After the hassle of moving into a new home, you want to ensure that your first night is a happy experience. Packing a special box or two just for your first evening will help your move go more smoothly. These boxes will be a lifesaver—trust us. Instead of needing to rummage through box after box to find what you need, you’ll have all your essentials handy in one place.
Having an essentials box saves you time and headache. If you have multiple family members moving with you, then it’s a good idea to pack one main essentials box for practical items that everyone will use. Then, assign a box to each family member to fill with whatever additional items they will need. Be sure to label the boxes very clearly as “ESSENTIALS,” and keep them separated from the rest of your stuff.
When you’re ready to move, put these boxes aside and pack them up last on the truck. This way, you’ll always know where they are. If you have room in your personal vehicle, we recommend transporting them yourself for extra easy access.
We’ve put together a few lists of items that you will be happy to have packed in your essentials box. We hope that these lists help make your move as easy and stress-free as possible!
Packing List for Your First Night in a New Home
Personal
- Toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, shampoo)
- Bedding
- Pajamas
- Towels
- A change of clothes
- Prescriptions
Practical
- Paper towels
- Toilet paper
- Paper plates, cups, and cutlery
- Food (or takeout menus) for dinner, breakfast, and snacks
- Coffee maker, cups, and coffee
- Hand soap
- Chargers for your phones, laptops, etc.
- Basic cleaning supplies
- Trash bags
- Scissors
- Basic tools (hammer, screwdriver, pliers)
- Flashlight
- Pen and paper
Kids
- Baby supplies (diapers, wipes, powder, bottle/sippy cup, formula, spoon, baby food, pacifier)
- Toys/entertainment (books, DVDs, DVD player, laptop, tablet, coloring books)
- Nightlight
- Favorite comfort item (blanket, stuffed animal)
Pets
- Food
- Litter box
- Bedding
- Toys
- Medicine
- Leash, collar, and/or harness
Valuables
- Important documents
- Jewelry
- Paperwork for the move and new home
Moving can be a long and challenging process, but the first night you spend in your new home is a very special one. It’s the first night of a brand new journey. If you don’t have a few things prepared ahead of time, then you won’t be able to enjoy it as much as you’d like to.
To make the first night in a new home comfortable, there are some easy moving tips we recommend that will give you the opportunity to relax after a long day. If you take a little bit of time to prepare before moving day and then set up a few things once you’re there, you’ll be much happier for it.
How to be Comfortable the First Night You Move in
Pack Essentials Boxes
As we mentioned earlier, having essential items separated before moving in will make your first night much easier. You’ll be able to catch your breath and relax on your first night, rather than having to sift through a bunch of boxes to find a toothbrush.
Make Plans for Dinner
Think about what you will eat that first night in the new place and make preparations for it, whether it’s putting aside the ingredients and supplies you’ll need to cook or deciding as a family whether you’ll be ordering in or eating out (and what you’ll be eating). If you’re moving to a new area, do a Yelp search to find out what restaurants are around. Collect the phone numbers and menus for takeout places, too so that you don’t have to waste time searching when you’re ready to eat.
Prepare Entertainment
Chances are, you’ll want to relax as soon as the movers leave and everything is inside your new home. If you are moving with kids, it will be especially important to make sure they have something to do so they won’t get bored or restless. It could be as simple as making sure the TV is hooked up in the living room with the cable turned on. If you will not have cable right away, connect the DVD player and have a few movies set aside to choose from. Entertainment options will give you a chance to wind down and get your mind off the move so that you can enjoy your first night in a new home.
Keep Your Pets Comfortable
If you are moving with pets, one of the first things you’ll need to do is put out their water and food and set up their bedding with a toy or two so they can start settling in, too. After moving, your first night in a new home will be full of strange smells, not to mention the day will have been filled with a lot of frantic energy and changes. Putting their things out right away will help them adjust to the new surroundings and understand that they are somewhere safe.
Set up the Bedrooms and Bathrooms
After a long day of moving, the best part will be taking a hot shower and getting into a nice, warm bed. Take a few minutes to put toilet paper, soap, and towels in the bathrooms (along with any personal toiletries you have) and set up the beds. If for some reason, you don’t have your bed frames yet or you are unable to put them together before the night is through, invest in a budget-friendly air mattress so you can at least get a good night’s sleep before you start unpacking and settling in some more the next day.
Make the First Night of Your Move Stress-Free
To make the process of moving in easier and less stressful, we offer special settling-in services to help make your new house feel like home. Our full-service moving options include picture and TV hanging, redesign, and design services. Contact us to learn more.