How to Unpack
July 1st 2021
If you are getting ready to complete on a new house, then you’ve no doubt read lots of advice about how to pack for your big move. But what nobody ever seems to tell you is how to unpack once you have arrived at your new home. For some, living with unpacked boxes for months becomes a reality. For others, it may take time to feel settled even though you have put everything where you think it belongs. Is there a way to get all your stuff out of the boxes and into place quickly and in an organised way? Yes — and here is how.
Start with necessities
We are going to start by giving you one piece of packing advice — label your boxes. Clearly mark what room the box goes in or what the box contains. One (or more) of these boxes should be labelled “open first”. These are your necessities. It includes everything you will need for the first day or two, like toiletries, medications, chargers, and a fresh set of clothes. Open this box first while you are getting yourself situated.
Organise boxes by room
Next, organize boxes by room. If you are lucky, then you or your moving company already did this on the day you moved in. It is a lot easier to move boxes once instead of twice. If you did not already do this, then carry each box to the room where it belongs.
Unpack the bathroom next
It is really hard to feel settled if you do not have your bathroom up and running. You do not have to unpack every single towel — especially those that will be living in the linen closet. But unpack all those things you will need, like your toiletries and the shower curtain. Being able to clean up after a day of physical labour will make everything else a little easier.
Follow up with your bedroom
A good night’s sleep is key to getting settled in your new home. So, once you have unpacked the bathroom, then head to the bedroom. Arrange your furniture and make your bed. Unpack anything that needs to be hung up right away and some of the clothes you wear the most often. You do not have to unpack all your clothes immediately, that is something you can come back to later.
Now comes the kitchen
Take a moment to think about how you’d like to organise your kitchen before you jump in. Kitchens can be tough to organise, so you’ll want to have a plan. Label each cabinet and drawer with what will go inside. Then begin unpacking and putting everything in its designated place. You can fine-tune your organisation as you get settled in.
Tackle your home office
If you work from home, then you’ll want to tackle your home office next. To get yourself up and running, start with furniture, computers and broadband then move on to smaller items like office supplies.
Set up the living room
It is finally time to set up the room where you can relax! Arrange your furniture and get the TV set up. Start organising books, games, and other entertainment or leave it for later.
Arrange storage areas
We all have stuff that needs to be kept in storage most of the time like seasonal decor and clothing. You can now start unpacking boxes for wardrobe, the loft, and the garage or create a system for storing your little-used items.
Decorate
Finally, it is time to decorate! Saving this for last makes it easier, as you have gotten to know your home and figured out where all the furniture goes. And it is the step that makes your house begin to feel like a home!
Need more moving advice? Thomas Morris Sales & Lettings has been hand-selected by Relocation Agent Network to be the Local Expert when it comes to buying, selling, and renting.
Alternatively contact your nearest Thomas Morris branch.