What Should You Unpack First After Moving?

You finally made it through the move. Now you’re standing in a new home surrounded by boxes and figuring out where to start feels like another project. 

You do not need to unpack everything on day one. Start with the things that help you eat, sleep, shower and get through your normal routine. Once the essentials are handled, you can work through the rest of your boxes without feeling like you have to finish your entire home overnight. 

What Should You Unpack First After a Move?

Start with the items you will need during your first 24 hours. 

Ideally, these should travel with you in a clearly labeled essentials box or bag rather than getting buried in the moving truck. 

Your first-day essentials might include: 

• Phone chargers 
• Medications 
• Toiletries 
• Toilet paper 
• Hand soap 
• Towels 
• A change of clothes 
• Pajamas 
• Basic cleaning supplies 
• Pet food and supplies 
• Important documents 
• A few basic kitchen items 

Think about what you normally use between getting home at night and leaving the next morning. Those are the things you want within reach first. 

Should You Unpack the Bedroom First?

Your bedroom should be one of the first rooms you set up, even if you do not completely unpack it. 

Moving is exhausting, and assembling your bed at 11 p.m. after spending all day opening boxes is not ideal. Put together your bed frame, unpack your bedding and make the bed earlier in the day. 

You can organize your closet and decorate later. For the first night, having somewhere comfortable to sleep is enough. 

What Should You Unpack in the Bathroom?

Next, get at least one bathroom functional. 

You probably do not need to organize every drawer immediately. Start with: 

• Toilet paper 
• Hand soap 
• Toothbrush and toothpaste 
• Shower supplies 
• Towels 
• Shower curtain, if needed 
• Everyday skincare and personal care products 

Having a working bathroom and being able to take a shower can make a half-unpacked home feel significantly more livable. 

What Should You Unpack in the Kitchen First?

You do not need a perfectly organized kitchen to make it through your first few days. 

Start with the basics you use every day, such as: 

• A few plates and bowls 
• Cups and mugs 
• Silverware 
• One or two pots and pans 
• A cooking utensil 
• Coffee maker or kettle 
• Dish soap and sponge 
• Trash bags 
• Frequently used small appliances 

Leave specialty cookware, serving dishes and rarely used appliances boxed until you have figured out where your everyday kitchen items belong. 

Should You Unpack Your Closet Right Away?

Unpack enough clothing to get through the next several days, but do not feel pressured to organize your entire wardrobe immediately. 

Start with everyday clothes, work clothes, underwear, socks, shoes and whatever you need for the current weather. 

Moving into a new home can also be a good opportunity to rethink your closet organization. Instead of immediately putting everything away, pay attention to how much space you actually have and which items deserve the easiest-to-reach spots. 

What Can Wait Until Later?

Some boxes can stay closed for a little while. 

Depending on your household, you may be able to wait on: 

• Books 
• Wall art 
• Decorative objects 
• Extra linens 
• Specialty kitchenware 
• Off-season clothing 
• Holiday decorations 
• Hobby supplies 
• Extra furniture 

Leaving lower-priority items packed can also help you avoid filling every cabinet, shelf and closet before you understand how you want to use the space. 

What If Everything Doesn’t Fit in Your New Home?

Sometimes you do not realize how much—or how little—storage your new home has until you start unpacking. 

If boxes are piling up because you do not have room for everything, resist the urge to squeeze belongings into every available corner. Sort out what you need now, what you can donate or sell and what you may want to use later. 

For belongings you want to keep but do not currently have room for, Public Storage offers storage unit sizes for different needs, with month-to-month rentals that can be useful while you settle into a new space. 

How Long Should It Take to Unpack After Moving?

There is no deadline for having every box emptied. 

Focus first on making your home functional. Once you can comfortably sleep, shower, get dressed and prepare basic meals, tackle the remaining boxes room by room. 

You may even find that waiting to unpack certain things makes it easier to decide whether you actually need them. If a box stays untouched for weeks, take another look at what is inside before automatically finding a place for everything. 

Your new home does not have to be completely unpacked to start feeling like home.