Make Moving and Unpacking Fun

Unpacking and fun: If you’ve ever moved, whether across town or across the country, the idea of those two words in the same sentence probably seems like madness. However, with a bit of advance planning and imagination, you can turn one of life’s great stresses into an enjoyable experience.

Divide and Conquer

The first step actually starts on the packing end of things. Give each room in the house its own color and symbol — the kitchen is a red star, the master bath is a blue circle, the youngest child’s room is a yellow triangle, and so on. Mark each box and item with that room’s symbol. You can write directly on boxes with fat colored markers. Use strips of tape for furniture and other items.

When you get to your new home, tape a copy of each symbol above the corresponding doors. The moving crew can quickly unpack the moving van and easily see where everything goes.

Map It Out

Professional unpackers Mary Ann Brewer and Nancy Loyd, whose Washington, D.C.-based business Busy Buddies tackles unpacking tasks large and small, swear by the idea of a floor plan. “It’s the cornerstone of your move,” Brewer said. “You’re paying these movers by the hour, and the floor plan saves not only time but money.” The floor plan doesn’t have to be a work of art, just a basic sketch of each room and where the furniture goes.

If you’re moving with children, a floor plan is a great way to get them involved. Let them decide where they want their bed, where to put the dresser. You may wind up changing things later, but giving kids this bit of control on moving day can make a happy difference. Again, tape the floor plans outside each room so that the movers will know without having to ask (and ask and ask) where to place the furniture in each room.

The Vacation Strategy

Another Busy Buddies trick: Pack yourself a bag as though you were going on a week’s vacation. Fill it with the clothing and toiletries you’ll need to get through the first week. Don’t forget medication, a basic first aid kit, backup eyeglasses and contacts and (if you’re moving with an infant) diapers and baby gear. This way everyone can spend the first few days in the new home without rummaging through boxes for a couple of aspirin or a clean pair of socks.

Survivor

Pack a basics box for each room in the house. Rather than put all the linens you own in a single box, fill a bedding box for each bedroom: sheets, pillows, comforters and, for those in need, bedtime toys. Bathrooms will need toilet paper, bath towels and mats, a shower curtain, soap, garbage can and — trust me — a plunger. Let the kids fill a box with the personal items that make their rooms feel like home: posters, toys, photos, books.

Kitchen as Command Post

You know how everyone winds up in the kitchen during a party? Use this to your advantage and make the new kitchen the cozy nexus of your evolving home. Pack a box of kitchen basics– a few pots and pans, dishes and utensils, the coffee pot, a trash can and liners, cleaning products and, if you use it a lot, your microwave.

If you can summon the energy to make a meal your first night in the house, more power to you. If not, phoning for take-out can add a sense of occasion. A supply of easy treats like microwave popcorn, slice-and-bake cookies, presliced carrot and celery sticks, and flavored fizzy waters will be welcome rewards during the hours of hard work.