6 Tips to Make Unpacking Easier
- Shiffy ClearSpace
- May 14
- 4 min read
July 5, 2025
Does anyone enjoy moving? Although I've only made 2 major moves in my life (I refuse to keep bouncing around. If I move, it needs to be 1000% worth it.) I can unequivocally say that moving is the worst. Especially with infants. And all the more so when the burden falls on an already busy life.
However, after one G-d awful move with a 5-month-old myself and having assisted many clients move, I have found some simple systems and strategies that make moving easier. , I've perfected the art of unpacking by helping my clients create organizational systems in their new homes. We even offer The Seamless Move service to make your moves easy and seamless.
Without further ado, here are some Do's and Don'ts for Unpacking:
1. Purge Before the Move
Purge when packing. Taking an honest look at what you are really, truly using as you pack up helps to set your home up for success. For example, if you haven't used your second set of kitchen utensils in over a year, don't waste time or space by taking them to your new home.
2. Place the Boxes in their Designated Zone to Begin with
All the changes are hard enough as it is; why make it even harder than necessary?
Have the movers place the boxes in the designated rooms to begin with. This will help avoid having to open 20+ boxes to find the pots and pans when you're trying to make a simple homemade meal. When all the kitchen boxes are already in the kitchen, you'll find said items much faster-and probably by the time you hit box#5.
3. Break Down Boxes As You Go
Being unpacked and set up lifts a huge weight off your shoulders. To have that bubble busted when you see a huge pile of empty boxes in your garage or shed is quite the bummer. Decide on a destination ahead of time for boxes to be donated or recycled once broken down. When the pile of broken-down boxes starts to feel unmanageable, it's time to make that trip to the donation center/recycling dumpster. Keep box cutters in designated areas (not your pocket! Guess how I learned that life lesson) so that they don't get misplaced.
4. Map Out Your New Home
Be intentional about where things get placed. Doing this before you unpack will save you from the hassle of having to go in and reorganize a few months down the road. Take advantage of the empty space! Map out the areas of your home that make sense to you. Prioritize the items that are the most important to you and require prime real estate in your closets and cabinets. Keep in mind conveniences; so spices should be kept near the oven, serving wear in a drawer near the cupboard holding serving bowls, etc. Another good tactic is to use Post-its to lay out what clothing items go in which dresser drawer once dressers are placed in the right bedrooms.
5. Work in Zones
Unpack in zones. Tackle the kitchen first, then bedrooms and bathrooms. I recommend unpacking in this order because it addresses your primary needs: nourishment, sleep, and hygiene. Once a space is close to completion, create a shopping list for immediate needs, then move on to the next space.
6. Take Your Time
It's overwhelming, I know. But try not to get sucked into it and frozen. Unpacking after moving takes hundreds of hours. When we unpack our clients, we come in with a team of organizing professionals, and it takes multiple days. If you are doing it on your own, it will take a significant amount of time, and that's ok! Have a bag packed with essentials to get you through the first few days (toilet paper, cleaning supplies, toiletries, and clothing), and recognize that getting settled takes TIME.
We have curated a list of packing supplies to help ease this process for you!
Are you moving and feeling like you simply don't wanna deal? Reach out to us and inquire about our Seamless Move Service to see how we can be of service to you.
And if you're looking for a truly unique gift, why not give the gift of stress-free organizing? It’s a thoughtful and timeless gesture anyone would appreciate!
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Shiffy is the founder of ClearSpace by Shiffy LLC, a Professional Home Organizing Business in South Florida, servicing Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties. She loves creating systems out of chaos and is known for her attention to detail, and ensuring that each project is customized and streamlined to fit the customer's lifestyle. Her projects are easy to maintain long term, bringing function to any space. She shares her tips and tricks on Instagram @clearspacebyshiffy
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