Pre-Move Experiments: Testing Storage and Organization Systems Before Unpacking

September 8, 2025/Julie Stobbe/

Reading time – 10 minutes

My guest blogger this week is Diana Whitfield.

Moving to a new place is always a little messy. You’ve got boxes stacked everywhere, and half the time you can’t even remember what’s in them. That’s why trying out pre-move experiments can make life easier. Instead of rushing to unpack, you can try testing storage and organization systems while things are still in boxes, and figure out what works for your new life. With just a bit of forethought, you can make everything much easier on yourself and your family.

Settling Into Your New Space: How to Begin?

As you start testing storage and organization systems, the unpacking process takes shape. At this stage, it’s less about perfect comfort and more about figuring out what works. Small choices now can grow into lasting habits. You can also look into how to organize your home while unpacking, which makes settling into your new space easier. This helps you avoid undoing whole sections of your setup later. With a clear plan, you settle in faster and save yourself extra work.

Start With What You Actually Use

To stop feeling overwhelmed, start with the things you grab every single day.

Coffee mug
Laptop
Keys
Shoes

That’s your starter list. Now picture your routine in the new house. Where will you drop those keys when you walk in? Where will your shoes land? If you map that out now, you’ll know which systems to try first.

This isn’t about perfection. It’s about making sure you don’t end up tearing through ten boxes at midnight to find your toothbrush.

Create Temporary Zones

Instead of unpacking everything into the “bedroom” or “kitchen,” try packing by setting up the boxes by zones. Daily-use items into one container. Work stuff in another. Toiletries in a bin that you can pull out quickly. Unpack these “zone” boxes first.

These little zones save you from a scavenger hunt every time you need something, until you get used to the “new order.” That way, you don’t need to know where everything is. As long as you remember where you put the absolute essentials, you’ll be fine. After a few days, you’ll figure out what works and what doesn’t.

If you find yourself constantly digging through one bin, that’s your sign that it needs a better system. Adjust now, while things are still packed.

Try Out Tools in Small Doses

It’s tempting to buy every organizer in sight: baskets, bins, drawer dividers, racks. Here’s the thing: you don’t know what will work yet.

Pick one or two tools and see how they feel. Maybe a small set of hooks by the door or a basket under the sink. Use them for a few days. Do they make life easier, or do they just sit there?

This kind of trial is one of the most useful pre-move experiments. It keeps you from wasting money and leaves room for systems that actually fit your habits.

Use the Empty Rooms

Empty rooms might feel overwhelming, but they’re perfect test spaces. Place a few items where you think they should live. Walk through the space. Pretend you’re cooking, working, or getting ready for bed.

Do you bend down too much for the pans? Does your desk catch too much glare from the window? Small details jump out when you act out the routine.

Fix them now. It’s easier to slide a desk across an empty floor than to shuffle it around boxes and half-assembled furniture later.

Testing Storage and Organization Systems With Real Items

Imagining a setup rarely tells you the whole story. Try it with actual stuff. Put real sweaters in the bin. Stack real plates on the shelf. Hang real coats on hooks.

Suddenly, you notice things you wouldn’t have otherwise. The bin tips when it’s full. The shelf is too high to reach comfortably. The hook feels flimsy with a heavy jacket.

Running these pre-move experiments now saves you frustration later. It’s better to find out early that the “perfect” container isn’t so perfect after all.

Stop and Review

Before ripping open every box, pause and check in. What worked well? What annoyed you?

If a system feels clunky, change it before you unpack more. Moving a few items around now is easy. Moving an entire room later is a headache.

This step doesn’t take long, but it shapes the rest of your unpacking. You end up with systems that actually make sense instead of ones you regret.

Deal With Seasonal Stuff Later

Seasonal items can wait. Holiday decorations, heavy coats, sports gear. They don’t need space on day one.

Keep them in clearly labelled bins and try different storage spots. Closet? Garage? Basement corner? See which place is easiest to store them without them getting in the way.

That way, when the season comes, you’ll know exactly where to grab them. And you won’t have clutter in the areas you use every day.

Plan for Flexibility

Things change all the time. Jobs shift, you have more kids, and new hobbies sneak in. If your storage can’t adapt to those changes, you’ll be stuck redoing everything.

So look for shelves that move up and down instead of staying fixed. Grab bins that don’t just work for one type of thing. Pick stuff that can adjust to your needs as they change, instead of becoming yet another piece of clutter you need to donate.

When you plan that way, you won’t be stuck starting over every time you move in a new direction. Flexibility now saves you headaches later.

Keep It Simple

Don’t try to do it all at once. Focus on the basics first. Essentials in place, routines flowing, then expand.

People often burn out because they try to unpack and organize every box in one weekend. Slow down. Break it into steps. You’ll notice your stress drop when you give yourself breathing room.

Keeping it simple means fewer regrets and a setup that feels more natural.

Do It The Smart Way

Moving doesn’t run smoothly for anyone, no matter how organized you try to be. With a few pre-move experiments, you give yourself a better shot at testing storage and organization systems and avoiding huge problems. As you unpack, you’ll face fewer annoying surprises. You’ll also find it easier to create a new setup that fits your routines. Soon enough, you’ll feel right at home — just days after the move!

Julie Stobbe is the 2024-2025 winner of the Harold Taylor Award for outstanding contributions to the organizing industry and Professional Organizers in Canada. As a Trained Professional Organizer and Lifestyle Organizing Coach, she brings happiness to homes and organization to offices, coaching you virtually using Zoom. She has been working with clients since 2006 to provide customized organizing solutions to suit their individual needs and situations. She uses her love of teaching to reduce clutter, in your home, office, mind and time. She guides, mentors and supports you to be accountable for your time, to complete projects and to reach your goals. If you’re in a difficult transition Julie can coach you to break-free of emotional clutter constraining you from living life on your terms. Online courses are available to help instruct, coach and support your organizing projects. Get started by downloading Tips for Reorganizing 9 Rooms.