Moving into a new place can be exhilarating, but also a big pain in the behind. As a rising senior and the younger sibling of two brothers who have both graduated from college, I’ve had my fair share of move-ins. While the process is never a delightful endeavor, I’ve learned some insightful tips along the way.
Whether you’re a freshman moving into your first college dorm room or a senior upgrading to a new apartment, here are 5 tips for making your move-in process a little bit easier this semester!
Tip #1: Archive Everything
I won’t sugarcoat it, logging all the items you have is a grueling and tedious task, but trust me, your future self will be thanking you for it. I prefer to use my notes app, but Google Sheets is another great way to keep track of your items and helps you take notice of what you’re missing (for me, it is always the hairdryer).
Since Google Sheets offers endless possibilities for organization, it is also a great way to budget your items. If you’re wanting a more aesthetic look, I suggest browsing TikTok for free Google Sheets move-in templates!
Tip #2: Foldable Move-In Bags
Hands down, the best investment you’ll ever make when it comes to moving from place to place. I’ve carried and transported just about anything in these bags – lamps, pillows, clothes, you name it.
Not only do they fold up to fit and store in tight spaces, but they also have plastic slots for replaceable labels. That way, you can organize everything based on its specific purpose and location, saving you time and unneeded stress.
Tip #3: Make A Mood board
This tip is especially useful for freshmen who are looking to start fresh with a tailored aesthetic for their college living space. Making a mood board gives your ideas a place to present themselves as a whole, ensuring a cohesive outcome without the hassle of returning items that look out of place.
While finding your desired aesthetic is a good starting point, choosing a color palette, textures, and patterns is just as important. A mood board with these specific features can be a fundamental part of curating an atmosphere that feels as good as it looks. I prefer to create mine digitally using Pinterest and Canva, but I recommend using whatever platforms you’re most comfortable with!
Tip #4: Create A Mock Layout
For a perfectionist like me, nothing brings me more joy than creating a digital floor layout of my to-be apartments. I won’t lie, it’s slightly excessive, but I find it to be extremely helpful, particularly when it comes to troubleshooting potential furniture placement options.
Although you won’t get a true feel of the space until you’re in it, creating a floor layout with multiple ideations can be a huge time (and back) saver. The whiteboard in Canva is a fantastic, beginner-friendly tool for this, especially if you have specific measurements!
Tip #5: Deep Clean the Area Before Moving Anything In
I could not recommend this enough. In my experience, the spaces I’ve moved into have been clean on the surface, but once I’d taken a closer look, I’d realized some soap and elbow grease were needed. Coming in beforehand with a caddy filled with cleaning supplies makes all the difference and creates a space that feels brand new and up to your standards.
I suggest coming prepared with lots of paper towels, a magic eraser, Clorox wipes and, if you’re able, a vacuum. These are always my go-to cleaning supplies to have on hand throughout the year as well. You never know when they may come in handy and save a trip to the nearest grocery store!
Conclusion
Moving in is stressful enough, especially as a freshman in college. From the drive to the parking lot to opening the door, the whole process can be very overwhelming. However, going in confident and prepared can counteract these stresses and make it a very memorable and exciting experience, because it should be! Hopefully, these tips can help ease the process and give you the tools to move in with ease.