Unpacking Strategy

[OhWifey]

What are your top tips for unpacking. We had the full packing service. Stuff is arriving today. Two small people. Where would you start?

Start with (at least some of) the kids stuff so they have a safe room with familiar toys to play in.

then do beds and bedding so however much you get done you have a place to crash tonight.

then kitchen.

then clothes.

then all the other random stuff families acquire.

we’ve moved a lot and always follow this pattern now.

Set up their bedroom first so everything is familiar. That way you have more chance of them settling. We moved when DC was two. They went to nursery for the day and they came home to their bedroom fully set up and the kitchen.
The time we moved (no small DC) we unpacked the kitchen sorted out the clothes and then had two bedrooms rammed with boxes which we just kept chipping away at.

Very helpful. Thanks

Always get beds put together and made up. Then unpack as much of the kitchen as is practicable (the cupboards here were dirty). Somewhere to collapse before you go to bed.

Pack the kettle last and unpack it first. Then have the kids beds in and made.
Then have the adults beds in and made. If you can, leave the little people with a relative for the day.

Going against the grain, I’d set up all furniture before you start on any “stuff” boxes. Means you can unpack things directly into their permanent home without ending up with things in piles in the floor getting in the way whilst you are trying to assemble the furniture.

Top advice from my MIL that we have always followed: Beds built and made first. Then you can collapse into them at whatever point you run out of steam.