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Moving Tips

How to Organize Your Furniture in Your New Home After a NJ Move

How to Set Up Furniture in Your New NJ Home After Moving

So you’ve finally found your perfect NJ home, and you’re ready to move. While moving can be stressful, it’s also exciting, especially if you enjoy interior decorating. With a new place, you’re starting with a blank slate, even if you decided to move furniture from your old place. Even if you don’t enjoy arranging and setting up furniture, the helpful guide below can help you get your bearings and set everything up in no time.

Evaluate the Space: Create Room Patterns and Focal Points

A crucial step when planning the arrangement of furniture in your new place is to carefully assess what you’re working with. In order to do so, you should:

  • Clear the space – remove everything from the room, including boxes, scattered furniture, and other objects that will prevent you from seeing the true view of the area. While you might have seen the empty room when you were on the search, it’s all too easy to forget the exact dimensions and things like awkward corners and curved walls.
  • Think About the Room’s Purpose – Even if you’re living in a studio apartment, it’s important to understand the function of a specific area. You can easily use your furniture to set up boundaries to create ‘rooms.’ Of course, it’s easier if you live in a place that has more than one room! With that said, the process is the same. Before you start placing your furniture willy-nilly, you should think about the purpose and function of the room. This might be an obvious step, but it’s easy to lose sight of, especially after a big move.
  • Consider traffic patterns and focal points – A focal point is something that draws the eye and helps balance out the space. This could be a piece of furniture or some other kind of decor. For example, a fireplace acts as a natural focal point, as do picture windows. If you don’t have a natural focal point, you can create your own by using drapes, artwork, or furniture. Also, pay close attention to the location of doors, windows, and awkward areas. You definitely don’t want to block windows or the natural path between rooms.

Optimal Room Layout Dimensions for Common Furniture

Furniture Type Ideal Distance from Wall (inches) Minimum Walking Clearance (inches) Recommended Room Use Layout Tip
Sofa 6–12 24–36 Living Room Avoid pushing fully against walls to create depth
Coffee Table N/A 18–24 Living Room Keep within arm’s reach of seating
Bed (Queen) 6–12 24–36 Bedroom Leave space for nightstands and drawers
Dining Table 12–24 36–48 Dining Room Allow chair pull-out space for easy movement
Bookshelf 2–6 24 Living Room / Office Anchor tall units to the wall for safety
TV Stand 2–6 30–36 Living Room Center with seating for best viewing angles

 

Strategize with Furniture Layout Tools for Better Arrangements

Now that you’ve had a good look at each room, it’s time to consider different furniture arrangements. Rather than expend a ton of energy moving these bulky items multiple times, you can draft up potential ideas beforehand. This will require measuring the exact dimensions of each room as well as your furniture. Otherwise, you might decide to place a couch in the corner, but realize it won’t actually fit, wasting precious time.

If you took measurements beforehand, you can leisurely plan each room’s layout weeks or months before your move. If you didn’t have the time, you can still do so after the move! Don’t skip this step, as a good layout can change a room from being calming to stressful. If you need some help visualizing room placement, you can:

  • Use free online tools  – Sites like Floor Planner allow you to place furniture, change the color scheme of the room, and more, making it much easier to figure out a good layout.
  • Create paper replicas – If you have a difficult space to work with, you might want to experiment in the space with paper replicas of your furniture pieces. You don’t need to get anything fancy; plain brown paper or cardboard should do the trick. You will need measurements of each piece of furniture, which you can trace onto the paper and cut out. Label each paper and then start arranging. If you don’t want to waste all that brown paper, you can create a miniature version of your room and furniture. Just make sure everything is scaled properly!

Formulate a New Balanced Layout

Even if you’re not an expert home decorator, you’ve probably been to a house where something just doesn’t feel ‘right’ about a particular room. Maybe it’s too cramped, or everything looks mismatched. Either way, if you follow the tips below, you can achieve a practical and balanced layout:

  • If you have heavy furniture, balance it out with other large objects or groupings of smaller items.
  • Don’t put all the furniture against the wall. It might be tempting, as it keeps it out of the way, but that leads to a large empty space in the middle of the room. Instead, place some in the middle, as it will create depth and interest
  • Consider the height of furniture pieces and arrange them to create multi-levels in the space. If you have a shorter piece, hang a large print wall to elongate the space. A large print will also encourage the eye to travel up, making the room feel taller.
  • Don’t be afraid to play with color and patterns. Eye-catching colors can help turn a room from drab to fab. Just make sure you don’t overuse a particular color or pattern, especially if they are very bright or loud. Instead, use them as accent pieces through throw pillows, curtains, or art.
  • Similar to the above, experiment with a variety of textures to add depth and interest to the room. Pillows, rugs, and drapes are all great ways to add texture. Mixing materials can also add interest. You can use marble, wood, and metal to ground the space, while glass and light fabrics can give a room a ‘breezy’ feel.

Don’t Forget to Focus on Better Lighting

Setting up your furniture isn’t just about finding the right place for your tables, chairs, and sofas. Lighting also plays a key role in how to arrange the pieces in the room. So take a moment to actually look at the lighting you have in each room and how you use it to your advantage.

NJ Home Focal Point Examples with Room Layout Impact

Focal Point Common NJ Room Type Recommended Furniture Positioning Visual Impact Score (1–10) Layout Benefit
Fireplace Living Room Sofa facing fireplace, chairs angled inward 9 Creates a natural conversation zone
Large Window Living Room / Bedroom Furniture oriented toward natural light 8 Makes the room feel larger and brighter
Accent Wall Bedroom / Living Room A bed or a sofa centered against the wall 7 Adds depth without extra furniture
TV & Media Unit Living Room Seating aligned directly across 8 Defines seating layout and traffic flow
Statement Artwork Living Room / Hallway Furniture arranged to frame artwork 6 Adds personality and visual balance
Area Rug Living / Dining Room Front legs of furniture placed on a rug 7 Defines zones in open layouts

 

  • If you have a big, heavy sofa or chest in the room, try to place it under your overhead lights or put a lamp on it to visually lighten it
  • Darker rooms tend to feel smaller than brighter rooms. While this might work for cozy living rooms, it might not be great for places like the dining room or kitchen, as it can feel cramped. If you can’t change up the lights, consider reducing the amount of furniture in these rooms or investing in some floor lamps to brighten them up.
  • If you have end tables or stands, place them in ways that make sense for both the room’s flow and as potential light sources in case you need some more in the room
  • Consider using hue lighting as it can be used to set the mood. You can add some wall sconces for extra lighting, and it doesn’t take up any real estate on a table or floor

Hire Professional NJ Movers

Setting up your new home can be an exciting and painstaking process. Even after you arrange your rooms when you move, you may end up going through multiple layouts throughout the years as your needs and moods change. Your tastes may also change, so you’ll end up rearranging your house multiple times! These tips can help you lay out your home, whether you decide to change up your furniture or move to a new place.

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Moving Tips

Complete Guide to Moving into Your First Apartment in NJ

Complete Guide for First Time Apartment Moves

So, you’re ready to leave the nest and move into your first apartment. As exciting as that is, it can also be nerve-racking. Moving at any point in your life can be stressful, but it’s doubly so when you’re getting started with your new life. Although you might not be able to reach a state of zen during your first move, this guide can help plan your moving strategy so you’re not hit with any surprises.

Make Simple Financial Preparations in Your Budget

Moving isn’t cheap. There are a lot of different factors you need to consider when it comes to living on your own. Even if you end up living with roommates, there are still responsibilities and bills you might not be used to, especially if you’ve been living at home. If you’re not sure if you’re ready to live on your own, here are some key financials you should consider before you start looking for a new place:

Income – it goes without saying that in order to pay for your rent and utilities, you’ll need to bring in some money. More importantly, most apartments require you to prove that you have an income and will generally ask for the last several months of pay stubs. Depending on where you live, some landlords might even ask that your salary equals around 40x the monthly rent.

If you don’t have a job yet because you just graduated from college or you’re starting over in a new city, you might not be able to provide proof of income. In these cases,  you can ask a parent or guardian to act as a guarantor for you when signing the lease. This way, the management company will at least know that someone will cover the monthly rent. Ideally, you’ll be able to find some source of income shortly after moving into your apartment.

Budget – Before you start looking for apartments, take a look at your budget. If you haven’t made one or updated it recently, you can use sites like Mint or You Need a Budget to help keep track of your expenses and set a goal to save up for your move. Make sure to include budgets for any bills, payments, debts, savings, and spending money you want for clothes, travel, restaurants, bars, etc.

Once you have set everything up, see how much money you currently have leftover that you can spend on rent and utilities. Depending on where you want to move, this might mean you need to set aside $800-$1,000. In more popular cities, you might have to budget for at least $1,500 if you don’t want roommates. Of course, there is always the roommate option, which we will get to later on.

Save for fees – Most apartments and even roommate situations will ask for a chunk of money upfront when you sign a new lease. These fees include an application fee, security deposit (usually the same amount as one month’s rent), administration fee, and at least the first month’s rent, though some might ask for last month’s rent as well. If you used a broker, you might also be required to pay a broker’s fee. All in all, if you’re looking to rent an apartment for $1,500/month, you may need to save up close to $5,00,0, depending on what your landlord/management company requires.

This doesn’t even account for the actual cost of moving. Whether you rent a truck or hire a professional moving service, you’ll need to set aside some money to pay for it. Even if you rent a truck, these can cost between $50-$200, depending on the size you need, the distance you travel, and how long you rent it out for. While renting a truck is the cheapest option, you will have to do all of the loading and unloading yourself, which is grueling work and can often lead to injuries. While hiring professional movers might be more expensive, it ultimately will save you a lot of time and even money in the long run. Depending on how much you need to move, hiring movers can cost anywhere between $300-$1,500. It’s up to you to decide whether you want to do a DIY move or not, so make sure to weigh the pros and cons of each option.

Finding the Right Apartment Based on Your Needs

Your finances will be the most defining parameter in finding a place to live. Having a steady income and saving up in advance will open up a lot more options when it comes to apartment hunting. However, if saving up that much cash isn’t feasible, there are other options available:

Start your search early – if you know you’re going to need a place to live in the next few months, get a head start. May-August tends to be the busiest season for rentals, so if you want a good deal, you’ll have to start looking as soon as possible. If you are able, the best time to get a good deal is to look in the off-season, so anywhere between October and February. While there aren’t as many rentals on the market, most landlords or management companies are more willing to negotiate on the rates, as there aren’t as many people moving during this time.

Get a roommate (or 2) – this way you can cut your rent by at least 50 percent, allowing you to get to your target rent amount and also cutting your bills in half as well. If you have a friend or acquaintance who also happens to be moving at the same time, ask if they are interested in moving in together. Of course, before you decide to live together, you should first assess your own needs when it comes to roommates. Do you prefer a quiet and clean environment? What are your thoughts on smoking and/or pets? You should spend some time hashing out both your and your potential roommates’ needs and see if they actually mesh. It won’t work if you want a quiet apartment, but your roommate is someone who likes to bring the party home, for example. If you don’t have anyone you know moving, you can still find a roommate through various sites and apps. When going in for the interview, make sure to ask questions about their lifestyle and understand what the other person requires from you to see if it will work out before you decide to move in.

 

Apartment Hunting Checklist: Tips to Find the Right Place

Tip What to Do Why It Matters
1 Start your search early, ideally before peak rental season (May–August) or during off-season (Oct–Feb) Better deals, more negotiating power, and wider selection
2 Get a roommate (or 2) if needed Cuts rent and utility costs, making your budget more manageable
3 Look outside the major city hub Cheaper rents, potential for up-and-coming neighborhoods with amenities
4 Consider utilities included in rent or out-of-pocket Avoid surprises in monthly costs; helps with accurate budgeting
5 Look for private rentals through Craigslist, Facebook groups, or local classifieds May find cheaper options not listed on big broker platforms
6 Make it work with your budget: personalize your space with decor and minor upgrades Turns a less expensive or less ideal apartment into a comfortable home

 

Look outside the major city hub – The most expensive apartments tend to be where all the action is located. While it’s great to be in the center of the action, if you can’t swing the expensive rent, you’ll have to look outside of the area. Many apartments that are 30 minutes outside the main hub will offer much cheaper rents. If you take the time to look around, you might even be able to spot some great up-and-coming areas that offer a lot of amenities you want for a lower price than the main city.

Consider utilities – For most apartments, the monthly rent just covers the actual cost of your room. However, some might lump in some utilities. Many apartment complexes are required to provide the basics in your rent, including heat and hot water, and you will have to cover electricity, cable/internet, and gas. Others might not offer any utilities in their rent, so everything will be out-of-pocket. When looking for your new place, make sure to see what is included. If it’s not listed, call up the agent on the listing and ask. A $700 might sound great, but if you have to pay for all of the utilities, you could end up paying over $1,000 a month.

Look for private rentals – it’s easy to find rentals from major brokers and real estate companies, as they have the money to list on the major rental sites and apps. However, don’t discount private rentals. While these can be harder to find, you can check sites like Craigslist or even join local Facebook groups. You can also look through your town’s local classifieds to search for these private rentals. Of course, you should always confirm the legitimacy of the posts beforehand.

Make it work – at the end of the day, if you don’t have a huge budget to spend on rent and utilities, you’ll have to come to terms with the fact that you might not be able to afford the apartment of your dreams, at least not yet. This might mean you have to live with someone else or in an area that isn’t as desirable. In that case, work to make the interior of the apartment into a space you enjoy. Do a little painting and invest in some artwork/decorations to make the place feel like home.

Research the Apartment and Building Management

Once you’ve narrowed down your apartment options to a handful, you should take the time to do some research on both the apartment and the landlord/building management. While this means more legwork for you, it also means you can avoid potential bad landlords and/or roommates, both of which can lead to unnecessary amounts of stress in the long run. To avoid potential disaster, do the following:

Find and Read Reviews – do a quick search for your apartment and building management, and read reviews from previous tenants. If the place or landlord is no good, many renters will often warn others. You can also type in the location of the building and find some documents and permits to look over the work that has been done to the building. In some cities, you can also request a one-year bed bug infestation history.

Visit the apartment – this might sound obvious, but there are many people who will rent a site unseen. Pictures and videos can’t really capture the essence of the apartment, and no broker or landlord will highlight problem areas as they’re trying to rent the place out. Visiting in person ensures that you know exactly what you get. Even if the apartment seems nice, there might be other issues, such as thin walls, a bus stop right in front of your window, smokers, and more. If possible, try to visit the apartment during the evening after work so you can see exactly what it would be like to live there.

Ask questions – As you view the apartment, don’t be afraid to ask questions, especially if you notice some troubling signs of water damage or poor maintenance. Even if there aren’t any obvious signs, it’s still good to ask a few things so that you know what to expect. Some common questions you can ask include:

  • What is the turnover rate of the building
  • How long has this apartment been vacant
  • How long is the lease
  • When is the rent due each month
  • What is the rent increase, and how often does it occur
  • Under what conditions can I break the lease
  • Can I sublease
  • Is there an on-site maintenance person who can help with my requests, and how quickly do they respond
  • Can I paint the apartment
  • Is there on-site laundry? If not, where is the nearest laundromat
  • Are pets allowed
  • Is smoking allowed

Getting the Apartment That Becomes Your New Home

So you’ve found your dream home and everything seems to be in order. Now what? In order to turn this apartment into your new home, you’ll have to work fast, especially in highly competitive cities. To give yourself a better chance of getting the apartment, do the following:

Bring necessary documentation during your tour – sometimes you can wait a couple of days before making your decision, but in general apartments get snatched up quickly, especially during prime renting season. If you’ve found the perfect place, you will have to be prepared to provide all of the necessary information on the spot. This includes:

  • Money for the deposit
  • Proof of income
  • Contact info for references
  • Credit score and social security number
  • Photo ID

Read the lease – If everything checks out, you’ll get moved along to the next step in the process, which is actually signing the lease and paying the rest of the deposit. Take your time and read over the lease with a fine-tooth comb. Check to make sure everything you had discussed previously is in the lease, including lease length, rent costs, rent due date, terms for breaking the lease, and so on. Don’t sign unless you agree and are willing to adhere to the lease. If you have questions or some of the terms seem different, bring them up and see if you can make the lease more in line with what you were told.

Once you sign the lease, the apartment is yours! Congratulations, but you’re not out of the woods yet! You’ll still need to take a few more steps to ensure a smooth transition to your brand-new apartment.

Moving Into Your New Apartment

You’re almost at the finish line, but there are a few more things you need to be aware of before you can actually start moving your stuff in:

Pick a move-in date – Work with your landlord or management company and agree on the move-in date. Usually, most places want you to move in on the first of the month, but if this isn’t possible due to your schedule, try to work something out that will work. Most people are okay if you move in a bit later, so long as you don’t ask for prorated rent! If you need to move a few days before your lease starts, you might be able to do it for a small fee.

Confirm moving instructions – there’s nothing worse than not being allowed to actually move your stuff in on moving day. To make sure you don’t run into any issues, ask whether there are any specific instructions you need to follow on moving day. For example, ask whether you are able to move yourself or if the building requires you to hire professional movers. Many newer and luxury buildings require movers as they are able to provide something called a certificate of insurance, which will hold the movers liable if they damage anything. You should also ask if you need to reserve elevators, if there’s a loading dock where you can drive in, and if there’s nearby parking you can reserve.

Document any damage – Before you move, take a closer inspection of the apartment and take pictures of any damage done by the previous tenant. Send these over to the landlord so that they also have a copy. This way, when you move out, you won’t get your security deposit withheld for damages you did not cause.

 

Move-In Day Checklist

Step What to Do When to Complete Why It Matters
1 Confirm move-in date with landlord 1–2 weeks before move Prevents access issues and unexpected fees
2 Review building moving rules 1 week before Avoids fines, delays, or denied move-ins
3 Reserve elevator or loading area 5–7 days before Speeds up the move and reduces conflicts
4 Photograph and document existing damage Before unloading Protects your security deposit
5 Set up utilities and internet 1–2 weeks before Ensures services are active on move-in day
6 Choose DIY or professional movers 1 week before Balances cost, time, and physical effort
7 Update address and important accounts Within the first week after the move Prevents missed mail and billing issues

 

Set up utilities – As soon as possible, call up your local utilities and get the necessities set up, like electricity, gas, water, and internet. You want to call in advance so you can have all of these services up and running the day you move in. Make sure to give them your billing information, address, and move-in date so they can schedule the services to turn on.

Make the move – Once you’ve packed all your belongings and confirmed all the moving instructions, you can move in! Decide on how you want to do your move. If you have a lot of heavy furniture, it might make sense to hire professional movers to do the job for you. If you don’t have the budget for it, enlist the help of friends and family if you can, and make sure to thank them with some pizza and cold beverages afterwards.

Change your address – Once you’ve settled in, take some time to update your billing address for any profiles, memberships, and important documents. If you’re moving out of state, remember to update your license and license plate. Don’t forget to alert friends and family about your address!

Shop for Your New Place

Now that you’ve finally moved in, you’re ready to furnish your apartment. It’s all too easy to splurge and buy every little knick-knack you find, especially with your first place, but take a moment to pause and reflect on what you need. If you’re not sure, take a look at the list below as your starting point:

  • Flashlight
  • Cleaning supplies (soap, vacuum, mop, sponges, broom, toilet bowl cleaner)
  • Extra set of keys
  • Some knives
  • Cutting board
  • Can opener
  • Plates/bowls
  • Utensils
  • Cookware – skillet, pot
  • Cooking utensils – spatula, ladle
  • Towels – dish and bath
  • Spices
  • Trashcans
  • Bathroom essentials – plunger, shower curtain/rod, bath mat
  • First aid kit
  • Sheets, pillows, blankets, pillow cases
  • Laundry detergent and laundry bag/basket
  • Dresser
  • Hangers
  • Mattress
  • Curtains
  • Microwave and/or toaster oven
  • Small coffee table or larger dining room table (if you can fit one)
  • Chairs
  • Candles
  • AA batteries
  • Tool kit – hammer, screwdriver, handsaw, power drill, nails, screws
  • Sewing kit

Take a look at the items you brought with you and cross-reference them with this list. If you are missing anything, make sure to add it to your next shopping trip. You don’t have to buy everything immediately or at the same time. The only thing you should try to get as soon as possible is a mattress, as it’s no fun to sleep on the floor or on an air mattress for too long. Once you get all of the essentials, you should think about how you can decorate the apartment in a way that speaks to you. Maybe that means painting the walls a different color or putting up some snazzy artwork. Just make sure to shop with intention during this phase, as it’s easy for spending to get out of control during this phase.

Conclusion

Moving into your own place is a huge step and is definitely the first marker for adulthood for many people. Hopefully, the guide above can help prepare you for what to expect and make your move less stressful. If you want to further reduce your stress, make sure to hire a professional moving service (like us), and we can get everything moved in and out quickly.