General

None of this is expert advice. It's what people worked out for themselves, usually the hard way — what actually helped, and what they'd tell someone standing where you are. Take what fits and leave the rest.

How this was put together

If you only read a few

Change your bed sheets before leaving for vacation so you return to a clean bed.
It makes coming home feel great.
one person who lived it
Create a 'to deal with later' pile for items whose placement is undecided, limiting attention to it to 5 minutes a day.
This prevents the pile from becoming overwhelming.
one person who lived it
Do not unpack items until you have found a permanent place for them in your new home.
it allows you to sift through every item to see if it has a place in your new life
one person who lived it
Store spare parts and screws from furniture assembly in a dedicated box alongside the manuals.
It helps with reassembly after teardown or moving.
one person who lived it
Use painters tape instead of duct tape for DIY filters to make removal easier later.
Much easier removal later.
one person who lived it

Be aware that heavy-duty cleaners may strip color from floors even if they require long dwell times for disinfection.
one person who lived it
Label every bin and storage container clearly.
Prevents having to repeatedly tell people where to find items.
one person who lived it
Wash dishes immediately after using them to prevent pile-ups.
It creates a more peaceful environment.
one person who lived it
Number or name storage baskets to easily identify where specific items are stored.
It helps avoid losing things by providing a clear location reference.
one person who lived it

2 more on this

Store infrequently used items in labeled, stackable plastic totes with lids, rotating seasonal contents to reduce visible clutter.
it reduces the amount of stuff cluttering your place
one person who lived it
Photocopy or scan furniture instruction manuals into cloud storage folders for easy access across devices.
It allows easier identification and access when using different devices.
one person who lived it