Moving to a new home is like setting up a new stage in your life. But before you can enjoy the new backdrop, there's the challenge of packing, which can be overwhelming. Where to start? What should go into the packing boxes first?
Starting with the right items can simplify your move, help protect your valuables, and diminish the chaos of the moving day. From wrapping delicate items to categorizing non-essentials, it’s crucial to start the packing process smartly.
Let’s explore how starting with the right items can enhance your moving experience.
Why Is Proper Packing Order Crucial When Moving?
Establishing an effective packing order when planning your relocation is crucial for a stress-free move. By strategically organizing which items to pack first, you ensure delicate items get extra protection, and you prevent last-minute scrambles. A methodical approach to packing supports a more harmonized unpacking experience at your new home, making it quicker to settle in.
Here’s why a thoughtful packing sequence is essential in any move:
Reduces Last-Minute Stress: Starting the packing process early helps minimize anxiety as moving day approaches. Organizing items into categories allows for a smoother transition, keeping track of your belongings easily.
Protects Fragile Items: Packing fragile items first with plenty of bubble wrap and padding between items helps avoid damage. Securely packing these delicate items early in the process helps keep them safely stored away from heavier items that could cause breakage.
Streamlines Unpacking: An organized packing process aids in a quicker unpacking phase. Labeling boxes clearly by room and contents means less time searching for items and more time enjoying your new space.
Identifies Unwanted Items: Packing often helps highlight unwanted items that can be sold or donated. This decluttering stage frees up space and reduces the load, saving you time and moving costs.
Ensures Availability of Supplies: Gathering packing supplies early means that you have all the necessary materials available when you need them. This avoids any last-minute rushes to find suitable boxes or bubble wrap, keeping the packing experience stress-free.
Makes Moving Day Manageable: Packing away non-essential items first leaves only the essentials for the final days, making the actual move smoother and less cluttered.
What Is the First Thing You Should Pack When Moving?
Begin your packing marathon with items you use the least. This not only clears your space for more intensive packing later but also effectively segments your belongings. Starting with items not in daily use reduces disruption to your everyday life during the packing process.
Here's what comes next after tackling these less essential belongings:
1. Seasonal Clothing
Sort items like winter clothes or season-specific sports gear into cardboard boxes, taking care to seal them against potential moisture. Label these boxes clearly as "seasonal clothing" to maintain organization within your storage unit.
This categorization helps expedite both the moving and unpacking processes, making it straightforward to locate specific items when needed. For added protection, wrap sensitive season clothes in acid-free tissue paper before boxing.
2. Books and Media
Gather your best-selling books, old magazines, and media collections. Pack these heavier items in small, sturdy boxes to prevent them from becoming too cumbersome and difficult to transport. Limit the weight of each box to keep it manageable, and reinforce the boxes with strong packing tape for extra security during the move. This careful packing allows for easy stacking in the moving truck or storage unit.
3. Decorative Items
When it comes to packing for a move, your decorative items and art pieces deserve special attention. These beautiful items often hold sentimental value and can be vulnerable to damage if not handled correctly. Securing their safety starts with proper wrapping and careful placement into well-labeled "fragile" boxes.
Beyond just wrapping in bubble wrap, it's essential to create a buffer by cushioning the bottom of each box with packing paper and filling any gaps to prevent the items from shifting during transport. This careful preparation safeguards your delicate pieces against the rigors of moving.
Here’s a list of common decorative items you might be packing:
Wall art, including paintings and framed photographs
Ceramic figurines and porcelain vases
Decorative glass and crystal ware
Ornamental lamps and light fixtures
Sculptures and statues
Antique mirrors and decorative clocks
Holiday decorations and seasonal ornaments
4. Kitchen Non-Essentials
When it comes to packing your kitchen, it’s best to start with items that aren’t part of your everyday routine. Think about those fragile kitchen items you use only on special occasions or the gadgets that gather dust most of the year. Packing these items meticulously in bubble wrap and sturdy boxes helps protect them throughout the move.
Clear-labeled boxes help avoid any mix-ups and promote careful handling by movers. By packing these non-essentials separately, you not only protect them but also streamline the entire unpacking process, saving time and hassle when settling into your new kitchen.
To help you pack efficiently, here are some typical kitchen non-essentials that should be wrapped securely and labeled clearly:
China and fine crockery
Seasonal or rarely used kitchen appliances like ice cream makers or fondue pots
Extra sets of cutlery and serving utensils
Specialty glassware and bar tools
Decorative items or seldom-used vases and bowls
Non-daily cookbooks
5. Collectibles and Keepsakes
When it comes to moving, irreplaceable items such as photo albums, heirlooms, and collectibles demand special attention. These are the treasures of your home, often filled with sentimental value that no insurance can replace. To protect these delicate items, generous amounts of protective wrapping and cushioning materials are imperative. Securely encased, these items should then be placed in boxes that are clearly labeled to differentiate them from everyday household items.
It's wise to allocate a secure and specific spot in your moving arrangement to store these boxes, minimizing any risk of loss or damage during the transition. By handling these items with extra care, you help maintain their pristine condition throughout the move.
Among these treasured possessions, some common decorative items include:
Hand-painted vases
Antique picture frames
Custom-made lampshades
Decorative ceramic plates
Ornate candle holders
6. Guest Rooms and Secondary Bathrooms
Guest linens and extra toiletries can be packed well in advance of moving day. It's efficient to pack these items in clearly labeled boxes and maintain a detailed list of their contents for easy organization. Such pre-packing simplifies the final packing stages and makes certain that necessary items are readily available and unharmed upon arrival. Keeping an accurate inventory aids in the immediate setting up of these rooms in your new home.
7. Leisure Equipment
Sports equipment, gardening tools, and other seasonal items from your garage or attic should be packed next. Pack these using durable containers that can withstand the rigors of transport and potential shifting within the storage unit. Careful packing and labeling of these items simplify the retrieval process upon moving into your new home. Secure these belongings adequately to prevent any damage that might occur during handling and transport.
What to Pack First When Moving Apartment
When moving out of an apartment, space and organization are key concerns. Start by packing items you use less frequently. This lays the groundwork for a tidy and manageable move, ensuring your delicate items are secured early on.
Consider packing these essentials first:
Decorative items such as vases and framed photos
Out-of-season clothing to minimize closet congestion
Books and other heavy items in sturdy cardboard boxes
Extra linens and seasonal bedding
Occasional use of kitchen gadgets and specialty appliances
What to Pack First When Moving a House
Moving a house involves a larger scale, often including garages, attics, and outdoor spaces. Begin with items that are seldom needed. This not only clears out substantial space but also allows you to sort items more efficiently, providing added protection to fragile kitchen items and breakable items.
These might include:
Unused furniture and seasonal tools from the garage or shed
Holiday decorations and other seldom-used household items
Books, old files, and other items in storage that aren't daily necessities
Bulky sports equipment and outdoor furniture
Artwork and collectibles that require careful packing to prevent damage
What to Pack First in the Bedroom When Moving
The bedroom is a personal space that many find tricky to pack. Start with items that are not part of your daily routine. Packing these bedroom items first can greatly facilitate the upcoming stages of your move, ensuring that essentials remain accessible while everything else is safely packed away.
Essential items to consider packing first include:
Off-season clothing that is currently not in use
Extra shoes and accessories are neatly stored in shoe boxes or bags
Non-essential decorative items such as wall art and photo frames
Spare bedding and seasonal comforters that are not currently needed
Special-occasion jewelry and other rarely used personal items
How Long Before Moving Day Should I Start Packing?
It is ideal to start packing at least four weeks before your move date. This gives you plenty of time to organize, pack, and label your belongings without feeling rushed. Packing non-essential items early and leaving essentials for the last week helps maintain normalcy as long as possible. Allow extra time for unforeseen delays to keep the packing experience calm and controlled.
Effective planning and early preparation ensure a smooth, moving day, leaving little room for chaos.
When Is Too Early to Start Packing?
Starting to pack too early for a move can lead to inconvenience and disorder, as you might pack items that you still need to use daily. Ideally, the best time to begin packing is about four weeks before your move date, which allows adequate time for organization and minimizes disruption to your everyday life.
Packing essential items too soon can create unnecessary challenges and complicate your routine leading up to the move. If you begin packing non-essential and seldom-used items first, you can avoid the pitfalls of packing too early. Planning efficiently ensures that your necessary items remain accessible and everything else is securely packed and ready to go.
Looking for Effortless Moving Solutions? COWs of Delaware Can Help!
Packing strategically plays a crucial role in transforming a potentially stressful move into a managed and methodical procedure. Knowing which items to pack first minimizes last-minute chaos and protects your belongings during the transition.
If organizing seems daunting, COWs of Delaware is here to assist. Our mobile storage units offer an unmatched easy-to-load feature, providing convenience and flexibility.
Looking for a hassle-free move? Reach out to COWs of Delaware and see the difference for yourself.