Good packing is the difference between a smooth move and a chaotic one. These tips come from professional movers who pack houses every day — and they'll save you hours.
1. Start with the rooms you use least
Pack the spare room, loft, and garage first. Leave the kitchen and bathroom until last since you'll need them right up to moving day. This spreads the work across several weeks instead of a frantic final weekend.
2. Use the right box sizes
Heavy items (books, pans, tools) go in small boxes. Light, bulky items (bedding, towels, lampshades) go in large boxes. This sounds obvious but it's the number one mistake — a large box full of books is almost impossible to carry safely.
3. Label every box on two sides
Write the destination room AND a brief contents list on two sides of every box. When boxes are stacked, you can still read the label. Use a colour-coding system if you have many rooms — a strip of coloured tape per room makes unloading much faster.
4. Wrap plates vertically
Plates are far less likely to break when packed on their edge (like records) than flat. Wrap each plate in packing paper and stand them vertically in a small, sturdy box with crumpled paper at the bottom and on top.
5. Keep hardware in labelled bags
When you disassemble furniture, put all the screws, bolts, and Allen keys in a small zip-lock bag, tape it to the furniture piece, and photograph the assembly. You'll thank yourself when you're rebuilding the bed at 10pm.
6. Use towels and bedding as padding
Wrap fragile items in towels, jumpers, or blankets instead of buying excessive bubble wrap. You're moving them anyway — might as well make them useful. Socks are perfect for wrapping glasses individually.
7. Pack an essentials box last, unload it first
Your essentials box should contain: kettle, mugs, tea/coffee, toilet roll, phone charger, basic tools, a change of clothes, medication, snacks, and cleaning supplies. Load it last so it comes off the van first.
8. Don't empty drawers unnecessarily
If your chest of drawers is light enough to carry with clothes inside, just wrap the whole thing in cling film or stretch wrap to keep drawers closed. This saves packing time and box space.
9. Photograph electronics before unplugging
Take a photo of the back of your TV, router, and any complex cable setups before disconnecting anything. When you're setting up in the new house, you'll have a clear reference for what plugs in where.
10. Fill gaps in every box
Half-empty boxes collapse when stacked, and items shift and break in transit. Fill gaps with scrunched packing paper, bubble wrap, or clothing. Every box should feel firm when sealed — no give when you press the top.