How to Make Moving Easier

While moving has the reputation of being stressful and chaotic, there are many steps you can take along the way to minimize such challenges. The key to a seamless moving process begins with decluttering. Your future self will thank you–especially on moving day and unpacking day.

A week before you begin packing, I suggest culling through your possessions in each room of your home. Now’s the time to really be honest with yourself about things you truly don’t like, use, or need. That pasta maker that’s been collecting dust in your kitchen cabinet will probably have a similar fate in your new home. Now’s the time to pass it along to a friend, sell it on Craigslist, or bring it to your local Goodwill. 

Same goes for your clothes and shoes. As in regular decluttering sessions, it’s important to take each item off the clothing rack and assess whether you really like it. If you haven’t worn those neon crop tops since college, chances are they won’t be worn in your new place. Places like thredUp and the RealReal make it easy to ship off your items by providing you with a free shipping label.

As you begin packing, opt for moving boxes that are a breeze to handle and easy to assemble. Home Depot’s Moving Boxes might need no introduction, but they are my go-to for being incredibly sturdy, durable and reusable.

When it comes to packing up your possessions, the key is to sort and categorize items before placing them in a box. It’s no fun to unpack a box labeled “miscellaneous” full of random stuff like tennis balls, cat toys, and light bulbs. Simply placing items together that belong in the same room will save you from future unpacking chaos. 

Using a sharpie or another visible marker, label each box according to the room to which it belongs, and its contents underneath the label. The brain becomes overwhelmed by any number greater than three, so it’s best to limit each box to three categories (e.g., kitchen tools, cake pans and glassware). 

While we’re on the topic of fragile items like glassware, it goes without saying but you can never have too much packing paper (newspaper also works just fine too, in a pinch). Art can be bubble wrapped with two sheets and secured with masking tape. As for packing tape, no need to go wild. Apply two layers to the center of the box, and one layer to the center of each box flap. 

For clothes, you could certainly use a wardrobe moving box, but I find that large cloth suitcases work just fine to transport your clothes. Shoes tend to fill up fast in moving boxes, so I also recommend using suitcases instead. If you have dust bags to protect your shoes, all the better. 

On moving day, the first order of business is to eat a solid breakfast and fill up your water bottle so you stay hydrated throughout the day. Save breaking in those new Levi’s jeans for a future date. Comfortable sneakers and leggings are a must. The second order of business is to stock a bag with unpacking essentials like scissors, cleaning wipes/paper towels, trash bags and a few snacks to stay energized. 

As you load up your truck or car with boxes, it’s important to be strategic with box placement. To make unloading a breeze, place boxes in the same area of the vehicle that go in the same room. Heavier boxes go beneath lighter ones and fragile items (e.g., glassware, pottery, and art) go in at the very last, to avoid breakage. 

Now for the the unpacking! As you unload boxes from the truck, bring them to each room they belong. If you have a moving partner/buddy, you can tackle one room at a time or divide and conquer. Resist opening up random boxes at a time in each room, as far less progress is made this way.

Keep garbage bags handy for disposing of packing materials, recycling packing paper when possible. Before storing away items in cabinets and closets, wipe down surfaces with cleaning wipes to remove any lingering dust and dirt.

Finally, Rome wasn’t built in a day, so don’t feel pressure to unpack everything in one go. Prioritize which rooms need to be unloaded first depending on which items/rooms you use the most frequently. This might mean unpacking clothing, kitchen items, bathroom and desk items first before moving on to your living room and dining room. By being strategic, pragmatic and prepared for your move, you’ll be a moving pro in no time.