Packing Tips for Moving House: A Room-by-Room Guide

General principles that apply everywhere

A few habits make every room easier, so it's worth setting these up before you start.

• ✓Pack one room at a time rather than jumping between rooms — it keeps similar items together and makes unpacking logical
• ✓Label every box with the room it's going to and a rough description of contents
• ✓Use smaller boxes for heavy items (books) and larger boxes for light, bulky items (bedding, cushions)
• ✓Fill gaps in boxes with towels, clothing or paper so items don't shift in transit
• ✓Keep an inventory list as you go, especially for higher-value items

Kitchen

The kitchen is usually the most time-consuming room to pack because of the mix of fragile and awkward items.

• ✓Wrap plates individually and pack them on their edge (like records), not flat stacked — they're far less likely to crack
• ✓Use bubble wrap or towels around glasses, mugs and anything fragile
• ✓Pack knives and sharp items separately, clearly labelled, blade-protected
• ✓Leave your kettle, a couple of mugs, teabags/coffee and basic cutlery out for a moving-day essentials box

Living room

Larger furniture and electronics need a bit more planning than boxable items.

• ✓Photograph the back of your TV/electronics setup before disconnecting cables, so reconnecting is simple
• ✓Use furniture blankets or wrap on sofas, tables and cabinets to protect against scuffs
• ✓Pack ornaments and picture frames individually in bubble wrap, box them upright, and mark the box "fragile"
• ✓Disassemble any furniture that comes apart to make it easier to move and less likely to be damaged

Bedrooms

Bedrooms tend to have a mix of clothing, which is easy, and personal or sentimental items, which need more care.

• ✓Clothes on hangers can often be moved in wardrobe boxes still on the hanger, saving a lot of folding time
• ✓Pack bedding and linens together in labelled bags or boxes
• ✓Keep valuables and important documents separate, and carry them with you rather than in the van

Bathroom

Quick to pack, but worth doing last since it's used right up until moving day.

• ✓Pack liquids (shampoo, cleaning products) in a sealed bag in case of leaks
• ✓Leave a small bag of toiletries out for moving day itself

Fragile and high-value items

A few items deserve extra attention no matter which room they're in — mirrors, artwork, glassware, electronics and anything sentimental. Wrap these individually, use plenty of padding, and mark the box clearly on more than one side so it's handled carefully throughout the move.

Or skip the packing altogether

If all of this sounds like a lot on top of everything else a move involves, our packing service handles it for you — careful, fully-wrapped packing done by our uniformed team, so all you need to do is point us at the essentials box. Get in touch on WhatsApp for a free, no-obligation quote.