Moving Home Like An Interior Designer: Things To Consider In Your Move

You’ve finally found the place that matches your dream Pinterest board, and you’re prepared to paint your empty home as your canvas.

However, before you start rolling up your sleeves and begin packing boxes, what if you approached moving home the way a pro interior designer might? Thinking not only practically but creatively and with design in mind?

Let’s dig into how to transition from one home to another with less chaos, more creativity, and a whole lot more comfort. Here, bold moves and little details both matter.

1. Picture Your Home as a Blank Canvas

Before packing anything, take a cue from interior designers: visualise the destination, not the clutter. Every home and item in it has its own story, and your move is a chance to decide how the next chapter will look and feel.

Before you pack, take a photo of each room in your new home to help spark ideas and visualise any quirks or features in your new space with a designers eye. Is there heaps of natural light? High ceilings? Tiny bathrooms? Each feature is an opportunity, not just an obstacle.

Additionally, it’s time to put that Pinterest board to use, save and pin inspiration images that match both your dream aesthetic and the new home's reality.

If you need a kickstart for visioning, check out this handy living room renovation planner for step-by-step guidance.

2. De-clutter by Editing Ruthlessly

You can’t create a dream space with clutter and mess all around you; everything should have its spot. This is a golden rule for interior designers, and moving is your golden ticket to declutter before stuff even gets on the truck.

If you’re struggling with deciding on what to scrap and keep, try the 3-box method. You have one box to keep items you love or can’t live without, another box to put all the things worth selling or donating, and a bin for items that are broken, tired or just plain rubbish.

This process requires brutal honesty. If you haven’t touched it in six months, will you ever? Remember, every item you move costs time and energy, so choose wisely.

3. Decor Requires Layering

Professional designers never tackle a space in one go, they will consider the layers of a room and the feel of these layers for living. Think of your new home in stages:

• The basics: Walls, flooring, window treatments

• Large pieces: Sofa, bed, dining table

• Soft furnishings & lighting: Rugs, cushions, lamps

• Art and accessories: Mirrors, photos, vases, books

Using these layers, you can prioritise what needs to be done before move-in day (painting, flooring) and what can wait (art, accent chairs). Layering makes it easier to live in your new space as you go, instead of rushing and regretting design choices in the future. No one wants a neon pink wall with a chartreuse dining table. Unless you have impeccable taste, that is!

4. Pack Boxes with Purpose

It’s time we get to packing, and it’s important not to just toss your belongings in a box and hope for the best. Consider packing them by room and function, labelling boxes clearly with colour-coded tape and grouping items by theme like lumping all the pillows together and chucking all your utensils in one box. Organising your spaces is just as important as designing for them.

While packing, also consider setting an essentials box aside where you put the things you can’t live without. Your kettle, remote controls, chargers for electronics, toiletries and of course bedsheets. By doing this, you'll know just where to find that reading lamp for cozy night number one.

If moving sounds daunting or you’re just looking for some help packing up, consider moving house with Muval for extra efficiency. Removalist services like this help streamline the complicated bits so you can focus on spelling out your design magic.

5. Unpack in This Designer-Approved Order

First night, first week, and first month, each has a different unpacking rhythm. Here’s the designer approach:

• Essentials first: Bed, bedding, bathroom basics, kitchen gear for coffee and toast.

• Furniture and rugs: Place the big items so you can move around easily.

• Soft furnishings: Lay down curtains and rugs, make your bed properly, start to feel “at home.”

• Decor and art: Wait! Let your space breathe for a few days, then arrange art, plants, and personal touches.

Taking it step-by-step helps you avoid overwhelm and make the best design decisions with fresh eyes.

6. Layer in Lighting and Comfort

A popular way to make your home feel more cozy and comfortable with design in mind is to layer in lighting. Let’s be very honest, new homes come with basic light fixtures that don’t do the room justice. 

Interior designers invest in lighting for atmosphere, not just illumination. Think about including lamps and candles to add dimension and warmth with shadows. Layer window coverings that use a mixture of sheers, blackout curtains and include comfort boosters like throws, textured poufs, and indoor plants to make your home feel like a home.

Lighting and comfort touches can turn a sterile room into a personal haven almost overnight.

7. Ask for Inspiration

It’s always good to get a second set of eyes on an idea, inspiration or room. Whether it be a friend with killer taste, a partner with none or an opinon online, a second opinion can change your outlook on both design and functionality of a space. Gather input early, but trust your gut. 

Leverage community wisdom and online guides whenever you feel stuck. You don’t have to figure it out alone, there are tons of free resources.

Moving Should Feel Like a New Beginning

When you approach your move with the eyes and heart of an interior designer, you do more than fill rooms: you create a comfortable, functional, and beautiful new home. Moving can be a time for creativity and growth. Lean into the process, layer by layer, and your new place will feel like home in no time.