Moving In With Your Partner: Moving Checklist, Timeline and Tips
In this Article:
Moving in with your partner is an exciting milestone in any relationship. It’s the start of building a life together, creating new routines, and sharing a space that feels like home for both of you. But let’s be honest – moving in can also be incredibly chaotic if you’re not prepared! Whether it be coordinating the moving truck, navigating new shared purchases, or figuring out where everything goes, there’s a lot to consider.
That’s why we’ve put together this comprehensive moving day checklist. It doesn’t matter if you’re upgrading from a cramped apartment to a spacious home or downsizing to a cozy condo – these tips will help ensure your move goes as smoothly as possible.
Your Ultimate Moving Day Countdown
Moving in together involves countless decisions and tasks, but you don’t have to figure it all out at once. This step-by-step timeline will help you stay organized so you don’t miss any important details.
4-6 Weeks Before Moving Day
- Create a moving binder to keep all your important documents in one place (rental agreements, utility contacts, moving company estimates)
- Schedule your moving company or reserve a moving truck/moving van for your move date
- Take inventory of both households to identify duplicates – do you really need two coffee makers?
- Start sorting through belongings room by room, and decide what to keep, donate, or discard
- Begin researching mattresses together – it’s a good idea to start this conversation early!
- File a change of address form with the post office
- Create a shared budget for moving expenses, new furniture, and household essentials
- Collect free boxes from local stores, friends who’ve recently moved, or online marketplaces
2-3 Weeks Before Moving Day
- Start packing non-essential items and lesser-used rooms
- Gather packing supplies (boxes, bubble wrap, packing tape, markers)
- Transfer or set up utilities at your new place
- Update your address with banks, credit card companies, and subscription services
- Make a plan for moving day meals (trust us, you don’t want to deal with cooking!) (Pizza is also an option here)
- Take measurements of your new space to ensure furniture will fit through doorways and in rooms
- Schedule time off work if needed for moving day and unpacking
- Begin the mattress selection process by visiting showrooms or ordering online from a brand with a good trial period
- Did you know? With Nectar, you can order your mattress to your current address and move easily while it’s still in the box.
- Create a shared digital document for tracking moving tasks and who’s responsible for what
1 Week Before Moving Day
- Pack most of your belongings, leaving only essentials unpacked
- Disassemble furniture that won’t fit through doorways assembled
- Clean your current home as you empty each room
- Prepare a “first night” box with essentials you’ll need immediately
- Confirm details with your moving company or truck rental
- Use up perishable food from your refrigerator and pantry
Secure important documents like medical records, birth certificates, and passports in a safe place
The Partner's Guide to Choosing a New Mattress
At Nectar, we believe that good sleep is the foundation of a happy home (and relationship). Quality sleep affects everything from your mood and energy levels to how you communicate with your partner. When you’re well-rested, you’re more patient, more loving, and better equipped to navigate the challenges that come with combining two lives under one roof.
Moving in together is the perfect opportunity to invest in a mattress that works for both of you. After all, you’ll be spending approximately one-third of your lives on this surface – and now you’ll be doing it together!
1. Have the Sleep Preference Conversation
Start by discussing your sleep needs openly and honestly. This isn’t the time to compromise just to seem agreeable—your sleep quality affects every aspect of your life and relationship.
Consider these important factors:
- Do you sleep hot or cold?
- Do you prefer a firmer or softer surface?
- Are you a side, back, or stomach sleeper?
- Does one of you toss and turn more than the other?
- Do either of you have specific pain points or health conditions that affect sleep?
- What’s your ideal sleeping temperature?
- Do you have allergies or sensitivities to certain materials?
2. Prioritize Features That Matter for Couples
When sharing a bed, certain features become extra important:
- Motion isolation: So one partner’s movements don’t disturb the other
- Edge support: To maximize usable sleep surface (especially important if one of you tends to hog the bed!)
- Temperature regulation: To keep both sleepers comfortable all night
- Durability: Because a mattress for two experiences more wear than a mattress for one
3. Consider Size Carefully
Moving in together often means upgrading your mattress size. For optimal comfort, each person should have at least 27 inches of sleeping space.
- Full/Double: At 53 inches wide, this can be tight for two adults (only 27 inches per person)
- Queen: The most popular option for couples at 60 inches wide, offering a good balance of space and room fit
- King: Ideal if you both like your space at 76 inches wide (38 inches per person). Also great if you’ll share your bed with pets
- California King: Great for taller individuals who need extra length (72″ x 84″ vs standard king’s 76″ x 80″)
- Split King: Two twin XL mattresses that can be customized to different firmness levels—perfect for couples with vastly different preferences
4. Don't Rush the Decision
This is a significant investment in your comfort and relationship that will affect your daily life for years – so take your time!
- Take advantage of sleep trials (like Nectar’s industry-leading 365-Night Home Trial)
- Read reviews specifically from other couples
- Consider a mattress that offers a middle-ground firmness if your preferences differ
- Remember that compromise doesn’t mean one person gets their way—it means finding a solution that works well for both of you
Need help finding the right mattress for your needs? Take our mattress quiz.
Choosing the Right Mattress for Your New Home
When you’re combining households and facing the expenses of moving, you need a mattress that delivers excellent value without compromise. Nectar mattress features include:
- Cooling technology that keeps both sleepers comfortable all night
- Forever Warranty™ gives you peace of mind about your investment
- Industry leading 365-Night Home Trial gives you plenty of time to make sure your mattress is the right choice for both of you
Moving is already expensive, and we understand that couples need to be mindful of their budget. That’s why Nectar offers premium quality at a price point that won’t break the bank. Plus, our convenient delivery means one less item to worry about on moving day – we’ll bring the mattress right to your door, compressed in a manageable box.
Final Moving Day Tips
As you settle into your new home together:
- Don’t forget to take breaks throughout moving day to stay energized
- Be patient with each other – moving is stressful, and it takes time to find your rhythm in a shared space
- Celebrate your milestone once the moving truck is empty – even if it’s just a simple toast in your new, box-filled home
- Make the bed with fresh sheets – there’s nothing better than clean sheets after a long moving day!
Moving in together is about building a shared life, and – to no one’s surprise – we believe that starts with happy, shared sleep. With the right planning, open communication, and a mattress that works for you both, sweet dreams are sure to follow.
Remember that creating your perfect shared space isn’t a race—it’s a journey you’re taking together. Some things may take time to figure out, from decorating styles to sleep routines, and that’s perfectly normal. The most important thing is that you’re creating this home together, one day (and night) at a time.
Bonus: Moving Checklist and Timeline Recap
| 4–6 Weeks Before Moving Day |
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| 2–3 Weeks Before Moving Day |
| 1 Week Before Moving Day |
| Moving Day |
