacking a new home is tiring and the worst thing would be to have nowhere to rest at the end of a hard day’s work! Make it easy for you and your family to get a good night’s sleep by setting up your beds before you’re too exhausted.
The first night you spend in your new home may feel a little strange — sleeping in your bed will make things more comfortable and get your ready for day two’s unpacking.
If your new room is lacking space, consider having a wall bed installed for optimal use of the area.
Unpack One Room at a Time
It is better to have one room complete than to have three rooms half-done. Tackle one room at a time to avoid a stressful, disorganized mess all over your new home.
When you were packing boxes up in your previous home, hopefully, you labeled them in an organized way with the room they belong to and a little description of what is in the box. This way, you’ll be able to unload boxes in the rooms they belong to and unpack more efficiently.
Every family is different, but generally, you should unpack room-by-room in this order:
Bedrooms
If you have a newborn, take care of their nursery’s essential furnishings first (changing table, diaper pail, and rocking chair) to save your sanity. If you have younger children that can’t unpack their own rooms, it’s a good idea to get them set up as quickly as possible so they feel safe and comfortable.
Kids’ rooms are rarely perfectly in order, but at least get furniture situated and put items in their correct spot. They can entertain themselves while you are busy unpacking the rest of your home.
Kids will be going back to school, and you’ll be going back to work, so having your rooms in order will help make mornings and getting back to a normal routine a breeze.
Unboxing all of your clothes might seem like a daunting task, but at least try to unpack current seasonal clothes. Closet organization units make unpacking and organizing so much easier since they provide an already-made plan for where everything should go.
Kitchen
For many households, the kitchen is the hub. The quicker you have your kitchen in order, the less money you’ll have to spend on pizza and takeout! Get major appliances hooked up and plug in any small appliances that will make your life a little easier (coffee pot, toaster, etc.).
Make sure that when you are unpacking items and putting them in cabinets and drawers, they make the most sense for the flow of the kitchen space. Think about what you need to have near each other and what works best for your household.
Here are some tips for organizing your kitchen:
- Essential items (flatware, dish towels, oven mitts, etc.) should be placed in easily accessible drawers.
- Cookware like pots and pans should be placed in cabinets by the oven.
- Place the items you’ll use more often on lower shelves so you can reach them more easily, such as coffee mugs, plates, or cereal bowls.
- Place dishwashing soap, sponges, and all-purpose cleaners under the sink. Cleaning supplies that are potentially poisonous to pets or children should go on a higher shelf in your pantry instead of below the sink.
Bathroom
Bathrooms are basically already functional when you move in, as long as the water is turned on. Since your essentials box probably has a lot of your bathroom items, knocking this room off the list will be easy. Put those unpacked essentials in place and finish opening the rest of your bathroom boxes.
Everyone will be using the bathroom throughout unpacking, so having this room situated will make life easier — and nothing makes a house feel like a home more than having a comfortable, fully stocked bathroom.
Family Room
Next, center on the room where everyone can come together and relax — your living room. This especially requires a plan, so take a moment to sketch the room and draw how you want to place your furniture. It’s much easier to erase and redraw your rectangle couch in a different spot on the paper than it is to lift and move furniture around the room.
Once you know where all of your furniture is going, arrange the large pieces. If something needs to be assembled, make sure you put it together in the spot it will go so you don’t have to move heavy furniture once it’s completed (the same reason you made the plan in the first place!).
Get your TV and other electronics set up in their designated spot. Having a custom entertainment center installed will help to organize your media in a more efficient and aesthetically-pleasing way. Save unpacking books for later once you have the important family room basics in order. A custom display or bookshelf will organize all of your trinkets, collectibles, and books.
Home Organization Company
For solutions for every room in your home, visit NewSpace Home Organization in St. Louis. Let us help you get your new home in order! Learn about our closet organization units, pantry organizers, laundry room designs, custom home offices, and more!
