7 Moving Tips That Will Make Life So Much Easier

*This post was sponsored by Bed Bath & Beyond but all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Statistically, moving is one of the most stressful experiences in your life. Having just gone through a cross-country move, I can totally see why. From having our delivery date delayed to navigating an entirely different city, it wasn’t a seamless experience. However, there were a few things we found really helpful including how to get major savings at Bed Bath & Beyond! Whether you’re moving cross-country or down the street, here are some tips for your next move!

1. Embrace the chaos. Things aren’t going to go perfectly so if you go into the move acknowledging that, it makes things easier. 2 months after our move, I still have no idea where the majority of my socks are! You just gotta laugh about it! It will all be over soon!
2. Make a list of all your to-dos a few weeks before the move. Continue updating over the next few weeks when you think of a new item or complete a task. Matt and I shared a Google Sheet and assigned owners to various to dos like changing our addresses, setting up utilities in our new apartment, and paying first month’s rent. It worked out really well because we had everything in one place and could both edit on the go without worrying about file versions!
3. Pack well. Use clothing, pillows, and blankets to pad breakables so you can reduce the cost of bubble wrap and paper. I knew all of my pillows would come in handy some day! Moving is expensive so anything you can do to save, counts. If your items are going on a moving truck, they will likely get jostled around so make sure your valuables are protected. Also, pack your plates vertically because it makes them less likely to break.
4. Don’t use wardrobe boxes. They are a little pricey to rent and don’t hold that much clothing. Instead, use a large U-Haul box, take 10-15 items off the rack, fold in half, and place in the box so the hanger is pointing toward a corner. Repeat but place the next set in the corner to the left or right. Continue rotating around the box to balance the weight. This saves you the trouble of de-hanging things. Items might be a little wrinkled but invest in a steamer – it’s a life changer!
5. Label your boxes. This is hugely helpful for the movers and yourself! We labeled a few boxes “open first” that were full of items that we’d need immediately (paper towels, toilet paper, etc.). Write this information on the sides of the boxes so you can easily see where the boxes are going when they are stacked!
6. Hire movers. Having professionals do the heaving lifting (literally) takes a ton of stress off of you! I will caveat that this depends on the amount of stuff you have. If you’re moving out of your dorm room, maybe pass on this expense! Make sure to get a few different quotes from companies like Allied or United (you can request these online). Also, read the Yelp reviews!
7. Sign up for Bed Bath & Beyond’s moving program. We all save those 20% off coupons but when you register on Bed Bath & Beyond’s site, they send you a coupon for 20% off your entire order! This is HUGE! I got my coupon digitally so it was one less thing to use.

As you can imagine, a trip to Bed Bath & Beyond was one thing I was looking forward to most. There are so many odds and ends that you can’t take with you when moving cross country (e.g. cleaning supplies) that we needed to restock immediately. Fortunately, we now live right above a BBB and it’s been a life saver!

If you’re moving soon or even if you need a little refresh on your home, here are the items that we picked up from our shopping trip by room!

KITCHEN:

One of the things I didn’t anticipate was not being able to bring your cleaning supplies if you’re moving long distances! It makes sense given they may spill or explode with extreme temperatures. We picked up these cleaning products ASAP! Another kitchen item that I’m obsessed with is our trash can. Is it weird to be obsessed with a one? I don’t care, I am. This Simple Human trash can is so pretty it’s (almost) Instagram worthy! They also make a line that come in rose gold if it matches your decor better. So gorgeous!

BATHROOM:

While looking for new bathroom decor, I fell in love with these hammered silver accessories! They’re classic but unique. We also had to find a new shower curtain. Let me tell you, having a husband and wife agree on a shower curtain is a feat! It’s not easy! I love the color grey so you can guess where our bathroom is headed!

CLOSETS:

Why do all apartments have awkward closets? Our new home has 5 closets but they’re all awkwardly shaped or have shelves at awkward heights. I got this Closet Maid DIY set so that Matt could show me how handy he really was. He and his dad spent a day revamping my walk-in and I’m in love with it! We made a little family day of it. A great way to welcome us to Chicago!

PRETTY THINGS:

Of course, I had to use this excuse to stock up on a few fall decor items. The holiday section is amazing! How dreamy is this modern table setting? With Thanksgiving around the corner, I can’t help but get in a festive mood! Also, my obsession with candles has gotten real since living in Chicago. Something about them makes me feel so cozy. Of course BBB has the biggest selection too!

Matt and I looked pretty ridiculous carrying all of these things up to our apartment! I just love that Bed Bath & Beyond is a one stop shop for your home. I have a few more things on my list to pick up this weekend including this white nightstand possibly. Did you know that BBB carries furniture too? It’s actually really cute and reasonably priced. Remember to register on their moving site if you are about to move so you can get 20% off your entire order too!

Those are my moving tips! Let me know what you thought and if you have any tips of your own in the comments below!