The best moving advice I didn’t get until way too late

Among the many things I wish I'd known before I moved a couple weeks ago, was a piece of belated advice a friend (who has moved a total of nine times in the past decade, so I definitely consider him something of an expert) gave me when he surveyed the mess at my new house last night: always, always have a safe room.


He went on to explain that a safe room is the place in your new home that you set up first thing post-move: a soothing, well-organized sanctuary away from the cardboard chaos that tends to overtake the rest of your space. It's a simple but genius tactic. Moving is such a messy, herculean undertaking, and, at least for most of us, setting up camp in a new house doesn't happen overnight. And since walking around from one disheveled room to another can be stressful (especially, as I can attest, after a couple weeks!), having one spot where you can escape the madness would be a huge relief.


Related: 10 packing tips to help preserve your sanity while moving