Make Moving Day Your First Celebration

Moving into a new home in Malta or Gozo often means bare walls and a maze of boxes. Before you unpack everything, pause for a simple meal together. It turns upheaval into the first good memory in the new place.

Turn packing boxes into a dining table

Before you hunt down proper furniture, look at what is already stacked in the hallway. Sturdy moving boxes can be arranged into a makeshift table, with different stack heights giving you a surface for plates and a lower level for seating. It works particularly well in a Maltese apartment or maisonette where space is tight and the usual dining set may still be in transit or simply hasn't arrived from the old place yet. No one will mind that the table has corners instead of legs, especially once the food appears.

PÄRKLA storage case, 55x49x19 cmSAMLA box with lid, transparent, 57x39x28 cm/45 lKNAGGLIG box, pine, 46x31x25 cmSAMLA box, transparent, 56x39x28 cm/45 lSAMLA box, transparent, 78x56x43 cm/130 lKNAGGLIG box, pine, 23x31x15 cm

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Keep the essentials easy to find

Not everything needs to stay sealed away while you settle in. Pack the items you will want straight away, such as serving bowls and basics for the table, into a clear storage box like IKEA's SAMLA box, so nothing needs to be dug for. Inside, a few BLANDA serving bowls and a lazy Susan sit ready for use rather than buried under linens. It also turns into a small game for children in the house, who can race to spot the right box and claim the first slice.

BLANDA BLANK serving bowl, stainless steel, 28 cmBLANDA MATT serving bowl, bamboo, 20 cmBLANDA BLANK serving bowl, stainless steel, 12 cmBLANDA BLANK serving bowl, stainless steel, 20 cmBLANDA serving bowl, clear glass, 20 cmBLANDA MATT serving bowl, bamboo, 28 cm

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Set a table that welcomes the whole family

A shower curtain makes a surprisingly practical tablecloth for a first meal surrounded by cardboard and dust sheets, protecting the makeshift table while adding a bit of colour to an otherwise bare room. Pair it with hardwearing tableware and a lazy Susan so pizza, drinks and napkins can be passed around easily. It is an easy, low-stress way to mark the start of life in a new home, and a good moment to prop up a handmade welcome sign for any neighbours who wander past.

OFTAST plate, white, 25 cmOFTAST bowl, white, 15 cmOFTAST deep plate, white, 20 cmSTORSINT glass, clear glass, 37 cl, 6 packGODMIDDAG 18-piece service, whiteOFTAST side plate, white, 19 cm

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A few boxes, a shower curtain and some sturdy bowls are all it takes to mark the day. Everything here can be delivered to your door in Malta and Gozo.

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