Mastering the Move: Expert Tips for Organizing Your New Home from Day One
Mastering the Move: Expert Tips for Organizing Your New Home from Day One
Moving into a new home is a chance for a fresh start—and that includes a fresh look at the way you organize your space. Pre-ConstructionHomes.com spoke with Trish Ethridge, an organizational and moving expert with Hilldrup, who shared actionable strategies to streamline your unpacking process and create a functional, clutter-free home.
Top 5 Unpacking and Organizational Tips
- Organize before you move
- Unpack room by room
- Tackle the kitchen first
- Prioritize bedrooms and bathrooms next
- Save common rooms for last
Organization Starts Before the Move
Plan for unpacking before packing begins. Ethridge recommends assigning each room a color and packing items in matching colored boxes. Movers can then deliver boxes directly to their designated rooms, reducing clutter and saving you time. “Everything you need for a room will already be there,” she explains.
Go Room by Room
Avoid the chaos of multitasking. “Finish one room completely before moving to the next,” Ethridge advises. Celebrate small victories with rewards—a coffee break after organizing a bedroom, or a family movie night once the living room is done.
Tackle the Kitchen First
Unpack the kitchen immediately. “It’s the heart of the home and the first space you’ll need,” says Ethridge. A functional kitchen reduces reliance on takeout and creates a hub for recharging during the move.
Bedrooms and Bathrooms Next
Prioritize personal sanctuaries. For children, Ethridge suggests involving them in decisions like furniture placement or decor. “It helps them embrace the change and feel ownership,” she says. Bathrooms, with their straightforward setup, can often be unpacked alongside bedrooms.
Common Rooms Last
Invite the whole family to unpack shared spaces like living rooms. “Let everyone decide where items belong,” Ethridge recommends. This collaborative approach builds accountability and simplifies future tidying.
The Storage Areas: Basements, Attics, and Garages
Start with low-hanging fruit: Discard unopened boxes from previous moves, digitize old photos, and purge abandoned hobbies. Ethridge’s rule? “If you haven’t used it in a year, let it go.”
A New Home Equals New Opportunities
View your move as a blank canvas. “New construction buyers often feel more motivated to organize,” Ethridge observes. Break old clutter patterns by intentionally placing items instead of replicating past setups.
Post-Move Purging
Designate a staging area (like the garage) for uncertain items. “Visibility forces you to address boxes instead of forgetting them,” says Ethridge. Set a 30-day deadline to donate or discard anything unused.
Mindful Decluttering Tips
- Keep what sparks joy: “Family heirlooms or beloved items deserve a place—even if rarely used.”
- Release guilt: Don’t keep items with negative memories. “Your home should be a sanctuary.”
- Avoid storing others’ belongings: Give deadlines for pickups, then donate unclaimed items.
Embrace New Interests
Align belongings with your new lifestyle. Keep bikes if near trails, or art supplies for a sunlit studio. “Ask what opportunities your new location offers,” Ethridge advises.
Give It Time
Organizing is a journey. “It can take a year to fully settle in,” Ethridge reminds. Stay flexible—if a layout isn’t working, adjust. Prioritize comfort over perfection.
