Whether I've swapped homes, settled into a dorm room, checked into a hotel, or moved into a rental, there's always that moment, once all the boxes or bags have been moved in and the other people — whether movers, parents, taxicab drivers, or friends — are gone, that the door closes and I'm left wondering, now what?
Whether I'm going to be in a place for a few days or a few years, I've discovered that creating a landing strip near the front entrance quickly brings the sense of peace that is the essence of what home is to me. The landing strip is where I'll corral all that stuff — from my keys to my purse to the contents of my pockets — that comes into the house with me. It's also where I'll put the stuff — from directions to grocery lists — that I'll need to take with me when I run out the door (having it all here prevents that mad scramble to find them). Depending on my home's arrangement, this can be something as simple as a chair (in my house swap, I created one from a hanger and a wooden footstool), as basic as a closet, or as elaborate as a room with cubbyholes for each member of the family and a bench to sit on while putting on or taking off shoes. Taking a few moments to create this organized space brings a sense of order and control to an otherwise chaotic experience and ensures that, while the unpacking may take a while to complete, all of the key items I'm likely to need over the next few days will be in one place.
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I concur! I always have to have my "getting ready" routine set up. On my last move it was tricky because our bathroom is tiny and has no electrical outlets! So I had to set up my hairdryer, etc. in my bedroom.
Those ubiquitous IKEA boxes really helped me corral my hair stuff!
http://thenestinggame.com/2009/11/19/vanity-fair/
Maybe I misunderstand the question, but the first thing I do when moving into a new space is hang pictures. Before anything is unpacked, I need something on the walls, even if I have to take them all down later to paint.
Paint the walls?
Oh darn, was hoping this article would have more advice because I just moved 2 weeks ago and things are still chaos.
Oh darn, still hoping this article will have more advices because I'll be moving in next week and things are not yet chaos lol
Really, I have no idea how to start by what with what.... I already got a traditional spot everywhere I go (new home, hotel room, friend's place for overnight stays, mom's place, etc.) where I leave together the key items useful to me (keys, id card, credit card, transportation tickets, wristwatch, etc.).
The first things to unpack should be (according to me) the bathroom stuff, the bedroom stuff and all of the tools needed to work with (paint, hammer, nails, brushes, driller, etc.).
I just moved from Boston to San Deigo and stuff is EVERYWHERE!
The landing strip has just been set up and I already feel better
I would love some ideas for a semi-attractive way to store shoes etc at the front door - going for the no-shoes and home rule.
Probably also use the top of it for storing keys / wallet etc. I have a cruddy $20 bookshelf at the moment, but would prefer for shoes not to be proudly on display...
I have had a bench with a basket that slides underneath and holds about a dozen pairs of shoes. In past homes, then bench fit right in the entryway. In my newest home, I just have the basket that slides under a staircase. There's a rug that creates a "foyer" and that's where the shoes come off. AT, please do a small home focused landing strip/entryway feature!
THANK YOU for not mentioning scented candles in this post!
Set up my bedroom with the basics (wash sheets if needed, make bed), next bathroom (toilet paper, towels, shower curtain, soap, toiletries, etc) then kitchen (put away food, dishes, etc). Everything else I put away slowly until I figure out a new "home" for everything I unpack. The last step takes me a few months but I feel more settled taking it slow.
My husband and I went with our daughter to her condo closing and then right to her place.
The only 2 items she brought with her on that first trip were her pink Kitchenaid mixer...and a framed photo of her with her cherished grandma.
The last time I moved we used movers. I packed the boxes and marked them with the room they were going into. We painted the new place the week before we moved in. When we all arrived at the new place I directed where everything went. The movers even set up my bed. By nine that evening everything was unpacked and put away. That weekend all we had to do was hang pictures and art. You just need to think about how you are going to use the new space and organize your move. Measure the space you are moving to and develop a layout plan. Edit your belongings before you move so that you don't end up with a lot of stuff that doesn't fit.
Oh man, don't I know it!
I'm in the process of rehabbing an old secretary/bread box/telephone table to serve as my landing strip in my new living area, but I haven't quite finished painting it yet (it's at my Mom's) and its unfinished nature and absence is killing me!
I never know where to put my purse or my keys or my mail. I feel a little bit like a vagrant. I probably will keep feeling that way until next week when the egress window is installed and I can move my couch in and move to my proper bedroom, but still. It's not having a landing strip that's bugging me the most.
The kitchen. Upacking the kitchen is first on my list. If I cant function normally in that one room then I am a wreck. I dont know, maybe its because growing up (and now in my own home) the kitchen is the heart of the house.
Take "before" pictures and then you can admire your artistic touches after.
Also don't forget to invite your friends and neighbours for a house warming party ASAP!