Moving into a new home can be an exciting but stressful time. It’s also an opportune time to address a clutter problem head on and get organized.
As tempting as it may be to unpack quickly by shoving things in drawers and closets, taking the extra time to organize while you unpack will save you headaches in the long run! Here’s how to organize a new home as you unpack.
Pack a Moving Essentials Box
This is actually a tip for before you move, but having a box with your must-have items for the new house can make unpacking much easier. An essentials box could include anything from toiletries to important documents you may need right away (like if you’re moving during tax season), or just things that you don’t want getting lost in a sea of boxes–a child’s favorite toy, spare keys or a box cutter for example.
Set this box aside to be packed in your car, not the moving truck, so that you can make sure you have it with you as soon as you move in. Either unpack this box right away or be sure to keep it away from the other boxes. That way you don’t misplace it in a sea of moving boxes.
Plan Ahead
One of the biggest mistakes people make when they organize a new home is they try to rush and do it in a day or a weekend. If possible, plan ahead by adding an extra few days off to fully unpack and organize.
If you have small children, plan a few moving activities to keep them preoccupied, or make sure there’s an extra hand around like a babysitter or grandparent. You’ll be able to tackle your house organization with a clearer mind knowing the kids are staying out of trouble.
Unpack Room by Room
It’s easy to unpack as you go and get distracted by a box in the bedroom while you’re unpacking the kitchen. It’s best to focus on compartmentalizing your unpacking room by room.
A lot of moving experts agree to start with the kitchen first because the sooner you get the kitchen unpacked, the quicker you’re able to cook at home and save money on eating out or ordering pizza. The kitchen is also the foundational building block for your home, which is why it makes sense to unpack it first!
Pro-tip: When packing, be sure to label all of your boxes with their designated rooms or color coordinate them to be sure you can unpack one room at a time.
Before you start unpacking, make a quick plan for which rooms you’ll tackle first. Then be sure that all of the boxes for that area are accessible. This is especially important if you have a staging area for unpacking, like a garage or storage unit.
After the kitchen, you may want to tackle bedrooms, bathrooms or a living room next. Save rooms like guest bedrooms or offices until the essential, most lived in rooms are unpacked.
Declutter as You Unpack
While you’re unpacking, be sure to have a pile for donations or trash. If you packed in a rush, you might not have had time to declutter, but you certainly should before putting things away.
If, as you’re unpacking, you see an item you haven’t used in a while, just get rid of it. If you haven’t used it in your old house, you are very unlikely to use it in the new house.
Organize a New Home with Household Objects You Already Have
There are so many creative organizing hacks around the internet, and they often have one thing in common: they use average household objects to organize. A few examples are plastic magazine racks to organize hair accessories and tools, spice carousels to organize loose garage tools like screws, or a mason jar to organize cupcake liners.
Before you rush out to Target to buy a bunch of storage bins and totes, be sure to declutter and repurpose items you already have in your home first. You may be surprised by how much you can utilize without having to spend extra money!
In this video, we’ll show you four simple organization hacks using common household objects to organize small, pesky items. You know, those bobby pins, cupcake tins, electrical wires, and small office tools you can never seem to get in order:
Unpack First, Then Decorate
As you unpack, you’re likely to find decor items with the rest of your things. Set those aside and wait until you have unpacked a room before you start decorating it. This will help you see what you have to decorate around and will also save you from putting unnecessary holes in your walls.
Because every home is different, you may find you have more or less wall space than you did before. You might need to prioritize which items you hang up or display. You may also be able to decorate in clever ways that don’t require putting any holes in your walls at all, like putting a picture frame leaning against a wall instead of hanging it, or using adhesive hooks instead of nails.
With these tips, you’re ready to tackle organizing your brand new home! Soon you’ll be living in it, instead of in a sea of boxes.
What other tips do you have for organizing a new home? Share below in the comments!
