Unpacking is the best part of moving. It’s time to make your new place your own. Here is a step-by-step guide to unpacking after a move to help make it a smooth process.

Order

It’s best to unpack room by room. Here is the most productive order:

• Bedrooms: There’s nothing like having a comfortable place to sleep after a day of unpacking.
• Bathrooms: This will give you a fresh shower with all of your toiletries ready without needing to search through boxes.
• Kitchen: The kitchen can be time-consuming and is best to unpack the following morning.
• Living room: Try sketching areas with tape for furniture first to ensure everything will fit properly.
• Dining/Guest/Office rooms: Start with the most used “extra” room and work your way to the least used room.
• Utility room: A room not often used, save this for near the end of your unpacking.
• Garage/Storage: Finally, everything left in the remaining boxes can either be put away or stored.

But First

To prepare for the unpacking, here are a few things to do first:

• First, unpack your “moving day box” and cleaning supplies. The “moving day box” should hold enough essentials to get you through about two days. Also, you will want to make sure certain areas are clean before putting your items away.
• Make sure the main areas are clean – cabinets, refrigerator, bathtub, stove, and washing machine. Doing a clean of these areas first will save you time in the future.
• Make a playlist. While some people opt for background tv while unpacking, it can become a distraction. Blast some of your favorite tunes instead to stay focused.
• Put unopened boxes in the room they belong. Instead of going back and forth, put boxes in their proper place as they come off of the truck to save you time and energy.

Extra Tips

Here are some tips to keep yourself focused:

• Unpack one room at a time. It will help save you time.
• Start with the room essentials and go in order of importance. One suggestion is to go with the large items first in the room and save decorating for last.
• Break down boxes as you empty them. Another time-saver, this will prevent that big pile of boxes from getting out of hand.
• Use rewards for reaching goals. Give yourself incentives after each room, such as a sweet treat or 30 minutes playing on your phone, to help stay motivated.
• Hang photos or display personal items. Make your new space feel like yours with some personal touches.
• Keep motivated by having low expectations. You didn’t pack in a day, and there is no rush to unpack, so don’t make a strict deadline.

Finally, remember to have fun! It may seem like a daunting task, but the feeling once you finished everything will make all that hard work worth it. You already have a fantastic start with the tips provided.