Avoid stress of unpacking after a big move

Unpacking opens up a world of stress, but using these few tips can ease the burden — and save you from that one box waiting years to be unpacked.

Everyone has to endure the moving in process with a new rental home. Unfortunately, not everyone prepares ahead of time.

To do before the move

Take pictures of desks or shelves that you want to recreate in your new rental home. You can tell yourself you will remember because they’re likely some of your favorite elements. However, with a long list of things to remember when moving, it just might slip your mind.

Pack the items in the pictures together so you can neatly unpack them and recreate your décor in the new space without searching through multiple boxes.

Another tip to organize your many boxes is either color-coding or labeling your boxes. For example, kitchen items could be one color and bathroom items could be another.

Make sure to label fragile items so you’ll remember to be extra cautious with those boxes.

Clean before you unpack

Before you unpack, clean your new apartment. Take advantage of the calm before the storm and the empty space so it will be easier to clean every nook and cranny.

Having a clean space also can promote calmness and clarity while you try to map out your floorplan.

If it’s been awhile since you’ve seen your space, or your aesthetic has changed, use painter’s tape to “place” big furniture items around the room. This allows you to visualize your design plan while preventing the need to keep moving large and heavy items. Plus, you can then change your mind as many times as you want.

Take a few days

Another great way to avoid the overwhelming feeling of unpacking is to take care of the process over a few days.

For example, start with your bedroom and bathroom. Moving is exhausting, and you will want a place to wash off and sleep. Making your bed right away means you can unpack as much as you want and then crash into your nice, clean sheets.

Go room by room. You don’t want to start one area and get distracted, leaving it half unpacked. Try to avoid setting up your TV or gaming systems in the beginning. They just serve as another distraction.

Save your kitchen for another day. This room will most likely have the most items. Going through boxes and organizing items in drawers or counter space will take a long time.