Getting Ready to Move?
- Making Space with Lily
- Mar 28
- 3 min read
I personally believe that 80% of organizational problems would be solved if you pack properly when you move. Here are some of my tips to set yourself up for success in your new space.
1. Assess your new space.
Having a floor plan with measurements will make determining what you will be able to fit much easier and will prevent you from paying to move heavy and large pieces that may not fit. Here are a few questions to ask yourself: Are you downsizing or expanding? How do your storage spaces (closets, attic, basement, shed etc.) compare to your old home? Is the house the same architectural style? Are you planning to repaint, and will you keep the same color scheme?
2. With your new space in mind, declutter before packing anything.
There is no reason to pack up things that you don’t want or need. This is particularly important for your storage areas or areas where things have been untouched for months, years, or possibly your last move! Especially if downsizing considerably, you need to be realistic about how much you will be able to fit. I generally do not recommend renting a long term storage unit, unless the items stored have a concrete plan to be used—for example holiday décor or other seasonal items that come out every single year. Even if you are moving to a larger space, that doesn’t mean you don’t need to declutter. Moving is a chance for a clean slate, and at the very least you should get rid of broken, worn out, or simply unused (unusable) items.
3. Before you start filling boxes, put like items together. Packing all kitchen items at the same time, even if they are not currently stored in the kitchen, will allow you to see where you have duplicates (which you may be able to further declutter), but will also make unpacking more deliberate. Just because something was stored in a different room before, doesn’t mean it will in your next space. The same goes with clothing, office supplies, toys, and really any category. I frequently find that homes have a box or two that end up in storage because no one actually knows what’s in it, and when opened it is a random assortment of things that have since been replaced.
4. Now that you are ready to start filling boxes, be sure to LABEL them well. I have seen many different methods of labeling, and the key is to use something that make sense to you, and is easy for the movers to understand. Knowing what room a box will end up in is important, but it is just as important that you know what is in the box. Several years ago, my husband and I created a spreadsheet of what was contained in each moving box and numbered them. This allowed us to be able to search the spreadsheet and determine which exact box an item was in. More recently these QR code labels have been released, and they are an awesome alternative, which allow a photo of the boxes contents as well as a description that can be exported or viewed by scanning it: https://amzn.to/4kFGXZt These also work well for anything in storage, especially stacked boxes, so that the exact contents can be determined without moving things around.
Moving is one of the most stressful things you can do, but if you go about it in an organized and methodical way as I’ve described above, you can reduce your stress on moving day and beyond and speed up your way to enjoying your new home.
Are there any other areas that need a refresh in your house?
I would love to help you get your house organized!
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