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As you look around at all the boxes and bare walls, it may not feel like home just yet, but bear in mind that soon, the dust will settle, pictures will be hung, and everything will be in its place - after unpacking. But first, you need to unpack.
Where to start
The normal reaction when viewing the moving-day disorder is the urge to put everything in its proper place as quickly as possible so the adjustment to the new surroundings can begin. But nerves can be spared and good relations maintained if you keep in mind two important points:
- You don't have to unpack everything in one day or even in one week.
- Unpacking after moving can be fun, so try to do everything possible to make the process feel like the end of an enjoyable adventure
To start out, consider your family's basic needs (food, rest, and bathing) and unpack accordingly, focusing your attention on one room at a time.
Unpacking tips for the kitchen
Once the kitchen is set up enough to function, it can become a haven where everyone can meet and take a break from the jumble in the other rooms. Resist the urge to unpack right away everything that belongs in the kitchen. Instead, start with the basics and leave less-frequently-used items in boxes until you decide your room and storage arrangements.
Unpacking tips for the bathroom
The next room to prepare is the bathroom. Make sure toiletries are unpacked and put in place, and the bathroom's mechanical systems are functioning. Once the kitchen and the bathroom are operational, the rest of the unpacking can take place without a sense of urgency.
Unpacking tips for the living room
Now, shift your attention to the living room or family room. Before you start shifting heavy furniture around, it's a good idea to make a sketch of the room and how you want it to look. It's much easier to erase a rectangle that designates a couch and pencil it in somewhere else than it is to lift and move the actual couch around the room.
Unpacking tips for the Bedrooms
If you don't get to the bedrooms on the first night, don't be upset. Drag mattresses and pillows together in one room and have a family camp-out. It will add to the sense of adventure. Share the burden of assembling the beds and moving heavy furniture but allow each bedroom dweller to unpack and arrange his or her personal belongings.
Unpacking after you move may seem like another in a long series of huge moving-day tasks, but it doesn't have to be overwhelming if you take your time and make it fun.
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