35 Packing & Moving Tips to Make Your Move Easier

Looking for some packing and moving tips to make your next move as stress-free as possible? I’ve got you covered today with all of my best tips and tricks.

Moving is a tiny bit like childbirth. It’s overwhelming, painful, exhausting, and so incredibly difficult. But, once it’s over and you’re all settled, it feels so great and right and wonderful that you kind of forget how rough it was to get there. I was so excited about our move (still am!) but, good Lord, packing is a lot.

I’ve been doing all of the research I can to find the best packing and moving tips to make things a little easier on myself. Today, I’m sharing the best of what I’ve learned, so all of my Googling doesn’t go to waste.

35 of the Best Packing & Moving Tips

Use a Moving Checklist.

I love having a list to check things off of as I work, and this makes things feel a lot less overwhelming! See my room-by-room packing checklist right here.

Declutter AS You Pack.

This is the number one thing you can do as you begin packing your home. You do NOT want to start your time off in your new home by unpacking a bunch of stuff you don’t even want. I have a list of 75 things to declutter before a move to help you out.

Start Gathering Supplies Early.

You can’t have enough moving boxes – truly. So, the moment you know that moving is on your radar, start saving those Amazon boxes! It’s also helpful to have packing tape on hand so that you can start to slowly pack up less-used items around the house.

Use Small Boxes for Heavy Items.

It’s temping to use a ton of large boxes to help reduce the number of boxes in the moving truck. But, anything heavy should really go into smaller boxes so they’re easier to carry and less likely to break. Medium boxes are great for lighter items, and I’d save the large boxes for really light stuff.

Linens Can Double as Packing Material!

You can use tea towels to wrap wine glasses. Stick a wine bottle into a sock. Use beach towels to wrap around picture frames. Get creative with what you already have and you’ll greatly reduce your need for packing paper or bubble wrap!

Get Creative!

Anything can be a box if you try hard enough. Pack decor or clothing in baskets. Tuck your spices into the pots and pans then plop a lid on. Cardboard boxes are great (and you should save every one your get when you’re moving!), but you can also use so many things around your house to pack things as well. You can also thread your necklaces through straws to help prevent tangling, and use egg cartons to store jewelry that doesn’t have a box.

child's bedroom with boxes being packed for a move

Use Ziplock Bags to Avoid Leaks.

Put any toiletries that are going into a box into a resealable bag so you don’t have to deal with leaks! You can also put some saran wrap on the top underneath the lid!

Use Trash Bags for Hanging Clothes.

Wardrobe boxes are great and all, but I think they’re overrated. Instead, flip a trash bag upside down and poke a hole in it for the hangers. Pull the bag down over the clothes and tie at the bottom. Done and done!

Color-Code Boxes for Easier Organization.

This isn’t something I personally do but it’s a really common tip that I know helps a lot of people. You can get different colored packing tape and use specific colors to designate which room it goes to. Or, you could just use different colored permanent markers as well!

Don’t Forget a “First Night” Box.

There are some things you’re just going to need on night one. Chargers and toilet paper and something to eat dinner on. Pack all of these things in a box labeled for the first night so you aren’t scrambling to find a shower curtain after a long day of moving. Also, you’ll want an overnight bag for fresh clothes, medications, etc.

Keep Your Drawers Full!

You don’t need to fully unpack drawers. Remember, anything can be a box! Just use some plastic wrap to help cover the top and transport them separately from their dresser.

Store Screws With Disassembled Furniture.

If you have any furniture to take apart, grab a small resealable bag and tape it to the furniture so it all stays together. This will make reassembly so much easier as you’re settling into the house.

Use Suitcases for Heavier Items.

They have wheels and are easier to roll, so it’ll make your life a lot easier. Suitcases are great for things like books!

Keep a Folder With All Moving-Related Documents.

Every move comes along with important documents that you do not want to lose track of. Set those aside and put them in your essentials box so that if you need to access anything it’s quick and easy to do so.

Take a Video Walkthrough of BOTH Homes.

It might be helpful down the line if there are any disputes about how you left your old house, or if you want to look back and remember how things were set up. As for the new house, I just think it’s really special to have that memory of what the house looked like on moving day!

Stock Up on Snacks.

Moving is hard work and you might not really be able to take the time to stop and have a proper meal in the middle of the day. Instead, stock up on plenty of snacks and leave them our for both you and any movers helping out!

Make a Mini Tool Kit.

There’s always a surprising amount of assembly to be done on moving day – save yourself a headache by creating a little tool kit that you can keep with you. Then, you wont have to go searching when it’s time to assemble your kids’ bed so they can crash at the end of the day.

Start With the Hard Stuff First.

When you start packing, it’s really helpful to kick things off with the stuff you want to do least. Things like the garage, the basement, the attic, and any other storage spaces. This is great partially because these are often the items you use less, but also because you want to tackle them while you’re fresh. Packing still feels exciting at the beginning, so take advantage of it!

Make a Cleaning Caddy.

You’ll need to do some cleaning both at the old house and the new house as you work, so set aside your favorite cleaning tools and make sure they’re easy to access.

Eat Through the Freezer!

You’ll thank yourself when you don’t have a ton of food to move to the new house. Is there anything more annoying than transporting a freezer full of food?!

Don’t Forget Your Pets.

Moving is stressful on pets, so do what you can to make things easier. Make sure to set up a space for them at the new house right away, and make sure they’re comfortable and safe while the truck is being loaded. If you can, it might even be helpful to have them be somewhere else on moving day!

Do Laundry BEFORE Moving Day!

It always seems that I forget to tackle laundry in the days leading up to a move and I find myself transporting dirty laundry to a new house, which seems insane. So, set aside some time to take care of it the day before you move so you aren’t scrambling for clean clothes on day one.

Disassemble Any Furniture You Can.

If you’re hiring professional movers, you’re usually paying by the hour. Save yourself a bit of money by making their job as easy as possible. Disassemble furniture for them, make sure your boxes are organized, and let them know what you don’t mind moving yourself.

Designate a Staging Area.

As you start packing it’s really easy for boxes of your belongings to take over the entire house. It’s really helpful to designate a specific part of your house that will be for boxes. As we started the moving process, it was our garage. But, we’re quickly running out of room to store things in there so as we get closer to the big move we’ll likely also have to pick a spot inside!

Label Cords & Electronics.

Anything that specifically goes together should be clearly labeled and kept together! It’ll make your life easier when you’re trying to set up a movie for the kids so you can get to unpacking!

Make Sure to Have Water Handy!

All of your glasses will be packed up on moving day, so it might be helpful to grab a pack of water bottles for the movers! Moving is hard work and you want to make sure anyone helping you stays hydrated and happy.

Get the Kids Settled First.

Any move is a big transition, and those can be hard for kids. We’ve always made it our top priority to get their rooms settled and feeling homey as quickly as we can upon moving in. That might mean saving other important things for later, but it’s worth it!

Wrap Dishes in Clothing!

Any fragile items that need a little extra padding can be wrapped up in shirts! Clothing is a great way to keep your dishes from breaking, and you already own it – so it’s a win win!

Use Trash Bags for Pillows & Blankets.

They take up a ton of room in boxes and are a bit unwieldy to pack. Plus, you’ll probably need access to them right away! Just grab some giant black trash bags and call it a day, trust me.

Pack Your Plates Vertically.

Pack your plates like records – it’ll reduce the chance of breakage! You can use styrofoam plates between them for padding, or just wrap in packing paper (or some clothes!).

Fill Empty Space With Something Soft.

Don’t leave a ton of empty space in your boxes. Tuck in something soft (stuffed animals, clothes, blankets, etc.) to help pad things and reduce potential breakage.

Get Boxes From the Liquor Store!

This is my favorite hack if you need a bunch of moving boxes. Our local liquor store is happy to set aside some boxes for us when they get shipments, and the boxes are really good. They’re sturdy and a good size for just about anything.

Photograph Anything You Want to Re-Create.

If you have a gallery wall setup that you love or a really complicated electronic hookup, take a photo! It’ll make it easier to set it back up when you’re settling in the new house.

Grab Some Reusable Boxes.

I love using large tupperware-style boxes for things that are heavy, or things I know I’ll need quick access to. In fact, I’ve been eyeing something like this to use for our “unpack first” boxes so they’re super easy to spot!

Save Time To Say Goodbye.

And finally – and perhaps most importantly – make sure you set aside some time to say a proper goodbye to your current home. Sometimes we get so caught up in the excitement of moving that we forget to take a time to really acknowledge how special our old house was!

I would love to hear if you have any packing tips or moving hacks to share! We’re getting so close to the move and things are starting to feel really real!

One Comment

Joanne says:

at

We’re in the UK, moving tips are slightly different here if you are using a moving firm. Boxes should ideally be of 1 or 2 sizes so they can be stacked nicely. Packing into drawers and other objects is discouraged as this makes packing the van/truck difficult. Most things go in boxes including bedding and cushions as these then stack better in boxes.