As the end of the moving process is here, you may be finding yourself overwhelmed with the seemingly endless maze of boxes and furniture pieces filling your new home. Although you may be dreading unpacking, it is a task that must be completed, and hopefully with these tips you can finish the job stress-free.

Where to Start

While seeing the post move disarray, typically there’s a desire to unpack everything and put it in its proper place as fast as possible, but it is important to keep these three concepts in mind:

1. Make it fun; this is the final process before the new house feels like a home, so enjoy the process and don’t try to unpack half-heartedly.

2. The task of unpacking does not need to be completed in a single day or even several days. 

3. Start by unpacking the basic essentials that are needed daily, such as food, day to day clothing, and toiletries. On top of that, do not try to unpack the whole house simultaneously, but instead focus on a specific room at a time.

The Kitchen

Unpack the kitchen first, as it is the essential room where one can both prepare a meal and regroup. There are most likely a lot of boxes dedicated to the kitchen and starting by only unpacking the boxes with the basic kitchenware will save you stress in the long run. Let the chinaware and less frequently used items remain in their boxes until you are sure of where they should be stored.

The Bathroom

After you have a functioning kitchen set up, take on the bathroom. It is a small area and more immediately essential than a living room or bedroom. Take the time to ensure that all the plumbing is working properly, turning on any water lines that may have been turned off and proceed to unpack the toiletries.

The Living Area

Now that you have the essential kitchen and bathroom functional, turn your attention to planning. Take the time to visualize the new layout, or even sketch out the room prior to lifting a finger. There is no need to tire yourself out by constantly rearranging, when the process can be much simpler with a pen and paper. Once you decide on a layout, move the major furniture pieces into place, and refrain from unpacking every painting and decorative piece.

The Bedroom

If the day is drawing to a close and you have yet to start reassembling your beds or setting up the bedroom furniture, that is okay. Unpacking does not need to happen in a single day. Unpack the bedding and sleep on the mattress if need be, rather than doing a poor job after a long day. Similarly, if you are moving with children, it can be helpful and enjoyable to let them take initiative in their rooms, saving you the trouble of attempting to set up multiple bedroom sets. While unpacking after an already long moving process can seem like yet another burden you need to overcome, it doesn’t have to be stressful or overwhelming. Be creative and make it fun. As you unpack, you watch a house that was at one point empty and at another full of boxes after boxes become a home, so take that time to make it worthwhile.