Room-By-Room Packing Guide: Strategies for an Efficient Move

Here at All My Sons Moving & Storage, we know moving! We’ve been in the business of helping businesses and families relocate for almost 30 years. To help our customers get organized and ready for their big move, we have compiled a treasure-trove of moving resources. A well-organized move means less moving anxiety, so make your move with confidence and start prepping as soon as you know your move is on the horizon.

Now is the point in your moving checklist that you must embark on what is probably the most time-consuming and headache-inducing part of moving: Packing boxes.

You can, of course, let the pros handle this step and choose professional packing services if you have plenty of budget and not a lot of time. For movers who are looking into doing their own packing, All My Sons Moving & Storage offers this special room-by-room guide on how to pack practically everything you have in your household.

Gather your packing supplies, ready the tape guns, and uncap those markers, it’s time to box up your belongings!

Before you set out to start your packing, keep these general packing tips in mind. 

Tip 1: Make a Moving Inventory

Creating a household moving inventory can make your entire unpacking process so much simpler. A moving inventory is a great resource that you can keep using long after your move. If you’re short on time, the simplest moving inventory you can create is a searchable list of all your numbered moving boxes. When you have this resource on hand, there’s no need to pull any hair out over an item you know is in a box somewhere. You will be able to go straight to the right box. 

While a moving inventory is an amazing resource if you have the time to create one, if you’re making a last-minute move you might have to do without. In lieu of a moving inventory, label each of your boxes with as many content details as you feel are necessary.

Tip 2: Label Your Boxes by Room

Mark each box with the room it belongs to. If you have the budget to splurge on moving supplies that are fabulous, get different colored tape or labels and designate a color for each room. You will be able to tell at a glance which box belongs where.

If you’re creating a moving inventory, number each box and keep a list of all the contents. Organize your list according to the way you packed your box, so that if you’re looking for something specific when you unpack you will know exactly which box to find it in and how much to dig to find it. 

Tip 3: Pack Your Non-Essentials First

No matter when you start packing, whether that’s the week leading up to your move or the night before your move, you should pack the things you need the least first.

Among your belongings, there is a hierarchy. Some of your things can sit in a box for days before you start missing them. Maybe they’re already in a box, out of sight and mind. (Perhaps you should downsize before you pack?) These are non-essentials. Some of your things you will use until the moment your movers start knocking and then will need pronto as soon as you arrive at your new home. These are the essentials.

Pack the non-essentials, the things you don’t need daily, before you pack anything else. If you’re unsure where to start, your long-term storage is typically a safe bet. The off-season clothes, keepsakes you don’t display, and whatever is gathering dust in the back of your closet. Then work your way up to the décor, the books and media you’re not presently using, and the kitchen appliances that come out for special occasions. As your move date approaches, climb up the hierarchy room by room.

Tip 4: Heavier Items Should Go in Smaller Boxes

Remember that your boxes need to be transported easily. Even if you have professional movers (like All My Sons Moving & Storage) doing all the heavy lifting and bringing all manner of dollies to get the job done, it’s easier to move when your boxes are not overloaded.

Heavy items like books, plates, and weighty collectibles need to go in smaller boxes while lighter items like blankets, pillows, and towels can go in larger boxes. Once you pack a box, make certain you can lift and carry the box. Save a mover’s back and pack with weight in mind.

Tip 5: Fill Up as Much Space as Possible

When you move your boxes, they might get jostled. Fill as much empty space in your boxes as possible, especially if you are concerned about items shifting during transit. Wrap and pad the more fragile items, and then when nothing else in your room fits in the box make sure gaps are filled with packing paper, bubble wrap, or soft items.

Mark boxes that contain delicate things like glassware, collectibles, or electronics as fragile, so you and your movers remember to be extra careful with them.

Tip 6: Separate an Essentials and Emergencies Stash

The flip side of Tip 3, make sure you have all your absolute essentials in an accessible box or bag. One of the most common mistakes that people make while they are moving is packing something they need in a box where the item is not easily found or accessed. As you are packing, ask yourself if you will need the item you’re putting away on or close to the day of your move. When the answer is yes, put the item aside and keep it with essentials that are coming with you.

You should also pack a bag that contains items you need in emergencies such as medication, a first aid kit, or a change of clothes. Remember to put your moving essentials such as important paperwork, tape, or a boxcutter with the essentials you want on hand.

There’s no way around it, packing can be pretty monotonous. If you’re struggling with moving procrastination, the sheer depth of the snooze fest awaiting you in those moving boxes could be preventing you from rolling up your sleeves and taking on the challenge. Thankfully there are plenty of ways to make packing a little more fun. Try one of these tips or a combination of them, and get down to business.

Tip 1: Listen to Something While You Pack

Turn up the music and jam while you pack. Or get yourself a cozy audiobook and let yourself pack to the rhythm of an awesome story. Maybe you can use your packing time to catch up on your favorite podcast. Packing usually doesn’t take a lot of concentration or focus, so don’t be afraid to fill the silence.

Tip 2: Watch Something While You Pack

Provided you didn’t put your TV or computer away in a box somewhere early in your packing process, you can turn on a show, movie, or online video while you pack.

Depending on your multitasking abilities, you might want to choose something you can have on in the background without needing to pay much attention to it like a light sitcom or an old favorite you’ve seen (and loved) many times.

Tip 3: Pack with Friends

Boring labor feels more enjoyable and goes by faster when it is done with friends. Ask for help from loved ones and watch the packed boxes pile up quick. With friends around, you can chat, play verbal games, or simply reminisce about the things you’re packing away into boxes.

Tip 4: Make Packing a Game

Challenge yourself to pack as many boxes as you can within a certain timeframe. If you have young children packing with you, pretend you’re fortifying a castle against a monster invasion. Play a scavenger hunt while you pack or make yourself a packing BINGO card. The possibilities are endless, and the more fun you have while you pack the quicker it will go by.

Tip 5: Take Breaks and Reward Yourself

Packing can be a long process so don’t forget to take plenty of timed breaks along the way. Give yourself fifteen minutes based on how long you’ve worked or how many boxes you have managed to fill and get yourself a coffee or tasty treat. You could also take a quick walk and return to your task feeling refreshed. Designate a reward for yourself that gets you excited to finish as many boxes as you can.

Before you pack your belongings, decide whether you would like to downsize. You might discover in the heat of packing that there are things you’d rather not take with you. Be sure to create a box for giveaway and keep a trash can on hand for those easy throw-aways. 

Here is a room by room guide for how to pack your home with special tips on how to pack everything from your media collections to your kitchen appliances.

Kitchen Drawers

The night before your move, finish any dishes you need to wash by hand or run your dishwasher so that you can dry and put away all the silverware and dishes you needed the week of your move. Once all the items are dry, leave anything you might need for move day in your immediate essentials box or bag and pack the rest.

Put a rubber band or twist tie around forks, butter knives, and spoons to keep them together. If you have a silverware organizer, you can leave the bundled silverware inside and put packing paper or plastic wrap around the organizer to keep the silverware together. Pack this item in the bottom of a kitchen box.

Sharp knives should be packed with the blades covered. If you have a knife block for your knives then wrap the entire block so the knives do not fall out, label it appropriately, and pack it in the very bottom of a kitchen box. For knives that do not have a block or cover, wrap the blades with packing paper and cardboard. Put the wrapped knives in a small box if you are able and label it well so that you can remember to handle your knives with care when you are unpacking.

Kitchen towels, hot pads, or oven mitts can be packed around fragile items for extra protection or used to fill empty space in boxes.

Kitchen Cabinets

Grab the heaviest and largest pots and pans first. Wrap these with paper and pack them in the bottoms of your kitchen boxes. Save space by nesting smaller pots inside larger pots if they can fit. Pot and pan lids should be wrapped in packing paper, towels, or bubble wrap.

If you can obtain a dish pack box, you can pack your plates in these. In lieu of a dish pack box, wrap each plate individually and nest them in your boxes. Heavier plates should go in the bottom of your kitchen boxes and fragile, breakable plates should have extra wrapping and padding around them. Always remember to check if your box is easily lifted after you have packed it. If it is not, then take some weight out of the box and replace it with lighter items.

Glassware and other delicate items will need extra packing. It is a good idea to pack delicate items in a smaller box like a shoebox and to label that box as fragile, so you and your movers remember to handle it with care.

Fridge and Freezer

In the week leading up to your move, it is in your best interest to cook as much of your fresh and frozen ingredients as possible. Your move will feel a lot more manageable if you’re not scrambling to return ingredients to their controlled environment. Try a zero-food-waste app or website like Supercook, My Fridge Food, or Recipe Radar if you’re having trouble coming up with ideas on what to cook to finish off the fridge and freezer.

If you must store fridge and freezer items prior to your move, pack them in coolers or insulated bags with ice packs. Alternatively, you can ask friends or family who live near your new place if they would be willing to store some food items for you.

The night before your move, defrost your freezer and clean out your fridge to avoid substantial water leaks during the move.

Kitchen Appliances

Wash, dry, and clean out appliances that may have some food particles or moisture in them. When you have the appliance’s original box, that is the best-case scenario. You can pack it back in the original box and then put that box in a larger kitchen box if it will fit or simply transport the item as is. 

If you do not have the appliance’s original box, then use a medium or small box to pack the appliance. Disassemble anything that can be taken apart for easier packing and if any components are fragile or sharp be sure to pack those items with extra padding.

TV and Sound System

Your living room electronics like your TV and sound system will be best packed in their original boxes, if you still have them. In the event you have thrown away the original boxes, you might be able to purchase a special TV box from a moving company that sells moving supplies or you could use medium and large boxes if your electronics will fit.

Disassemble any components that can be easily separated like stands or cords. Wrap all your cables and put any screws or small hardware in a small plastic bag. Put extra packing paper or bubble wrap on screens and use foam blocks to fill up extra space in boxes.

Living Room Décor 

Any artwork you display should be double wrapped with packing paper or plastic wrap to protect the frame and face of the artwork. Picture frames with glass should be marked with an X in masking tape to minimize shatter damage. When you place the frames in your moving boxes, set them on their sides rather than laying them flat. Make sure the pictures do not shift too much when the box is jostled. Fill any empty space with packing paper or bubble wrap.

Dining Room

No matter how often you use this room, whether it’s daily or only on special occasions, it likely contains some of your most prized furniture pieces. Packing these pieces will take some care and consideration.

Dining Table

Clear the table of any centerpieces, clutter, or kitchenware. If the legs detach from the table or if the table has extra leaves that can be removed, disassemble these items now. Keep careful track of any screws or bolts that go with the table by putting them in a plastic bag and either taping the bag to one of the table’s larger pieces or keeping it labeled with other hardware pieces.

Dining Chairs

Wrap your chairs in furniture blankets and always remember to carry the chairs by their seats and not the legs. When your movers load the chairs into the truck, they will likely stack the chairs seat to seat.

Dining Décor

Depending on how fragile they are, centerpieces and any special chinaware may need to be packed with extra bubble wrap and packing paper. You can also use kitchen towels, cloth placemats, or cloth napkins to add extra padding to boxes with fragile items.

Mark any boxes containing chinaware as fragile and always be sure the box can be easily lifted before you declare it done.

Nightstands

Empty any cabinets or drawers and put the items you find in them in a labeled bedroom box. If your nightstand can be disassembled, then take the components apart and save any hardware pieces like screw or bolts in a plastic bag.

Dressers

Empty your dressers of clothes and clear the tops of any décor or display items. Pack clothes in medium boxes, they will typically be very light even when full. Remember to hold off packing anything you want on hand before, during, and directly after your move. Take the drawers out of your dressers and wrap them in plastic wrap or furniture pads as necessary. 

Bedroom Closet

The first items you will want to pack will be anything in your long-term storage. Provided you have already decluttered and downsized your closet, these will typically be your off-season clothes, your extra blankets or sheets, and any keepsake boxes you have lying around.

If you have special occasion clothes in garment bags, those are best transported in wardrobe boxes where they can continue to hang. If your items can be safely folded, put them in boxes and try to keep clothes of the same type together. Leave out any clothes you would like to have on hand during and immediately following your move.

Stuff shoes and wrap them with packing paper. If you have shoe boxes on hand, you can put pairs of shoes in those boxes and then pack those boxes in a larger box. Be sure to keep the shoes you need to wear for your move on hand.

Desks

Clear your desk of any photos, plants, or office supplies and empty the drawers. Create a box for your home office and put any desk items you find in this box. 

If the desk can be disassembled, then do so once the desk is clear and save any special hardware for the desk in a plastic bag. Wrap the desk in furniture pads to avoid scuffs or scrapes.

File Cabinets

Some file cabinets can travel with the files inside, provided the cabinets are not too difficult to lift. Make sure the drawers are locked or taped shut so they do not come open. If your file cabinets prove too heavy for your movers, remove the files and pack them into small boxes in the same order. 

Be sure to grab any essential documents you need for your move as well as any documents you may need in case of emergencies. If you deem a document too sensitive to be handled by anyone else, you should also hang on to that document and move it yourself.

Gym

While having a home gym likely comes with many perks, one of the downsides is probably that your gym equipment and weights are extremely difficult to move. This is where having strong professional movers comes in very handy, but as you pack your gym there are things you can do to make it easier on them.

Treadmills and Heavy Workout Machines

Before you begin packing your machine, give it a thorough scrub-down to ensure it is free of dirt and oil. If you keep anything hanging or sitting on your machine, remove the item and pack it in a home gym box. Any components that can come apart from the machine like handlebars, water bottle holders, weights, or screens should be removed and packed into moving boxes. Make sure to save any special hardware pieces that are used to assemble the machine in plastic bags.

If you have your device’s original manual that could provide helpful instructions on how to move the machine. You can also search for the device’s manual online.

Exercise Equipment

Yoga mats, resistance bands, or stability balls can be packed in small to medium boxes. Lighter items should go in the tops of boxes while heavier items should go in the bottom. You can fill empty space in the boxes with lightweight items like gym towels or packing paper. 

Weights

Wrap weights in packing paper and put them on the bottom of small boxes and fill the rest of the box with lighter material and packing paper. Try not to weigh a box down with more than 30 pounds. If you have heavier weights, then set them aside to be moved with the large furniture.

Always check to make sure you can lift a box before you declare it done.

Bathroom

Your bathroom likely contains items that may leak moisture if they are packed, so be careful with bottles and tubes as you put them away. Some of your toiletries you will definitely want on hand during your move, so pack them into your essentials and emergencies bag.

Bathroom Cabinets

Bag extra bottles of shampoo and soap and put them upright in your moving boxes. If they are bagged then if they do leak, the mess will be contained. Leave out a few rolls of toilet paper and paper towels so they are on hand during your move. 

Bathroom organizers and décor should be packed with packing paper and put into boxes. Clean and dust the items before you pack them and be sure they are dry.

Put cleaning supplies you will need to do final clean-out in your essentials and emergencies stash.

Bathroom Drawers

Electric hair tools like curling irons, hairdryers, and straightening irons should be unplugged with their cords wound tight and tied up. You can pack these items in their original boxes or wrap them in packing paper and place them in the bottoms of your boxes with lighter items on top. Be sure the electric hair tool has cooled down before you pack it.

Makeup can be packed into makeup bags. Keep the items you want on hand and pack the extras with your bathroom décor and organizers.

Toiletries

You will need your essential toiletries for your essentials bag. This means toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, feminine hygiene products, deodorant, and anything else you need during your daily routine. Any extras can be packed in plastic bags or reusable grocery bags. You can either put these items in boxes for easy moving or keep them on hand so that you can unpack them immediately when you arrive at your new place.

Linen Closet

Extra linens can be packed with your non-essentials. Linens are also a great light item to fill up empty space in boxes. Be sure to wash and keep any linens you would like to use immediately upon arrival.

Dollhouse

Pack the dollhouse furniture and clear all the rooms in the dollhouse first. If you can take apart pieces of the dollhouse, then disassemble it. Be sure to save any small pieces like screws, bolts, or plastic clips and put them in a bag to transport with the dollhouse. If the larger pieces of the dollhouse will fit in boxes, then pack them. Should you have a dollhouse with larger pieces, you might set those pieces aside and transport them with the rest of your furniture.

Rocking Chairs

If the chair’s legs will detach then remove them and be sure to save any hardware pieces. If not, wrap the legs in furniture blankets. Cover any protruding corners or delicate trims with plastic wrap or furniture pads.

Library

If you are a big reader or collector, you likely have your own home library. This is a great place to start packing because most of what you own in this room you will not be actively needing during your move. It is a good idea to name or number your bookshelves so that you can return your items back to the shelf they came from, and you can mark boxes by shelf number.

Books

Boxes of books can get heavy real fast, so use smaller boxes when packing books. For extra protection, especially if your books are going into storage and you’re not sure for how long, wrap books individually in packing paper to protect them. Lay books flat or put them into your moving boxes spine-first. Fill any empty space in your boxes with packing paper or bubble wrap.

Movies

Your DVDs, Blu-rays, and if you’re old-fashioned, VHS tapes should be placed in boxes with the spine up. Start with the largest cases first and work your way down to the smaller cases as they fit. If you can add additional layers of media, put some packing paper between each layer. Make sure to fill any empty space in your boxes with lighter items or packing paper.

Music

CDs can be packed in their cases with the spine up. If some of your CDs do not have cases or they only came in a cardboard case, you might want to invest in a CD organizer or some extra jewel cases.

Vinyl records are a little trickier to pack. You should use small boxes to store records as they can get heavy very quickly. Before you pack your records, clean them to make certain there is no dirt or grime that might get trapped between the records. Layer the bottom of your boxes with bubble wrap and then stack the records vertically in the box. Fill any empty space in the box with bubble wrap or packing paper.

Attic

The attic is a great place to start packing since much of what is in your attic is non-essential and already packed for storage. If you’re looking to downsize, your attic probably contains some things that you don’t get out often. Now is a great time to evaluate whether you really need to hang on to those items. For everything coming with you, follow this packing guide.

Keepsakes

Your family treasures, trophies, and photo albums will be just a few of the many memorable items you have in your attic. Some of these items might be oddly shaped or especially delicate. Wrap any collectibles in bubble wrap and cushion those items with plenty of soft material or packing paper. Mark boxes that contain delicate items as fragile. 

Old children’s drawings can be put in sheet protectors and packed in a binder or folder. Should you decide to keep old kids’ craft projects, then carefully wrap any delicate components with bubble wrap and nestle the items in boxes. Be sure to label anything you would like to be kept upright. 

Holiday Decorations

Hopefully you took the time to carefully pack your holiday decorations when you put them away and packing them for your move will be as simple as dusting them off and putting them on the truck. If your holiday decorations are a mess though, take some time to clean and repack them.

Wrap string lights and garlands around cardboard to prevent them from tangling and put them in their original boxes or a small shoebox. Wrap ornaments in bubble wrap or packing paper and keep them in a small shoebox. You might be able to make or purchase cardboard dividers to put the individual ornaments in.  Any extra space should be filled with packing peanuts or packing paper.

Garage

Your garage likely contains your most hazardous materials. Check with your movers to find out what they can and won’t be able to move as some movers are not able to transport hazardous material like gas, paint, or explosives. Be sure to take an honest look around and determine what you do and don’t need on a regular basis. 

Yard Equipment

Drain fluids from big power tools like the lawn mower or leaf blower and detach any removable parts. 

Wrap your sharp yard tools like shears, shovels, and rakes in towels or furniture pads. Bundle your long-handled tools together with Velcro ties, zip ties, or simple rope. 

Auto Parts

Drain any fluids from auto parts before you pack them for moving. Wrap and cover any sharp edges with cardboard and use sturdy boxes to store your auto parts. Always check with your movers to find out what they are legally unable to move or what their insurance license prevents them from moving.

Patio Furniture

Give any furniture that’s sitting in a garage a thorough scrub down and ensure that it is dry before you wrap it with plastic wrap or furniture pads. If the items have cushions, take these aside to pack in a medium box or use to help pack your tools.

Tools

Hand tools should go in a toolbox if you have one. These can get heavy very quickly so be sure to test lifting the box before you declare it packed. It is best to pack hand tools in plastic or metal boxes rather than cardboard as they are heavy enough to break through the bottom of a cardboard box.

With this room by room guide to packing, you can feel confident setting out to box up your home. Once all the boxes are filled and stacked, you will be ready for your movers to come in and whisk everything into your moving truck. Be sure to leave paths between stacks of boxes for your movers to maneuver and you will be ready to go.

Before you pack, schedule your movers so that you are ready on move day. Why not call the experts with almost 30 years of experience in the moving industry?  All My Sons Moving & Storage can take care of all the heavy lifting while you sit back and focus on settling into your new home. Go online to get your free quote and get ready for your move.