One of the distinct challenges of military life is frequent moves. Once you’ve received the official orders for the next duty station, life gets absolutely crazy.
It can quickly feel like you’re stuck in a whirlwind. The relocation process can be overwhelming, from packing and goodbyes to unpacking after a move.
For me, one of the more stressful situations throughout this process is moving into our next home. A new home with different spaces, a different layout, different window sizes, you name it!
Balancing this with my family’s needs is more challenging, especially when little kids are involved.
And, when the sea of boxes arrives from the moving company, you may have that paralyzing feeling of where to start.
The Benefits of Prioritizing Rooms for Unpacking after a Move
Unpacking the chaos to gain a sense of normalcy should be prioritized. It was necessary for our OCONUS PCS to Germany to turn these boxes and mayhem into a comfortable and functional home.
Moving to a foreign country and living on the economy, we needed that safe and comfortable space.
My young kids need routine, and being moved into a house fosters this necessity. It was imperative to figure out how to unpack after moving, in an organized way.
For our OCONUS move to Germany, the one other American family watched our son (who was 18 months) every day for a single week. My husband and I worked vigorously to unpack and move in. We prioritized certain rooms, ensuring that we had comfortable and functional areas that helped decrease stress and provide stability and comfort for our son.
My husband and I assigned ourselves different rooms, each prioritizing our own to-do list. Every morning, we would discuss our unpacking tasks for the day and what should be prioritized for this unpacking process.
This guide will help you unpack and move in with a strategic approach that will ultimately meet your family’s needs. This functional approach focuses on certain rooms and spaces, which will prioritize your family, help you stay organized, and increase your motivation to get it done.
And once you’re moved in, you can focus on this next chapter! I have also included some great unpacking tips!
Unpacking Tip: The best way to utilize this method is to have the large furniture and cardboard boxes with each room’s items in the appropriate rooms.
Related Posts:
5 Reasons to Downsize Before your Move to Germany
A Military PCS: How to Prepare and Pack for HHG, UB, & NTS
Create the Best Organized PCS Binder with Free Printables
Easy Tips for Packing and Moving with a Toddler
A Complete OCONUS Guide for Shipping your Car to Germany
Unpacking after a Move: Room by Room
Kids Bedrooms
My son’s first PCS was in Germany, and he was 18 months old. We learned so much and decided to prioritize every move going forward: the kids’ rooms, especially with them being young.
New rooms can be scary, especially if their room is filled with boxes.
Prioritizing their room helps ensure comfort and safety early on. I consider this the most important room to set up if you have little kids.
Set up their bed
If it’s an OCONUS PCS, your kids have probably been without their crib or bed for weeks to months. Make the bed with their favorite sheets, comfortable pillows, and blankets. Make it inviting!
Focus on a sense of security and comfort
When you’re setting up their room, be sure to focus on security. Unpacking all of their items will give them a sense of familiarity!
Tip: If you’re moving OCONUS, understand that the outlets are 220V. We were unable to bring any lamps etc.
I purchased this night light, and my son loves it! Thankfully, our hatch sound machine and Owlet are safe to use in the 220 outlets.
For these electronics, I only needed to purchase these converters.
Once their bedroom is all set up, this can be a great safe place for them to play during the day, while unpacking the house during the day. Spending more time in the room will help them adjust to this new space.
And remember, it can take some time for little kids to adapt to this new space. Don’t be surprised if they go through a regression of some form.
Tip: I did not prioritize organizing and unpacking his clothes. I kept them in another room until I could organize them in his dresser.
Living Room: The Central Family Room
Prioritizing the living room gives the family a comfortable place to relax amidst the chaos. Unpack the sofa and determine the best placement. Set up the TV, entertainment centers, and any game consoles.
Once I located some of our blankets, I immediately threw them on the sofa along with some pillows. Anything to help make it feel cozy and homey.
I’m pretty sure my husband and I slept on our sofa the first few nights.
Having a space to unwind after a long day of unpacking and moving is essential!
Tips: We also had a little area for my son’s toys, which gave him another space.
Having this central area will provide set up will provide you with a sense of accomplishment and will help you and your family members stay motivated throughout this
Organizing the Kitchen
I can’t tell you how many times I rearranged our kitchen cabinets throughout this process. And for our PCS to Germany, the kitchen was the size of a tiny walk-in closet. Needless to say, we had to be very creative and keep some of our kitchen items packed in our little storage unit.
Prioritize unpacking your basic kitchen supplies, such as everyday dishes and your coffee maker
Before unpacking everything, map out the cabinets and space. Consider using Post-it notes! This will help you visualize your kitchen space and keep it organized.
Keep your stovetop clear, and designate some counter space to prepare meals. This will help reduce the reliance on take-out.
Prioritize cleaning off the dining room table every night so the family can sit down together for dinner.
Tip: Many kitchen appliances are only 120v, which is an issue if you move overseas. We put all of our kitchen appliances in NTS (Non-Temporary Storage).
Setting up the Bedrooms
Having a calm retreat at the end of these busy days is essential! For our move to Germany, I was so happy when we received our HHG, I could have cried! The army rental furniture was extraordinarily uncomfortable!
During those first two days, the bed was basically a storage space for piles of clothes and bedroom items. Prioritizing your bed with warm blankets and pillows ready to sleep in will help you relax in the evening and visualize your room.
Set up an area for chargers and personal items to be easily found.
Pull out a few changes of clothing for the week and unpack the clothes when the room is set up.
Kids Play Rooms
Prioritize the playroom or play area if you have young children.
They will be so excited to have all of their toys and other items. This will help them understand that this new house is their new home.
Focus on their favorite items and books. Consider including them in this process!If your kids are school-aged, this could be a great place for homework and crafts.
This space will become familiar and help establish a new norm and routine.
Tip: Work on the home office if you’re not organizing a playroom.
Related Post: Easy Tips for Packing and Moving with a Toddler
Bathrooms: Making them functional
There is something particularly miserable about unpacking bathroom boxes; in my experience, there is so much stuff!
If you have older kids, prioritize their bathroom first. Then, the central bathroom, and finally, the master bathroom.
Take a minute and visualize the space. Use Post-it notes to help you stay organized. Just like the kitchen, I like to add the drawer liner protectors.
Have a little essentials box or basket that you can hold and keep items separate from the clutter.
Essential items such as:
- Toothbrushes
- Toothpaste
- Basic toiletries
- Skincare products
- Makeup
- hair accessories
Unpacking Tip: It’s a good idea to buy toilet paper, hand soap, and even an inexpensive shower curtain as soon as you move into your new place.
Additional Areas and Tips for Unpacking after a Move
Setting up the Entryway
Consider this a huge step in establishing a morning routine. Visualize your reentry way!
Will you have a coat closet? Or hooks and baskets?
Set aside an area to put your wallet, purse, and keys!
I lost my keys while unpacking our HHG in Germany, and replacing keys is a huge deal! You can’t just go and have a copy made. Thankfully, I found them a couple of days later.
Unpack and Organize the Clothes
Managing clothes while unpacking for a move can be so tedious and probably my least favorite of the entire process.
Get organized now. If you don’t prioritize this, you will create more work for yourself later.
If you’re moving to Germany or other OCONUS locations, be prepared for limited closets and storage space.
Garage or Storage Areas
Consider this the ideal place to store items, such as gym equipment, seasonal items, or additional storage.
This should be the final room to organize! Ensure all box labels are clearly seen, and assign them to dedicated spaces.
Minimally separate the boxes into categories. Put up shelving and label everything. Staying organized will help you find everything. These unpacking tips will help ensure your garage is a functional space.
Related Posts:
A Complete OCONUS Guide for Shipping your Car to Germany
An OCONUS PCS: A Checklist to Prepare You for Your Move
Create the Best Organized PCS Binder with Free Printables
A Military PCS: How to Prepare and Pack for HHG, UB, & NTS
My final thoughts on How to Unpack after Moving: Room by Room
Settling into a new home after a PCS can be a lot, and let’s be honest, the moving process is never fun. Navigating a new city, the kids’ schools or even a new country can be overwhelming.
Prioritizing your home will help you establish routines faster and ultimately give you the sensation of starting a new chapter with a fresh start.
Tackling the essentials will bring order, familiarity, and comfort, ultimately benefiting this entire PCS.
As you prioritize your rooms through this process, remember to take it one step at a time. Don’t worry about decorating or perfecting each space. The goal is for these spaces to be functional and meet your family’s needs. And don’t forget to schedule breaks!
Remember, unpacking after a move is a gradual process! Find the pace that works for you.
I would love to hear any feedback! Do you have an upcoming move? What are some of your how to unpack after moving strategies? If you use any of these unpacking tips, I would love to hear about it!
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