How to Declutter and Organize Before and After a Big Move

This post may contain affiliate links.

Are you preparing for a major move? Don’t haul along a bunch of stuff that’s just going to sit there collecting dust in the moving truck. Take a moment to declutter and organize your space before the move, allowing you to kick off a fresh chapter in your new home.

Explore the perks of decluttering and organizing, and check out some practical tips and tricks below.

Benefits of Decluttering Before a Move

Let’s be real—moving is a headache. So many people feel it’s one of the most stress-inducing things they’ve ever dealt with. While this may be true, it’s easy to feel tempted to toss everything into boxes, swearing you’ll sort it out later. But the truth is, it’s way smarter to declutter before the big move rather than deal with it at your new place.

Here’s the lowdown on some major perks you can reap:

Save Time and Money

Decluttering before a move can save you precious time – and money. It allows you to minimize the number of items you have to pack away into boxes and load onto a truck. And depending on how much you can declutter, you can opt for a smaller moving truck and fewer boxes.

Reassess Your Priorities

Clearing out the clutter gives you a chance to rethink your priorities and figure out what’s important to you (and what you want to take with you as you step into a new phase of life).

Reduce Stress

Moving is already a hassle without dealing with stuff you don’t really want or need. Plus, getting rid of unnecessary items can naturally ease stress and give you a clearer mind—something everyone could use when facing a big move.

Start Fresh

Getting rid of stuff before a move lets you start fresh when you get to your new home. You won’t be bringing along a bunch of old things that don’t matter to you anymore. Instead, you can say “hello” to a new place and a new chapter.

How to Prepare Your Belongings for a Smooth Move

Get Plenty of Packing Supplies

Collect your packing supplies first. Get plenty of boxes, tape, bubble wrap, and packing paper. Doing this will save you from frantically trying to track down boxes later.

Tackle Room by Room

Pack up one room at a time. It keeps you from running all over the place and helps you stay on track. Begin with a less crucial room, like a storage room or guest room, so you don’t have to stress about packing stuff you’ll need before moving day.

Related post: How to Declutter Your Kitchen: 20 Items You Should Toss

Create Four Piles

As you pack up the room, create four piles of belongings: One for things you’re taking with you, one for things you want to sell, another for donation, and the last for everything else to be thrown away.

Label Boxes

Label boxes on multiple sides, so you can see where they go without turning them over. Think about using a color-coding system as well to keep things extra organized. Assign each room a color and stick a label on the boxes that belong there.

Arrange for Pick Up

If you can’t find the time to take your unwanted items to the local thrift store or drop them off at the dump, give them a call to arrange for pickup. Many donation centers provide this service, and some even do it for free, making it more convenient for you.

You’ve Settled In, Now What?

If you take the time to declutter before moving, you’ll have an easier time maintaining a tidy home after you settle into your new place. Here are some ways to maintain a clutter-free home once you have moved in:

Make Your Bed

Making your bed is a simple way to start your day positively. It’s an easy “win” that sets you up to have a more productive day — it also makes it less tempting to climb in and go back to sleep!

Related post: How to Make Your Bed Cozy

Follow the Two-Minute Rule

Here’s the two-minute rule in a nutshell: If it takes two minutes or less to get something done, do it right away.

For instance, if it only takes a couple of minutes to hang up a piece of clothing in the closet instead of tossing it on the chair, go for it. If you can take out the trash in two minutes, do that instead of squishing it down to close the lid later on.

Tidy-Up at Night

Spend ten minutes every night tidying up your house. In that time, you can get quite a bit done—load and start the dishwasher, give the floor a quick vacuum. It’s a manageable chunk of time that’s easy to fit in before you call it a night.

Related post: 12 Secret Habits of People With Super Clean Homes

Organize Items by Priority

When sorting your stuff, keep the things you use often at the front or in easy-to-reach spots. For instance, keep your everyday dishes up front in the cupboard and stash the ones you only use on special occasions toward the back.

Final Thoughts

Decluttering and organizing might not be your top priorities when planning a move. Still, dedicating some time to a small decluttering session can make your move more manageable, allowing you to settle into your new home sooner.

Keep these tips in mind to stay organized!