So you’ve finally managed to pack up and move to a new home. It’s a commendable achievement, but there’s still a lot of work ahead! The unpacking phase might not be as urgent and stressful as packing, but it’s still a challenge. 

Feeling overwhelmed at the sight of all those boxes? Instead of looking at this task as a burden, think of it as the perfect opportunity to organize! This is where you can start organizing your new home, making each living space more efficient and convenient. With a little more effort now, you can look forward to a functional, orderly home that’s easy to live in. 

Let’s now look at some steps that can help you achieve this goal: 

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1. Have a System in Place

Before you start opening those boxes, think about the best system for this task. The tips below might help you unpack in an orderly fashion: 

• Your packing should have been according to room or the usage of the items; read each label and look inside before emptying anything out.
• Take each box to the relevant room or area of your new home.
• Time yourself; take scheduled breaks or have a set time for resting.
• Before packing in the first place, make an inventory list or plan to get one from the moving company; keep checking this list to ensure that everything arrives safely.

What if you packed in a hurry?

At times, you don’t have the time or energy to sort out everything before packing. Worry not; there’s still a way to organize your unpacking!

If everything is mixed up inside the boxes, get some large empty containers first (one for each room). Place them around the box you’re going to unpack. 

As you remove an item, place it inside the relevant container. This way, you don’t have to keep rushing into another room and turning yourself out. Once the box is empty and the containers are full, you can move the items to their rightful place. 

2. Unpack Necessities First

This is another step that starts in the packing phase. Before setting off for your new destination, it’s highly recommended that you pack an essential box for the journey. This box (or any other container) will contain the necessities that you need to get through the day. Toothbrushes, a change of clothes, medicines, snacks… the list goes on. This box should be the first one you unpack after the journey. 

There might also be other essential boxes that you won’t need on the journey. These should have items that one needs to run a household for a few days. If you haven’t taken this step while packing, try searching for certain items and setting them up first. Examples may include: 

• Basic toiletries
• Phone chargers
• Laptop chargers
•  Important paperwork 
• Books
• Items for food prep

If you feel like something is missing, consider some of these first things to buy when moving into a new home. 

3. Set up the Kitchen

If you’ve learned how to pack kitchen items properly, the next step will be quite easy. Labeled boxes will help you locate the items. Before unpacking, however, take a round of the new kitchen and decide what goes where. When you have designated drawers, it’s much easier to set the items there directly from the box. If you don’t make these decisions beforehand, the cutlery and other stuff might just pile up on the kitchen table. 

Here are a few more steps that can come in handy: 

• Try lining the kitchen cabinets and cupboards.
• Start by unpacking the essentials that will make life more manageable.
• If you don’t have time, leave the small organizational tasks (such as organizing the spices alphabetically) for a later day.

4. Work on the Bedrooms

The bedrooms are also important spaces. These are the areas where everyone can rest and personalize according to their tastes. After setting up the kitchen, it’s usually best to tackle the bedrooms. Here are some steps to keep in mind: 

• Assemble the beds
• Unpack the bed linens, if not all of them, then at least enough for a single night.
• Decide the placement of the furniture before moving anything in
• Look inside the closets and determine how to fit all your belongings inside
• If you plan to have organizing units and shelves, install these before setting your stuff inside

5. The Bathrooms Come Next

Since bathrooms should be pretty much functional the moment you step in the door. The basic toiletries may already be out during the essential packing. Now, it’s time to focus on organizing the bathrooms so that they can provide comfort and hygiene in your routine. Here are a few ways to go about it: 

• Unpack your towels, soaps, and other bathroom-related items.
• Deep-clean the bathroom before setting up your things inside.
• Stock the linen closet with extra towels, washcloths, etc.

6. Assembling and Arranging

You’ve already assembled and set up the beds in the bedroom. Now is the time to arrange the rest of the furniture in your new home. The tips below can help in streamlining this process: 

• Try to get some floor plan sketches of the new place before you pack; if your future is too big, you may have to get new pieces
• The floor plan will also provide insight into the best furniture arrangement for the bedrooms, dining room, living room, porch, etc. 
• If you have furniture that needs mechanical assembly, put them together after finalizing the setup in each room. Otherwise, you may have to disable the pieces again when they don’t fit in a certain spot.

Conclusion

Instead of making unpacking a chore, make it an organizational mission! The steps above will hopefully streamline your unpacking process and make it easier. The best part is that you’ll get to enjoy your new home more quickly. With the home organized and under control, the whole family will be able to start settling into their new lifestyle. Why not open up the first box and start right away?