Make Unpacking Easier When You Move

Planning a move? Moving involves a lot of work, and most people have a hard deadline to meet, which means that they must somehow get packed and organized in time for moving day.

However, not many people plan for the day after the big move. What happens when you reach your new home? It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when you’re surrounded by boxes. What do you unpack first? How do you get started?

Many people start unpacking but at some point, get distracted and put off completing the job. In fact, according to recent stats, it takes the average American nearly six months to finally unpack that last box when they move to a new home. (For some people, it can take even longer!) The good news is that having a plan can take some of the stress out of unpacking.

First, if you hire movers, be sure to check your moving inventory to ensure that everything has arrived safely. Next, move the boxes to their relevant rooms — if the movers didn’t do so already. (Clearly labeling your boxes with their contents and the room in which they belong is essential for this process.)

The order you unpack your boxes may depend on when they arrive in your new home. If they arrive earlier in the day, you may want to unpack your kitchen first. If the boxes arrive later, however, you may want to start unpacking a bathroom and your bedroom, so that you have what you need for a good night’s sleep.

Start with the essentials, such as soap, shampoo, towels, toothbrushes and toothpaste, toilet paper, and other toiletries. That way, you can use the bathroom and shower before bed. Then you can tackle unpacking after a good night’s sleep.

Next, focus on the kitchen. If you’ve moved a refrigerator, position it and let it sit a few hours before plugging it in. Hook up other large appliances, and then unpack smaller appliances such as the microwave, coffee maker, blender and toaster. Unpack your dishes, cutlery, glassware and other cooking tools next.

After the kitchen and bathroom are unpacked, you can tackle your bedroom. Labeling a box with your bed’s linens will make it easier to find and unpack these first. If your bed needs to be assembled, you may want to wait and assemble it the next day. You can always sleep on a mattress on the floor and leave furniture construction for another time.

After you handle these high-traffic rooms, move on to the living room. Arrange furniture first, then set up your television, stereo, gaming system and other devices. If you have one, tackle your home office next, and leave the garage/storage area for last.

For more details about unpacking, check out the accompanying resource by Moving of America.

This infographic was created by Moving of America, a provider of moving services in NJ

Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your Closet Space

Having more clothes than you know what to do with is a problem that can build up slowly over time. Sometimes, you may not realize it’s happened until it’s too late. When your closet can’t really fit anything else without bursting open, it’s time to think about how to utilize that space better. Using these tips for getting the most out of your closet space will help you be more organized and prevent your clothes from ending up all over your home.

Be Brutal With Purging

If you want more closet space, one of the best things you can do is purge all those garments you never wear anymore. A good time to do this is when you’ve moved somewhere new or are setting up your new house. You’ll have to be a little harsh with yourself. If you haven’t worn something in the past six months, you probably won’t need it in the future. Don’t hang onto clothes you “might” need one day, as these often just end up taking more space than they need to.

Utilize Vertical Space

There’s more space in most closets than is first apparent. Make sure to look all the way up and down to find all the nooks and crannies where you can put more clothes and accessories. Collapsible hanging shelves can multiply the space you have to work with. Shoe racks below hanging clothes are another great space-saving idea. Don’t feel beholden to the space you see at first glance; use everything available to you.

Reduce Bulky Hangers

A great tip for getting the most out of your closet is to reduce the amount of space you use for things that aren’t clothes. Many people keep their clothes on large, bulky hangers, and these hangers serve very little purpose. You can find smaller and thinner hangers that work just as well as the bulky ones—and they’re usually cheaper as well. You’ll be surprised at how much space you wasted on the hangers alone once you swap them out.

Create an Organizational System

If you aren’t an organized person by nature, you may have to put in a little work for this one. Grouping things together in a way that makes sense to you will almost always provide you with more space than simply throwing items into your closet without thinking about it. Not only does an organization system create more space in your closet, but it also makes dressing every day much faster and more efficient.

Ways to Maximize Your Minimal Space

When you live in a small house or an apartment, it can be a bit frustrating trying to find room for everything. You may feel like you don't have enough space for your belongings, or even yourself. Fortunately, there are things that you can do in order to make the most out of what you do have.

Declutter

You may just simply have too many belongings for the amount of space that you have. That is why one of the best things that you can do to maximize minimal space is deciding what’s worth keeping, and what’s worth getting rid of. You should get rid of everything in your home that you no longer have a use for. Not only will you be able to move around, but it will be easier for you to get organized.

Choose Multiuse Furnishings

You may not have enough room to furnish the way that you would like. However, you can choose furnishings that have multiple purposes. For example, you can buy a piece of furniture that transforms into a table, couch, or desk. This is the ideal choice for people who live in apartments.

Use Small Shelves

Whether they’re attached to the wall or assembled as free-standing units, shelves are great for storage, though the bigger ones may not fit if you’re working with a small space. Fortunately, that means you’ll just have to break up your storage space into as many small shelves as reasonably possible. Shelves, no matter the size, can be used to maximize your space in a variety of ways. For example, you can use them in your bathroom to store your toiletries or your towels (or both). You can also use them for books or knick-knacks in your living room or bedroom. Shelves anywhere can be a useful thing to have on hand.

Conceal

If everything in an area can be seen, then that will make it appear smaller. There are several ways that you can conceal things. For example, you can use baskets and curtains to store things. You may also want to buy furniture that has built-in storage that can be tucked away.

Use Mirrors

A trick that can be used to make a space appear bigger is to use mirrors. You can use mirrors in just about any place in your home, including the bedroom, living room, entryway, or bathroom. The size of the mirror doesn't matter. Even if you only have enough room for a small mirror, you can still make the space appear bigger by finding the right place for it. Plus, there are other benefits you can reap from having a mirror. For example, it can increase the appeal of the room. It can also help you maximize the lighting in the room.

Even if you do not have a lot of space, you can still make the most of it. You can declutter, use mirrors and conceal things. You can also use small shelves. Additionally, you can buy furniture that can be used for multiple things.

Ways To Maximize Space in a Shared Kids’ Room

One of the most challenging parts of having your kids share a room is finding adequate space in it. Read on to learn about ways to maximize space in a shared kids’ room.

Double-Duty Pieces

Finding pieces of furniture that have multiple purposes is necessary for a shared room. Look for pieces that can perform a minimum of two functions. Toy chests are brilliant options because you can use them for storage and add a cushion on top to use them as seats against the wall or the end of a bed. In the same vein, wall units with shelves and dressers or desks for the kids are useful.

Loads of Shelves

Shelving is fantastic because it removes things from the floor and gives them specific places. It’s also streamlined and typically shallow, so it won’t make the room feel bulky. Keep your children’s heights in mind when choosing shelves. If you place items too high up, your kids won’t be able to reach them or put them back. As they grow, you can change the shelving to use more of the vertical space.

Shelving serves a double purpose because it can be functional and aesthetically appealing. Coordinate colors and shapes to keep the room cohesive. Breaking it up will make it feel smaller.

Bunk Beds

There are some fabulous bunk bed options out there for every style and budget. Not only will the kids appreciate them, but they’ll save a ton of space. They’re fantastic for making use of vertical space. Often, bunk beds also offer extra storage around or within their frames.

Under-the-Bed Storage

The space under the bed is a fantastic spot to store the kids’ items that they don’t regularly use. Seasonal items are great examples of this. Some companies specially design plastic storage bins for under-the-bed placement. You can purchase a bed with built-in drawers instead of using those as well. Alternatively, you can create the drawers yourself if you’re handy.

Optimize Closet Space

The closet is an essential space in a shared bedroom. Optimizing the storage space in the closet alleviates dresser space in the bedroom. Invest in a great closet organizer with shelving and drawers and approach it systematically. Do your best to use up every square inch in that closet effectively. Optimizing closet organizing maximizes the space in a shared kids’ room.

Having kids share a room may seem like a hard mountain to climb at first, but with the proper knowledge, you’ll be well on your way to organization city. Giving the room the functionality it needs will allow your children to grow and thrive.