How to Unpack After Moving Like the Pros

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Unpacking should be the best part of the entire moving process. No, really!

You’ve already coordinated all of the logistics of renting a truck and hiring Helpers, you’ve packed everything up, moved, and unloaded your rental truck. Now all that’s left to do is go through all your boxes and get everything in its place so you can enjoy your new home!

So why do some people still dread unpacking? Well, imagine sitting amongst a mountain of boxes with no clue what’s inside any of them or where everything will go. When you put it like that it does sound pretty awful! But it doesn’t have to be that way. Here are some tips on how to make the process a lot easier than you might be dreading.

First Things First: Pack Better To Make Unpacking Easier

Why is unpacking after moving so hard? Well, we all know the quote, “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.” If you’re not prepared, it won’t go well. Proper planning before your move is the most important step to a smooth unpacking experience

It turns out, there’s much more to packing than randomly throwing items into boxes and calling it a day. You actually can plan the unpacking process to make it easier.

 

“…[H]ow long does it take to unpack after moving? If you work diligently, you can unpack completely within a few days to a week, depending on how much stuff you have”

 

How do you make unpacking after a move easier? Here are some things you should do before moving day to prepare and make your unpacking process as smooth as possible.

1. Take photos Before You Start Packing

Before you touch anything, we want you to take out your phone and have a little home photo shoot. 

Here are things you especially need photos of:

  • Bookshelves
  • The back of your TV
  • Kitchen drawers
  • Desk area
  • Toolshed

We urge you to snap pics of the areas in your home that you love! We know all too well how long it can take to get a shelfie looking just the way you want it. By snapping some reference pics now, you’ll be able to replicate that look in your new home in no time.

2. Create a Number and Color-Coded System for Your Boxes

Organization is the key to how to unpack after moving. After the photo shoot, gather all your packing supplies (boxes, paper, packing tape, washi tape, scissors, markers, etc.) and start packing boxes like a pro.

Try to pack items only from one to two rooms inside every box. This will make your life much easier when it’s time to unpack later.

Got a bunch of stuff on shelves? Create a numbered system to remember where everything goes. That way it’s easier to get them unpacked and into their new permanent spots.

And we can’t forget our favorite tip of all — our color-coded box system using washi tape! You can get the full, step-by-step rundown from this post, but the short version is that you need to separate your boxes by the room, marked with bright washi tape so your movers know exactly where to deliver them. If you need an alternative, you can use colored masking tape or colored markers.

3. Make It Much Easier to Unpack Essentials

There are 7 items you’ll want to have on hand for moving day, but we also think you should create a box of moving day essentials.

Imagine the first night in your new home when you’re tearing open boxes trying to find pajamas, your toothbrush, and your medication for the night. Sounds like a disaster.

To prevent that nightmare scenario, this is what should go in your “Moving Day Box” so you don’t have to tear through your moving truck:

  • A change of clothes
  • Utensils
  • Toiletries
  • Prescriptions
  • Phone charger
  • Shower curtain and rod
  • Towels
  • Toilet paper
  • Bedding

Be sure to label this box and keep it near you!

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Clean The 5 Most Important Things

We know you have approximately 10,000 things to do to get your rental deposit back. But trust us, now is the time to give your new place a thorough cleaning because it’s empty. You simply put items in place rather than cleaning and unpacking at the same time. Want to know the five most essential things to clean?

  • Kitchen cabinets
  • The Refrigerator (and refrigerator fan)
  • Bathtub and any tub jets
  • Outside (and Inside) the stove
  • Washing machine

Unpacking Tips

You’ve done the prep work (even the cleaning, you rockstar, you!), and now it’s time to think about how to unpack after moving. Even if you hired help for your unloading (great call), you can still do things to make unpacking time a little easier.

1. Don’t Unpack in a Dirty Room

We know you’ve got thousands of things to do to get your rental deposit back at your last home. But trust us, now is the time to give your new place a thorough cleaning because it’s empty. Want to know the five most essential things to clean?

  • Kitchen cabinets
  • The refrigerator (and refrigerator fan)
  • Bathtub and any tub jets
  • Oven and stove
  • Washing machine

2. Place Your Boxes in Rooms by Color

It may sound easier to just have your Helpers pile up all of the boxes in one spot of your new place, but unpacking will be a lot easier if you follow your color-coded box system and have your unpacking help place each box in the correct room. If you followed our washi tape tip, you should have each door in your new place marked so the Helpers can easily drop the box in the right spot!

Pro Tip: Get your “Moving Day Essentials Box” opened right away so you have everything you need to make it through the next day or two.

3. Use Washi Tape to Figure Out Your Furniture Layout

As long as your movers are there, have them get your furniture in the spot where you want it! We love the idea of using painter’s tape to mark out the layout of furniture right on the floor.

Before you move (or even while your movers are bringing things in and out), go around your place and put tape on the ground to outline your furniture. That way, the movers will know exactly which wall to put your bed on and where that long dresser goes. You can always move things later on, but getting items in the correct space will make your life a lot easier in the coming days.

4. Unpack Only One Room at a Time

While unpacking, it’s easy to feel like you’re climbing an endless mountain. But instead of hopping from space to space, we suggest tackling your rooms in order of importance. Don’t move onto another space until the one you’re on is done, and keep a steady pace. Checking rooms off your list will be satisfying and motivating. 

The kitchen, bedrooms, and kids’ rooms should be high on the priority list, while the guest room and garage may not need TLC right away. Also, make sure you have furniture where you can sit and/or eat and appliances set up before you get too carried away going through boxes.

Did you remember to clean your counters? You’ll also want to have spots to put your items as you whip them out of the boxes, so having counter space, cabinets, shelves, and dressers ready to go is a must!

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5. Unpack the Bathrooms and Bedrooms First

Here’s a vital unpacking tip: Moving day will be exhausting, so if you’re going to unpack anything immediately, make sure it’s your bed and bedding. Once your movers get the mattress into place, find the sheets, comforter, and pillow and make your bed. If you have kids, do theirs too. Having a comfy spot to sleep at the end of a long day will feel amazing!

Unpack your bathroom boxes, too. That way you’ll have all of the toiletries and medications on hand for the night and morning. A fresh shower after a long day of moving will be heavenly, trust us!

6. Save the Kitchen for Tomorrow

When strategizing how to unpack after moving, remember that the kitchen is the most time-intensive room to unpack, due to the amount of tiny and heavy items, so don’t unpack it on moving day.

You might want to take a few appliances out (like the coffee maker or blender if you’re into smoothies for breakfast), and enough dishware to eat a few meals, but the rest of it can be saved until the morning after your moving day. 

7. Avoid Distractions

A calico cat sits in a half-unpacked cardboard box

While a playlist of music or a podcast to keep you energized as you unpack might be a good idea, you probably shouldn’t get your TV set up and turned on right away. You may find yourself sitting on the couch to watch a movie instead of unpacking. 

But are there other distractions to watch out for besides the temptation of entertainment? A few! You’ll want to make a plan for your pets when you’re moving and unpacking, so they don’t get underfoot, and the same goes for kids. Have a plan to keep them occupied or if you can, drop them off at grandma’s house so you have uninterrupted time to unpack. 

So how long does it take to unpack after moving? If you work diligently, you can unpack completely within a few days to a week, depending on how much stuff you have. It’s all about keeping the distractions to a minimum so you can devote enough hours to get your house in tip-top shape.

8. Break Down Boxes as You Go, in Real Time

As you figure out how to unpack after moving, it may be easy to just throw empty ones in a big corner. But trust us, that pile will quickly get out of control and soon you won’t be able to walk around your house without an empty box tumbling down on you. 

 

“…you need to separate your boxes by the room, marked with bright washi tape so your movers know exactly where to deliver them. If you need an alternative, you can use colored masking tape or colored markers.”

 

Take one box and make it the designated paper box. As you unpack boxes, crumple up the packing paper and shove it into that box. Then, be sure to break down boxes as you unpack. You’ll want to have a utility knife on hand so you can do this quickly.

9. Don’t Unpack More Than You Have To

There may be some boxes that don’t actually need to be unpacked (we’re looking at you, Christmas decorations!). Make a large pile of items that may be heading to storage or the garage. Then be sure to get those items to that space asap to clear out some space.

What To Do After Unpacking

You’ve made it! You survived moving day and every box in your place is unpacked. You should be feeling pretty darn good about yourself right about now, but the fun isn’t over just yet. There are still a couple important things needed before you can truly settle in.

First, let’s deal with those leftover boxes. If you’ll be moving again soon, then you should hang onto some of the boxes that are still in good condition. Organize your boxes and find a spot to neatly tuck them away. If not, consider turning them into fun projects — like the following:

But if crafting isn’t your thing, this searchable database will let you know the closest place to recycle anything (including moving boxes!). Just be sure to set a deadline for yourself to get those moving boxes out of your new place, so they don’t stay piled in the garage forever.

Similar to the unpacking process, a helpful approach is to focus on one room at a time. Spend half an hour or so every day on small organizational tasks, like getting your desk set up in your home office, organizing the bookshelves to your preference, or hanging up posters and artwork. Breaking it up makes the process manageable and feel less overwhelming. 


If you’re still not thrilled at the thought of doing all of this yourself, no worries. Some movers also offer packing and unpacking help for an extra fee. But hopefully you’re feeling a lot less dreadful and considerably more confident with all these unpacking tips in mind.

Your Kitchen Remodel: Cost Factors, Layout Ideas and How to Renovate

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Going into a kitchen remodel is a very intimidating task, especially if you are not very familiar with the process. In spite of this, there are a lot of people blindly diving into this large-scale project every year … including me!

How many? According to the National Kitchen and Bath Association, over ten million Americans had their kitchens remodeled in 2015. And the numbers have only risen in the years since.

If you are one of those more than 10 million people tackling a kitchen remodel this year, this post is for you.

Everything To Expect When Remodeling A Kitchen

Kitchen Remodel

When I set out to get my kitchen remodeled, I honestly had no clue where to start. I had such a hard time finding info online that could map out the process for a rookie like me.

I vowed right then and there I would offer the internet everything I learned after I lived through that experience!

Take it from me, seeing the whole picture from the start is extremely helpful.

Most of the hard work (for anyone not physically putting together their kitchen infrastructure themselves) is at the front end of the process. Renovation is a lot like cooking: there’s a lot of prep.

Read over the complete process someone goes through before any work actually happens on a kitchen space:

  • Establish a budget
  • Find a designer to confirm new layout and provide accurate blueprints
  • Find and hire a contractor you trust and can afford
  • Identify where you want to buy cabinets and countertops
  • Research colors, textures, trends, materials, etc.
  • Order your cabinet and countertop and triple check to confirm your kitchen’s specs
  • Order anything else you may need (appliances, backsplash, light fixtures, faucets, sink, range hood, etc.)
  • Work with your contractor to establish a timeline
  • Keep track of all of all materials as they arrive
  • Clean out all of your old kitchen cabinets
  • Set up a temporary kitchen somewhere else in the house
  • Allow the contractors to do the heavy lifting, but be prepared to live in total chaos

Seems like a lot, huh? Don’t worry, here’s the step-by-step process.

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The first step is to create a layout, with or without a designer

Kitchen Remodel

If you plan on changing the layout your kitchen, the first thing you should do is hire a designer to work with you in identifying the best layout. Believe it or not, there’s a website for that. Head to ASID (the American Society of Interior Designers) to find one for hire near you!

From there, the designer will provide scaled blueprints that you will need to move onto the next steps. This step is technically optional, but it turned out to be the best thing I did during my remodel process!

Collect bids from contractorsKitchen Remodel

The next step in the process is collecting bids from contractors you are interested in hiring to complete your project.

Usually, bids come at no cost, so I encourage you to get several bids so you have a more accurate idea of what the project will cost you in the end. Before you decide on the contractor you wish to work with, be sure to check out this contract hiring guide and make sure you outline all of the details before you commit (and pay!).

What Specific Decisions Will I Have To Make?

To be perfectly honest, the amount of decisions you need to make as you prep for a kitchen renovation is overwhelming. But preparing for them in advance makes each task a lot more manageable.

Outside of the obvious questions regarding color and style, there are a lot of other things you will need to consider and purchase. Here is a list to keep handy:

  • Cabinet hardware
  • Cabinet door design
  • The material of the cabinet (which impacts cost)
  • The material of the countertop (which, again, impacts cost)
  • Box cabinets or special order cabinetry
  • Backsplash style, size, material
  • Appliances (style, brand, cost, color, “extras”)
  • Open shelving or closed cabinetry
  • Flooring materials and costs
  • Window treatments
  • Light fixtures
  • Extra organization (there are options built-into your cabinetry)
  • Installation of the cabinetry
  • Size of the cabinets (depth, width, and height)
  • Drawers vs. cabinets
  • Timeline
  • Can lights or fan
  • Material of sink
  • Plumping changes
  • Electrical changes

Be smart when shopping for materials

Kitchen Remodel

Once you hire the contractor, they will be a great resource for pointing you in the right directions for your materials, specifically for cabinets and countertops.

Sometimes contractors can get these products at a discounted rate if you shop at the retailers they recommend. Talk to them about this option before you decide on where you want to purchase your big-ticket items.

And if they don’t have any recommendations, you can always shop at big box hardware stores.

Protip: You will need to bring your exact measurements from your designer (or contractor) when you go out to physically shop, as well as have an idea of what design you want the kitchen to have. Of course, the salesperson can also help you make these decisions, but this is your kitchen, after all!

Finished buying? Your timeline begins now

Kitchen Remodel

After you make the cabinet and countertop order, your contractor will work with you to create a timeline of the projects that need to be done before the cabinets arrive, which will include:

  • Demolition
  • Electrical work
  • Plumbing work

Remember, cabinets can take up to eight weeks to arrive, and possibly longer if they are custom. Getting to work before the cabinets arrive will ensure they are ready to install quickly after they get to your front door.

Your contractor (or you) will get to work

Kitchen Remodel

It’s time to get to work! If you have contractors, they will work to demo your current kitchen, then work even harder to put the new and improved one back together. If you did get a contractor, this is the easy part for you because, at this point, the work is out of your hands. Most all of your hard work should have already occurred during the front end of this project.

Hope you don’t mind living without a proper kitchen for a while. Be patient and your new kitchen will be ready soon enough for you to enjoy!

How long will a kitchen renovation take?

Kitchen Remodel

Every kitchen renovation will vary in terms of timing, depending on the scope of work and the size of the space. But traditionally, a kitchen renovation can run on average 4-8 weeks. Living without a kitchen for that long can be a large inconvenience, but I am here to reassure you that if we can manage it, so can you!

Kitchen Remodel

My best advice to handle this chaos is to set up a temporary kitchen prior to demoing your current kitchen. We have our fridge, microwave, and crockpot working overtime! Plus, we meal prep at our parent’s house to make healthy food for the week (so you don’t have months and months of takeout).

Is It All Really Worth It?

Kitchen Remodel

Now being on the other side of it, it was absolutely worth it!

According to HGTV, a kitchen remodel is projected to give you a 70% return on your investment, while statistics from Today’s Homeowner reports that this number could be as high as 91% of a return on this investment! So as much as this intimidating task may seem overwhelming at first and chaotic to live through, coming out the other side will be worth it in the long run. You are adding significant value to your home by making these updates now and getting a gorgeous kitchen to enjoy at the same time.

Of course, there is a lot more information you can devour as you prepare for your upcoming kitchen remodel, but I hope this beginner’s guide gave you an overview of what to expect. Seeing the bigger picture from the start will provide you peace of mind to tackle each step with confidence, and maybe even a little bit of excitement!

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