We’ve dealt with box-y rooms, but this takes that term to a whole new level:
What you’re looking at is what we lovingly called our “Box Graveyard,” aka the guest bedroom filled to the brim with all of our now-empty moving boxes and packing supplies. As disastrous as it looks, we have to admit that after trying to be so orderly about packing, it was somewhat cathartic to just toss the empty boxes into one big über-disorderly pile. Call it tapping into our wild side if you will.
But of course we can only pretend to enjoy a mess for so long. So almost as soon as the last box was tossed there, I found myself breaking them down and collecting the newspaper and bubble wrap into garbage bags (so they can be reused by someone else along with the boxes thanks to cragslist). About two hours later I found the walls and the floor again:
It’s not quite the tidy “after” that we typically go for, but we’re sure a fellow-craigslister will take them off our hands so we’ll officially have our guest room back. Well, except for those bi-fold doors that still need to make it over to the Habitat For Humanity ReStore. Hopefully we’ll get to that soon…
Has anyone else out there used the Box Graveyard method? Or relied on some other form of controlled chaos to make themselves feel better after a move?
Laura says
You guys rock! I can’t believe how much you’ve accomplished in the short time since you’ve moved. Your motivation and hard works is inspiring.
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks for all the kind words everyone! We’re so excited to share this next chapter of our lives with you!
xo,
s
nicole @ our three reasons says
wished you lived closer so i could take those boxes off your hands! we are packing up all our stuff right now for our move soon!! :)
Sarah B says
does your ReStore not do pick up?
YoungHouseLove says
We think they do (have to double check) so we hopefully just have to schedule something!
xo,
s
Johnna says
I think it’s really funny that the old house picture and the new house picture have the two tree limbs in nearly the same location in each picture! That, for me, is what keeps it looking similar! LOL! Keep up the awesome work!!! Hope your Christmas was awesome!
YoungHouseLove says
Isn’t that funny? We took those two trees as a sign!
xo,
s
Jen {Savvy Homegirl} says
Ugh! Have I used this method?! My garage is an ever-ongoing box graveyard, thanks to my Pampered Chef business. Everything always arrives in these big, perfect-for-moving sized boxes. I was storing them, knowing they’d be great for someone moving (my friends seem to do it often) but it got to be too much, so every couple months I break them all down at once and put them out to the curb. Eek, I know.. at least they go for recycling, but now I feel bad. They totally could be re-used.
Blair says
Is it sad that I keep my moving boxes? It’s not that I think I’m going to be moving any time soon or anything. I just keep them flat in the basement. I am a teacher, and I use them every year to pack up my classroom. Every teacher is always scrambling for boxes. Random suggestion: If you guys have any friends/family who are teachers, check with them first before giving them away!
YoungHouseLove says
Great suggestion Blair! We actually just emailed the fam and two relatives would like a few boxes before they hit craigslist!
xo,
s
Ruthie says
We had a huge box graveyard. We moved and got married in the same week. Moved in on Tuesday, got married on Sat and left for 2 weeks in Bali on Sunday. So imagine months of wedding registry and showers and a all the boxes from our previous house. It was cardboard overload. Our box pile was out of control!!!
Lindsey B. says
I still have all of our unused boxes broken down in our garage and have used them for all of my painting projects around the house for backing. Now I don’t have to worry about going out and getting plastic or old newspaper for the job :)
Janna says
Wow – Props for getting the unpacking overwith fast! We moved into our house in June and our garage is still full of boxes that need to be unpacked/gone through/donated.
We definately had a “box graveyard” in the corner of our living room for awhile – but like you I could only stare at it so long before I started breaking them down.
Amanda says
Like another Amanda has commented, I totally disagree with Amanda #1. You guys are amazing. We moved the same week you two did (Thursday to your Monday) and our house is still in a huge disarray. That was a pretty crap week for us (a friend of mine died and the viewing was on our moving day and the funeral was the day after), so I can’t imagine going through the stress of moving, the stress of the holidays, and then still remembering that you have a blog to update too!
As an aside, thanks for showing me how demanding a successful blog can be. I’ve always thought I’d love to have my own loyal readers and whatnot but I can see that it’s a mixed blessing.
Johnna says
Sorry…I have a question that has nothing to do with anything…do you have a paticular caulk that you like better than another? I’ve been backreading through the bathroom reno and I can’t find the name…our caulk keeps coming up from the bathtub/tile surround, so I want to find a GOOD one!!!!
Any help is appreciated! Thank you!!!!!!!
YoungHouseLove says
We like Dap as a brand for caulk, and the silicone waterproof stuff is the best for bathrooms (we use the white unpaintable stuff). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Kari says
We are always fast unpackers (I hate having the boxes around and will do whatever it takes to get them unpacked fast). I HATE having to break down boxes–just one of those things. Lucky for me, my husband is happy to do that, and fold the paper as well. Then it goes to a new home via Freecycle or CraigsList. Nothing like getting the boxes OUT!
Kara says
UGH-moving! Having moved, oh, once a year since college, I always just stored my empty boxes until this summer when I finally moved into my very own (yay!) house. I was having trouble parting with them this time around until a college friend posted on facebook that she needed moving boxes. Perfect!
marissa says
I think someone already mentioned it, but I found out recently our local Habitat Restore was more than happy to pick up donations (and load them! – a plus with heavy items). They were so accommodating and friendly. Also, apparently ours takes home goods as well! They really helped us clean out our garage, and I feel good knowing that the items can have a second life and be helpful to someone else. Great job dealing with all those boxes!
Jenn says
Oh dear…. this is EXACTLY what my entryway den looks like right now…. boxes EVERYWHERE!!!! I need to finish breaking them down actually — thanks for the reminder =)
xoXOxo
Jenn @ Peas & Crayons
Molly P-H says
How does it work with boxes/bubble on Craig’s List? Are you trying to get $$ or simply recylce to first person who asks? Our city is newer to using Craig’s List and I’m trying to figure it out from bigger cities :). Also, I’ve loved the posts of last week and this week. I’m so impressed with everything you’ve gotten done during the holiday season!!
YoungHouseLove says
We offer them up in the free section of craigslist, which gets them picked up really quick. It’s sort of like freecycle.org (which works too).
xo,
s
Janie says
We used the filled boxes to block off a room to keep the kids contained while we carried loads inside.
I had about five craigslisters flake out on me for the boxes so I took them to the local thrift store. The guy was ecstatic to get them and asked if I had more I could bring.
Joyce C says
We just moved in September with a then-6 months old baby so I definitely know how hard (and tiring!) it is to unpack, clean, and get everything settled. Oh, and we have two dogs. Like you guys, we unpacked the boxes within a few days, though. Couldn’t live with the clutter.
By the way, I like the real-time blogging. It adds so much (more) personality to YHL.
Stephanie says
My boss’s kids were both moving the weekend after my husband and I moved, so I brought boxes into him all week as we unpacked them! Kept me motivated to get them unpacked, although for those that didn’t get unpacked that week, most of them are still sitting full. Maybe you guys will motivate me to finally get things finished!
pam says
In response to Amanda’s comment:
Seriously?
Y’all don’t exist to entertain us? LOL!
Keep up the great work – I’m amazed at what all you’ve accomplished – and that you have time to blog about it!
Rebecca @ the lil house that could says
Okay I already commented but I felt the need to comment again after reading the comments after mine!
I am mighty impressed at your progress so far! I’ve noticed that overall it’s a slow week in bloggy land and many people aren’t even posting new projects or posting at all. I know this blog is technically your full-time job but really, big progress is not easy and I can’t believe you have already painted and purchased a bed. Especially with the holidays. All I wanted to do this week was caulk some trim and I have family coming over the next 2 nights!
Just wanted to show my love, keep up the real-time writing :)
Lindsay says
When my husband and I moved into our new house, we tossed all our empty boxes into the basement. At several points during our move-in process, the boxes slowly crept up the stairs as though they were trying to sneak back into the main part of the house. It was probably a month before we had the courage to venture down there to break-down the boxes and get rid of them.
Denise says
Watched you on the Nate Berkus show, you guys were awesome. Sherry, you were so cute and I’m guessing he is even more gorgeous in person, am I right?
YoungHouseLove says
He’s an amazing guy, that’s for sure! So gracious and kind and of course quite the cutie…
xo,
s
Sarah @ The Strength of Faith says
You two are amazing. I moved at the beginning of the month and I still have boxes. The fact that you are unpacked and have already painted makes me think you really don’t sleep.
Lindsay says
Our garage was our “box graveyard” when we first moved into our house. And also for a short while after opening all of our wedding presents!
Rebecca says
I Freecycled ours. With a toddler running around, I didn’t feel I could “let loose” and dump them all in a room like you guys did! I neatly folded them flat and put the bubble wrap in bags, as I went along instead. I did keep a bunch of the better boxes, flattened, in the basement – you never know when you need to ship a box of gifts, or find a box for extra holiday decor!
But it feels so nice to go room to room and see the floor, doesn’t it!!!??
dori says
we moved in 4.5 years ago and our box graveyard still exists. its in our unfinished basement so it doesn’t take up space we need. but it is probably about 15 feet square, and 4 feet tall (the pile, not the basement). i know we’re moving again eventually, so i couldn’t be bothered with breaking the boxes down, just to put them back together again even if it is a few years down the line.
Katie says
I love your post about the box room! We moved into our new house about a month ago and still have a room dedicated to empty boxes that need to be broken down. It would drive my OCD crazy except for the fact that the furniture that goes in that room won’t be moving into the house for a few more months, and there is NO lighting in that room. Basically, once the sun goes down that room disappears, and doesn’t return until morning. I did get inspired by your post and break down a good chunk of the boxes only to discover that the guest room does indeed have a floor like the rest of the house. Seriously, I haven’t seen the floor since our last walk through since I had to work on moving day, and came home to find that room full of boxes. Cheers to the new house, and good luck unpacking!
jenn says
i break down boxes as i unpack, even though where you unpack a box doesn’t mean it will end up there in the long run. i found it easiest to completely do one room at a time from top to bottom.
although i would just lean pictures against the wall that im considering them to stay and after each room was completed, switcharoo a few then hang them…. probably months and months later; but you get the point. i have to have one room done at a time. its so much easier to concentrate when your not doing 800 things at once. even if you dont understand where the little things will go, put them all together like on a table and do the big things first, like organizing plates, storage situations, furniture formation and once you can see the room you will get inspired to put all the little things in and really make it home for you and all your porcelain animals.
priscilla says
Hey, I think the vast majority of your readers – I’m included-love hearing about the day to day stuff of creating/renovating a home. If people like Amanda want a quick fix, they buy a Home Design magazine with before/after photos. Maybe they don’t realize that it probably took months to redo for the before/after photos, while you two are giving us the gift of “real-time” coverage!
Keep on doing what you do best – we love it!!
a captains wife says
We’re military folk so we move ALOT. Unfortunately we’ve enjoyed the box graveyard far more than I like to admit, AND often I don’t even bother to unpack some things cause, well, what’s the point when we’re going to move again in a year. It can be a bummer at times but you also kind of get used to having boxes laying around.
Anyways, this stop we found out we’ll be staying for an extra 2 years (that makes 3 whole years in one place!)so I’ve made it my mission to unpack, purge and display what’s left in boxes of our life. Pictures on the wall, Oh My!
Thanks for the inspiration. I love your blog!
Ban Clothing says
It makes me feel better to hear other followers admit to having a room devoted to boxes/stuff. I have a similar room which includes numerous boxes. We are on the other side of things… getting a house ready to sell and move. I resorted to flattening them all and hiding them. There are a bunch under the spare bed and a few behind the deep freeze. I am also guilty of keeping boxes in case I need to take something back… hope you don’t have to see me on hoarders.
JenWoodhouse.com says
Yikes! That first photo should be on an episode of “Hoarders.”
Kudos to you guys for getting ‘er done!
Happy New Year, Youngsters!
Kim says
Here’s what we did with the boxes that we left packed from our move (we are renovating and are renting temporarily). It was our 11 year old daughter’s idea.
Corrie says
I wish I could say I have a box graveyard… I closed on my house the friday before you, but we have been painting/cleaning and doing basic repairs before my stuff arrived 2 days ago. Before work last night I decided I needed SOMETHING unpacked so I emptied the box with my dishes. Now I have 1 empty box, a pile of old newspaper in the corner and 1 full cabinet. only 30 or so boxes to go!
Norell says
I love reading your blog & am thrilled to see “real time” progress. I am not bored in any way – reality is always the best part of a fantastic blog and when I see you have a new entry, I have to admit my heart goes pitter-patter. Sounds like Amanda #1 is having a bad day.
AP says
We’ve been in our new house for a few months and I quickly broke down our boxes too. But I decided to keep them since we have room in our attic. I’m not sure what I’m saving them for, but I’ll figure it out one day. Looking forward to the inspiration I’ll be getting from your new house.
Nupur says
Happy New Year to you both and your little ones, and here’s wishing you every happiness in your new home.
Kudos to you for donating reusable supplies instead of trashing them- you have a huge audience and you are encouraging your readers to do the same- thanks for being such great role models.
Kate says
Our last move we would throw all the empty boxes down in the garage. We actually fought to see who could throw the most. The only issue was when we went down to the garage we could not get to the outside door for all the boxes. Humm … not so good at planning that !
Claire says
When I crammed our former 1400 sf house into a 900 sf apartment my entire living area was a box graveyard. We had over 120 boxes (didn’t pack ourselves)! The recycling center is thankfully only 0.7 miles from our apartment. Unfortunately no one wanted our used mover-grade boxes! Hopefully yours get snapped up soon.
Alyssa says
No joke, a bear just broke out of one of the boxes and walked across the screen… I totally thought the picture was a gif but then I wondered why you would choose a bear. Lol!
YoungHouseLove says
THAT BEAR!!! (you can check out the comments of this morning’s post for more context, haha!).
xo
s