A room-by-room packing guide that will make your move a breeze!

Packing your home for a move can be a tremendous task, especially if you've lived in your home for a long time. In this case, a room-by-room approach is best, since each room presents its unique obstacles and challenges. Resolving them one by one, with a preconceived plan, means you won’t be as overwhelmed, and you’ll save yourself a lot of time and trouble. However, the first thing you will need to take care of is creating a plan. In this article, we'll share our room-by-room packing guide with you that will ensure you stay organized. Let’s get started.

Step 1: Clear the storage areas

The first area to pack should be your storage spaces. They are usually overstuffed and contain heavy items, those you rarely use, or boxes of stuff already packed and ready to go, so deal with them first. Here are a few things to keep in mind for each of the areas:

Garage

If this is where you store your tools, take the time to sort them out and clean before packing. A greasy, disorganized mess is not something you want to bring with you to the new home. Pack your equipment and tools safely and protect them from damage in transit. Do not pack the things you’ll need during the move, such as packing tape, cleaning products, scissors, etc.

Basement & Attic

Before you pack a single thing, get rid of unnecessary items that you don't need. It will make your life easier, and your space will be more organized. Next, pack the big and bulky items, then those boxes that have likely been there for a while. Finally, pack the smaller things, pat yourself on the back for a job well done, and move on. You've got plenty more work to do.

Pantry

If you are among the lucky (and smart) people who have tons of non-perishable food stored up in their pantry, now's the time pack it. When it comes to packing food supplies, big plastic boxes and cases are your best friend – remember to seal everything correctly to avoid spills.

Make sure to use up as many perishables as you can before you move, to avoid throwing them away.

If this already feels like too much, be sure to consider finding help from the experts. By contacting experienced professionals for all the packing and moving tasks, you won't have to do it in a hurry, and you'll save some nerves in the process. You can still make a packing checklist and a moving timeline to avoid forgetting anything.

Step 2: Pack the bathroom and kitchen

This is the most intricate part of our the room by room packing guide, and therefore it’s crucial to get it right. However, before packing, a good way of staying well organized during the move is by setting aside items you know you’ll use for the following days:

● food and perishables

● kitchen essentials

● personal hygiene items

● medication

Kitchen & Dining Room

Try to use up all perishables and frozen foods supply before the move. Many moving companies will not allow you to place perishables onto the moving truck.

Every kitchen and dining room contains fragile objects, so packing them will seem daunting. Start with packing larger items such as appliances, flatware, pots, and pans. When packing plates and dishes, make sure to use newspapers or paper towels to separate each dish.

Take special care of boxes which contain fragile items.

Pro tip: You can also use your old t-shirts to ensure there is not much space between each dish in the box. That way, they will not crack under all the weight and tumbling. Items that need extra care are chandeliers, crystal, china, and glassware.

If you have lots of spices or teas, sort them and pack them carefully in one box without mixing. We know cinnamon smells great, but do you need everything smelling like it?

If you’ve set the essentials you’ll be actively using aside and packed everything else, you’re ready for the next step.

Bathroom

Use small boxes when packing bathroom items. Start with sorting cupboards, medicine cabinets, and drawers. Get rid of all expired medicine, and pack the frequently used ones in your “essentials” box.

While packing toiletries, make sure that all bottles and tubes are tightly closed so they don’t leak. Using zippered plastic bags can help a lot. A tip for packing cosmetic products and make-up: separate those items in small boxes with cotton cloths or small towels, to prevent shattering during transport.

Step 3: Make space in the living space

Congratulations, your time-management skills have paid off and you’ve come to the final steps! You’ve already done the hard, tricky, meticulous part of the job. The reason why your living spaces are the last one on our room by room packing guide is that these are the rooms you spend most of your time in and you want to be able to use them for as long as possible. So, once you’re done with everything else, let’s wrap it up:

Bedroom

Our closets are often jammed with far more stuff than we need (especially women’s drawers – ladies, am I right?) so packing them can take a lot of time. Think about decluttering and freeing yourself from the things that have no more value or purpose. First, pack a suitcase/bag/backpack with the clothes you’ll be wearing for the next few days. Move on to all other clothes – sort them by season, and if possible, use a vacuum-compressed bags to save a ton of space. Shoes are next: clean them, apply a protective coating, and try to pack each pair in its own box. Pack and keep your valuable jewelry in one secure box.

Study / Home Office / Library

Take special care when boxing up your book collection, paintings, and art pieces. Wrap your computer carefully as well as other bulky office equipment. It is useful to keep essential documents (such as contracts, insurance policies, school, or medical records) in a plastic box or bigger envelope with you during the move.

Take extra care when packing your computer and other electronics

Living Room

You’ve put it off long enough. The time has come to pack that majestic TV, those priceless souvenirs, lamps, and finalize the whole thing. Packing electronics can be tricky, but all you need to remember are a few key tips: if you haven’t saved the original packaging, use soft materials and thick boxes to protect those sensitive (and costly) devices.

Small blankets and old hoodies do wonders here. Pack all cables and accessories together with the device they’re used on, so they don’t get lost. Don’t stack heavy devices on top of each other. As for the personal items, such as memorabilia, photo frames, etc., pack them in the same way you did your plates and glassware.

Following this room by room packing guide, and a little bit of luck, will make your move a breeze. We wish you a successful relocation and enjoyable times in your new home!