Moving Organization Tips to Keep You Sane

Moving to a new home?

Congrats!

You’re about to experience the joy of sorting through years of stuff you forgot you even owned.

It’s a wild ride, but with a little planning (and maybe a few deep breaths), you’ll get through it.

Here’s how to make your move easier, faster, and way less stressful—plus some handy Amazon finds to keep you organized along the way.

1. Declutter Like You Mean It

Nothing makes you question your life choices like packing up a junk drawer full of expired coupons and tangled cords from electronics you no longer own.

Moving is the perfect excuse to declutter. Before you box up everything, purge like your sanity depends on it.

• Don’t drag unnecessary stuff into your new home.
• Do you really need 47 mismatched coffee mugs?
• Here’s how many towels I think you need.
• Toss, donate, or sell anything you haven’t used in the past year.
• Ask yourself, “Would I buy this again?” If not, it’s gotta go.
• If you’re too sentimental, remind yourself that fewer boxes = less unpacking later.

🛒 Declutter Must-Have: Need help getting rid of stuff? Grab these heavy-duty trash bags for all your donations and throwaways.

2. Pack a “First Night” Pack

The last thing you want after a long day of moving is to dig through a mountain of boxes looking for your toothbrush and pajamas. Pack a box with all the essentials:

• Change of clothes
• Toiletries
• Phone charger
• Snacks (because hanger is real)
• Bonus points if you throw in some disposable plates and cups—because cooking on day one? Hard pass.

🛒 Lifesaver Alert: This moving day essentials backpack keeps everything you need within reach. Or, use a clear storage bin so you can easily spot your must-haves at a glance.

3. Take Photos of Complicated Setups

Future you will be grateful.

• Unless you want to play “guess where this cord goes” with your TV, WiFi router, and other cables + cords, snap a pic before unplugging everything.
• Those kids’ bunk beds with 47 different screws? Take a picture or video of the disassembly process, and put all hardware in labeled plastic baggies so they are kept all together!
• Take a video of your home before you leave. This is useful for remembering where things were or for security deposits in rentals.

🛒 Bonus Hack: Use these cable organizers to avoid a post-move tech meltdown.

4. Label like a Pro

Forget the stacks of boxes piled up in every corner – move them immediately to the room where they belong.

• Assign each room a colored label (blue for the kitchen, pink for the bedroom, green for the “I have no idea where this goes” box) so movers—or your very reluctant family members—know exactly where to put things.
• Label boxes on the SIDE, not just the top. That way, when they’re stacked, you don’t have to play a guessing game about what’s inside.

🛒 Organization Hack: These color-coded moving labels will make unpacking 1000x easier.

5. Get Sufficient Packing Supplies

Skip the panic of hearing something shatter in a box labeled “FRAGILE” by wrapping your breakables properly.

• You need sturdy boxes and probably more packing tape than you realize!
• Use bubble wrap to keep your fragile items from shattering into a million pieces.
• If you don’t have bubble wrap, slip glasses, mugs, or vases inside thick socks for protection. Dish towels can also be used as padding (multitasking at its finest).
• Plastic wrap is your new BFF—use it to keep silverware trays, makeup organizers, and junk drawer chaos intact.
• Instead of taking clothes off their hangers one by one, wrap groups of hanging clothes in trash bags or use zip-up garment bags to transport them directly into the new closet. Wardrobe boxes work well, too.
• Use egg cartons for small items – jewelry, small screws, or random tiny items.
• Stuff shoes with small items – socks, belts, or cords, etc.
• Instead of packing empty laundry baskets and bins, fill them with household items.

🛒 Game Changer: This stretch wrap roll keeps drawers and stacks of plates together like magic.

6. Use Suitcases for Heavy Items

Cardboard boxes are great and all, but have you ever tried lugging a box full of books? Enter: rolling suitcases. They’re sturdy, have wheels (hello, convenience), and make moving heavy things much easier on your back.

🛒 No More Back Pain: This large suitcase is a moving MVP.

7. Change Your Address Before You Forget

Unless you want your mail to keep showing up at your old place, handle this ASAP.

• Update your address with USPS, banks, subscriptions, and anywhere else you regularly get mail.
• Don’t forget to tell your friends and family—unless you’re trying to ghost them, in which case, carry on.

👉 Amazon Find: Keep all your moving tasks organized with this moving checklist notepad.

8. Hire Help (Or Bribe Your Friends)

Moving solo? Nope. Get some muscle to help—whether it’s professional movers or your besties who can be persuaded with pizza and soda.

• If hiring movers, book early. They fill up FAST.
• If friends are helping, keep the snacks and hydration coming.
• Pro tip: If you don’t want your friends complaining, don’t be that person who promises “it won’t take long” and eleven hours later, everyone’s questioning your friendship.
• Tape a layout of your new place by the entrance with labeled rooms so movers know where to put boxes.

🛒 Help with the Heavy Stuff: Need to move heavy furniture? These furniture sliders and moving straps will save your back!

9. Unpack by Priority, Not by Panic

Resist the urge to rip open every box like a kid on Christmas morning. Start with essentials (kitchen, bathroom, clothes) and work your way through the rest. And yes, the ‘decor’ boxes can probably wait—no one needs throw pillows before they have towels.

• Set up your bed first. You’ll thank yourself when you’re exhausted at the end of the day and just want to crash.
• Keep your shower curtain and hooks handy. Nothing worse than needing a shower and realizing you have no curtain or hooks.
• When you’re ready, here’s how to organize every space in your home.

🛒 Get Unpacking Fast: This box cutter set makes breaking into boxes way easier.

10. Schedule Utilities in Advance

Nothing says “welcome home” like no electricity or WiFi. Call ahead and set up utilities to be switched on before move-in day so you’re not unpacking in the dark.

True Story: In our last home, we had a couple move in next door who were first-time home owners. A day or two into their move, the man came over with a wet paintbrush, asking if I noticed that our water had been turned off. He said he was trying to wash his paintbrush and his water won’t turn on. Turns out, he didn’t know he needed to put the water in his name, so he had no water going to the house at all! Don’t make that same mistake, ok? (wink)

🛒 Stay Powered Up: This portable charger will save your phone battery when your WiFi isn’t set up yet.

11. Give Yourself Grace (and Maybe a Nap)

Moving is stressful, and things will go wrong. Boxes will get lost, something will break, and you might cry at some point. It’s all part of the adventure.

Take breaks, order takeout, and know that eventually, you’ll be settled in and laughing about it—probably.

Got any genius moving organization tips? Drop them in the comments—let’s make moving suck less together! 🚛📦

And if you want to throw yourself a goodbye party, we’ve got some fun Moving Party details + invitations.