Day One at Our New House: Photos, Tips, and Moving Day Lessons

We love revisiting the very first photos we took at our previous home, so naturally we took a fresh set on Day One in this new place—specifically the day our big furniture finally arrived. We wandered from room to room and snapped pictures as we went. The rooms felt raw and full of potential, and it was a special moment to see everything start to come together.

The Rooms

The living room looked welcoming even before we arranged the accessories. The kitchen felt bright and functional, and from the opposite side you could already imagine meal prep and casual gatherings. The office had good light and a layout that made it easy to picture a productive workspace. The dining room and guest room stood ready to receive us. The hall bathroom and the spare room showed the promise of calm, useful spaces. Clara’s room was the most important for us to finish quickly—we scrambled to make it feel like home so she would have a familiar, comforting place to sleep.

Within a few hours of unpacking, Clara’s room transformed into a cozy, liveable space. Seeing how quickly she embraced it—exploring, playing, and settling in—made us so grateful. Small victories like that make moving worth the chaos.

Our Bedroom and Finishing Touches

On Day One I was busy reinstalling the headboard. Quick tip: using a power drill can give you that accidental bouffant hairdo. It’s surprisingly becomingly chaotic, but also part of the moving day charm.

Our Moving Strategy: Take It in Waves

This move was different from the last. Instead of packing everything into one giant truck and moving on a single day, we used overlapping time between houses to shuttle items gradually. Every time we worked on the new house—laying flooring, sanding, or painting—we took a carload of smaller items. That method reduced the pressure of squeezing everything into a single van, and it cut down on boxes and bubble wrap. Driving a few miles in a car allowed us to move things faster without the need to meticulously wrap every frame and mirror.

For small-to-medium items this approach worked great: packing was quicker, unpacking was simpler, and we avoided a big box graveyard in the driveway. To handle larger pieces—beds, dressers, the sectional, the dining table and several armchairs—we hired a team of four movers for a few hours. We did all the disassembly and packing beforehand so their time focused only on heavy lifting, which proved cost-effective. Our budget tip: do the majority of the prep yourself and hire professionals for the big-ticket moves.

Family Caravan and Moving Helpers

One evening we organized what we jokingly called a “Family Caravan.” John’s parents brought larger vehicles and we made a multi-car run with dining chairs, console tables, and other bulkier pieces. The three-vehicle parade was surprisingly efficient and felt festive. With the movers, we had the largest items in the new house by lunchtime, leaving the rest of the day for unpacking and arranging key rooms—especially Clara’s.

Having extra hands meant we could start styling rooms right away. John, who was still recovering from intensive floor work, was glad to avoid heavy lifting that day. I also had an amusing bit of superstition that our move would go well when I spotted a U-Haul with my home state on it—small rituals keep morale high.

Practical Packing Tips

One of my favorite practical tips: use small zip-top bags and a permanent marker. When you disassemble furniture, place screws, bolts, and small hardware into labeled bags and tape or tuck them with the corresponding piece. I kept those bags in my purse until installation. That simple step saves hours of searching and reduces stress when you’re exhausted and surrounded by a half-unpacked house.

Another tip is to pause and appreciate the process. We took a few goofy photos throughout the day—little moments that helped break up the physical work and lift our spirits. Moving is a lot of heavy, repetitive tasks, but taking breaks to celebrate progress keeps everyone motivated.

Day One Takeaways

So that was our Day One: big furniture in place, a few rooms beginning to feel lived-in, and valuable moving lessons learned. Highlights included a gradual moving strategy, strategic use of hired help, a family caravan for medium-sized items, and labeled hardware bags for quick reassembly. The house still looked chaotic by nightfall, but the biggest goal—making Clara feel settled—had been accomplished. We’re excited to keep sharing the progress as we make this house our home.