6 Unexpected Tips AT Staffers Want You to Know Before Your Next Move
You can’t avoid every stressor that comes with moving. But you can have a plan to mitigate the struggle of packing your life into cardboard boxes — one that will help you enjoy your new space sooner and make it feel like it’s truly yours.
To help make your next move easier, we asked three recently relocated, moving-savvy Apartment Therapy staffers for their best advice. The one through-line? Prioritize making your new bedroom as restful as possible. Better sleep can help you feel your best in a new home, and Tuft & Needle has the sleep essentials that help you feel energized and refreshed — no matter how tough your move.
Laina Zissu, Director of Programmatic Partnerships
1. Expect the unexpected.
Planning a wedding and a move at the same time, like Laina Zissu did, meant accepting that some things may go astray — and that’s OK. Getting in the mindset that you may have to change plans can make those moments less stressful and, in Laina’s case, help you feel at home.
“After being in storage for two years, our leather ottoman got damaged when the packing tape on it was removed,” Laina says. But rather than fret over furniture scuffs, she made it an opportunity to add an unexpected personal touch to their decor. “We still love it, and it just has some extra character!”
2. Turn your bedroom into a sanctuary.
Getting on your phone just before bed or first thing in the morning is a hard habit to break, but being in a new space is a great time to establish new habits. Laina stopped bringing her phone to bed and turned to the tranquil sounds of her SNOOZ White Noise Machine and Loftie Alarm Clock to get herself acclimated to her new home.
Laina’s SNOOZ uses real fan noise with no moving air to mask the unfamiliar sounds of her new neighborhood, while the Loftie’s two-phase alarm helps her wake up more peacefully. “Thanks to the alarm clock, I have kicked my phone out of the bedroom,” Laina says. Plus, the Loftie’s additional features — like a guided meditation audio — help her fall and stay asleep faster than anything on her phone.
Aaron Nachmann, Director of Media Operations
3. Learn ALL of your new place’s moving policies.
It seems simple, knowing exactly when you can move in and what kind of deposits or mover insurance forms an apartment building may need. But come the big day, you’ll thank yourself for double checking these small details. Aaron Nachmann learned this at his new apartment, when the movers arrived too early and he had to pay them just to babysit his stuff.
“The building I moved into had strict move-in windows for new tenants,” Aaron says. “Unfortunately, the movers were too efficient and they had all my things packed before I was able to unload my items into my new apartment.”
4. Prioritize a great night’s rest.
During Aaron’s last move he took stock of his sleeping habits and updated his bedroom to make him feel completely rested. As a result, he found himself enjoying his new home sooner.
“When I moved into my new apartment, I realized I had pillows that weren’t supporting my neck properly,” Aaron says. “The Tuft and Needle Foam Pillow stays cool and manages to be both soft and supportive.”
As someone who sleeps hot, Aaron found additional cooling relief in Tuft & Needle’s Linen Sheets: “Both my foam pillow and linen sheets are incredibly breathable. They make transitioning into the summer much easier.”
And when you want the added convenience of getting your mattress delivered to your new place — instead of lugging it yourself — Tuft & Needle’s Mint Mattress offers a seamless transition. It’s made with an extra layer of foam, cooling gel, and reinforced edges that relieve pressure. (Bonus: It comes with a washable cover to easily keep your mattress clean!)
Samantha O’Brochta, Social Media Editor
5. Don’t say goodbye; say see you soon!
Samantha O’Brochta has spent the last ten years moving between the Pacific Northwest, London, and New York City, so she’s used to making friends who she has to leave. These goodbyes can be an unexpected stressor, so Samantha’s advice is to embrace your long-distance friends for being long-distance.
“No matter how many times you move, it never gets easier to leave the people you care about and love. Every time I move back to the Pacific Northwest and spend time with my family, I always cry when I leave,” Samantha says. “Allow yourself to feel those feelings of longing, because there’s nothing wrong with missing people.”
6. Create a sense of home.
After getting to your new place and realizing you now have to unpack everything, you’ll appreciate having a restful place to take a nap. You can help yourself recharge by making your new sleeping space feel cozy and lived-in, and Samantha found that new bedding did just the trick.
“I am usually not someone who cares about thread count or how fancy my sheets are, but I am now fully converted by the T&N Linen Sheet Set,” Samantha says. “It makes our bed feel like we are in a fancy hotel room, which is something I need at the end of a long day.”
Samantha also found it useful to have multiple pillow options. “When I need a bit more support, I use the Original Foam Pillow, and when I just want to zonk out after a tiring day, the Down Alternative Pillow is so puffy and comforting to drift off into.” With these comforts of home, you can easily reset your mind and body after a busy day.