You’ve just moved into a new home, congratulations! Starting the next chapter in your life in a fresh space that you love is an exciting opportunity. However, if you find yourself surrounded by tons of boxes and have no idea where to begin, don’t stress.

Unpacking one’s belongings is usually a lot easier than initially packing them. This is because you no longer have the pressure of relocating weighing on you and can unpack at a comfortable pace. Moreover, following a room-by-room unpacking guide can help you save time and energy.

Unpacking

Read on to learn more about this efficient unpacking strategy.

Sort the Boxes

Get organized by putting the boxes in their corresponding rooms where they will be unpacked. If you’ve labeled the boxes beforehand, this process should go smoothly. This step is crucial because trying to unpack items from a mountain of boxes and carry them to their corresponding rooms can become stressful and complicated.

Start With the Bathroom

Focus on one room at a time and unpack box by box. Start by unpacking one of the most used rooms in the house: the bathroom. Unpack essentials such as toiletries, body care products and medications. Making the powder room fully stocked and ready to use gives you an orderly and clean space for daily grooming.

Unpack the Bedroom

The bedroom should be the next room to unpack, as it’s a place of rest and relaxation. Place the furniture where you want it and assemble your bed with the mattress, bedding and pillows.  Once that is completed, unpack your clothing in the closet and dressers. You don’t have to organize clothing immediately. Just make sure your everyday garments are within reach. Adding any decorative items to the bedroom can also be done over time.

Move on to the Kitchen

Some people might think the kitchen should be unpacked first, since it’s an essential part of the home. However, the kitchen should be unpacked with care and usually requires a few days to be completely usable. Unpack major appliances first, then smaller ones including the coffee maker, toaster, microwave and blender.

Lastly, unpack dishes, glasses, silverware, pots and pans, and cooking utensils. Make sure items are properly organized; this can save you the headache of trying to find the right pans and kitchen gadgets when cooking.

Following this unpacking guide can help you get settled into your new home in no time. For more ways on how to approach room-by-room unpacking, see the accompanying resource.

Author bio: Adam Warner is Content Strategist Manager at Moving of America. Previously, Warner wrote short stories across different magazines.

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