TOP 9 BEST ROOM BY ROOM PACKING CHECKLIST FOR YOUR MOVE

The article is going to walk you through the Top 9 Best Room By Room Packing Checklist For Your Move.

If you’re moving, you’ll want to bring your most prized possessions with you to ensure that your new home will feel like home.

To move your personal possessions and household products to your new home, you must first pack them carefully and efficiently to avoid going bankrupt owing to moving charges (the more items you relocate, the more expensive your move will be, of course).

It’s possible to accomplish this feat even though packing is tedious, time-consuming, and risky, but with our room-by-room packing guide, you’ll know exactly what items to pack in each room (so that you don’t take along anything unnecessary but don’t leave behind anything essential either) and how to pack those items safely and efficiently.

1. General Tips for Packing Room-by-Room – Top 9 Best Room By Room Packing Checklist For Your Move

First and foremost, you must adhere to a set of proven rules that will help you avoid rookie mistakes and maximize your room-by-room packing strategy:

a) Prepare your belongings as soon as possible. Things will only get more difficult as the Big Day approaches. You won’t have time to properly organize your belongings and protect them adequately enough to ensure their safety in transit, and you won’t be able to pack your entire house in a few days. The best way to ensure that everything is ready for moving day is to begin packing as early as possible (to allow for flexibility in packing pace while also giving yourself plenty of time to prepare your belongings with the utmost care).

b) Reduce the number of things you own. Don’t bring anything that isn’t useful, beautiful, or sentimental with you to your new home when you’re packing. Rather than squandering your time and money on things, you won’t be able to use in your new location, get rid of them before the move.

c) To keep track of your belongings and have proof of their condition before the move, create a moving inventory list.

d) Do not pack anything that is not permitted. For safety reasons, ask for a list of the items your chosen movers won’t load onto the moving truck, and don’t waste your time and energy packing them for moving;

e) Make a packing schedule to help you manage the remaining time before your move – Set realistic deadlines for completing each packing task and make sure you know exactly what to pack and when to pack it.

f) Set up a “packing station” in one room where you can keep all the boxes you’ve packed so they don’t take up too much space in your home;

g) Make sure you have enough packing supplies to ensure the safety of your belongings during the move.

h) When preparing your belongings for shipping, be sure to use the safest packing techniques for each type of item. With careful packing, your belongings have a better chance of arriving at your new home undamaged.

i) Pack an essentials box that includes everything you’ll need for the last few days of your old home, the journey to your new location and the first few days of your new home.

Room By Room Packing Checklist – Top 9 Best Room By Room Packing Checklist For Your Move

To make packing as easy as possible, we’ve compiled a room-by-room packing guide that will walk you through the process of packing every room in your house.

2. Garage and Storage Areas

The most difficult rooms to organize and prepare for a move are the garage, basement, attic, tool shed, and other storage areas in your home. You should pack these rooms first, before you get tired of packing. Be aware that storage areas are not only time-consuming and difficult to move, but they contain dangerous, oddly-shaped, and heavy items.

a) Hazardous materials

Insecure objects can’t be transported by air or sea. Before your move, you must find a way to transport such non-allowable items, use them up, or dispose of them properly.

b) Gas-powered equipment

• Removing and packing any detachable parts from the power tools you’ll be talking to in your new home is essential.
• Removing and packing any detachable parts from the power tools you’ll be talking to in your new home is essential.
• You can protect your tools by wrapping them in bubble wrap or old towels during transport.
• Put them back in the boxes they came in, or in boxes of the same size.

c) Power tools

• Removing and packing any detachable parts from the power tools you’ll be talking to in your new home is essential.
• You can protect your tools by wrapping them in bubble wrap or old towels during transport.
• Put them back in the boxes they came in, or in boxes of the same size.

d) Hand tools

• Hand tools should be stored in their original toolboxes;
• Tools that did not come in a box (or that you do not keep) should be organized by size and purpose and placed in medium-sized moving boxes that are strong and durable. Make sure the items in the box are completely immobile before placing them in a shipping container.

e) Tools for the garden

• Use heavy-duty packing tape to hold bubble wrap or old towels around blades and sharp-edged tools.
• Smaller yard tools should be stored in solid medium-sized boxes to keep them safe. To avoid movement during shipping, make sure you use enough padding.
• To keep your garden equipment safe, gather them together, secure them with a rope, and then cover them with an old blanket.

f) Lawn and deck furniture

• Make separate boxes or garbage bags for ornamental cushions and paddings and put them away.
• Clean and deconstruct as much of the furniture as possible. Use old blankets or other appropriate protective materials to cover all disassembled parts and the entire piece of furniture. Wrappings can be held in place with packing tape or plastic wrap. Tape little hardware bits to the furniture they came from in sealable containers;
• Use plastic wrap or large plastic bags to pack patio umbrellas (if any) for moving after cleaning and drying them.

3. Packing Kitchen

When moving into a new home, the kitchen is the second most difficult room to pack. Everything from big appliances to delicate pieces of art to oddly-shaped objects can be found here. Organizing and categorizing all of these items is necessary before you can begin packing the kitchen:

a) Dishes

• Assemble stacks of Styrofoam or paper plates to separate individual plates of food, then wrap them in bubble wrap.
• To keep the plates from shifting while in transportation, place them in solid boxes that have been carefully cushioned and filled with crumpled paper.
• Special dish boxes are perfect for storing your most expensive and delicate dinnerware.
• Wrap the plates in a final layer of packing paper before securing the box’s lid.
• Put a FRAGILE label on the box and seal it.

b) Cups and bowls

• Use packing paper to individually wrap teacups, coffee mugs, mugs, soup bowls, gravy jars, sauce containers, pitchers, and other similar products.
• Wrap the bowls in two pieces of newspaper or bubble wrap and stack them on top of each other.
• The handles of the cups should all be pointing in the same direction when they’re placed in the moving box. Place a protective covering on top of the first row and begin the second row after the first is complete.
• Place your cooking utensils in strong containers and fill them with plenty of padding before shipping them;

c) Glasses

• Wrap the stems of the glasses with bubble wrap and stuff them with crumpled paper; if necessary.
• Wrap each piece of glass in soft packing paper; do this for each one.
• Glasses should be placed upright in a moving box, with the months facing down;
• Make use of cell dividers for your more expensive glasses
• Put crumpled paper or other suitable cushioning materials in any empty spaces in the carton and place a piece of packing paper on top of the glasses;
• Make sure to label the box as “fragile” and “handle with care” by taping it shut.

d) Pots and pans

• Make sure the bottom of the box is sufficiently cushioned with a large pot or pan that is a little larger than the item itself.
• You can use a piece of bubble wrap, a piece of paper towel, or a foam sheet to line the inside of the container.
• Stack smaller pots and pans on top of each other until the box is full.
• Make a separate layer of bubble wrap to protect any glass covers on any of your pots or pans before packing them in the same box.
• Make sure the package is well-cushioned to avoid movement during shipping.

e) Cutlery and silverware

• Sort kitchen utensils and flatware into categories based on kind and size.
• A small, robust box is the best place to store six to eight pairs of forks or spoons of the same length, wrapped in bubble wrap or packing paper and taped together.
• Apply thick towels or many layers of bubble wrap on the blades of kitchen knives;
• Wrap weirdly shaped instruments (such as ladles, barbeque tongs, etc.) in their unique wrapper.

f) Small kitchen appliances

• Keep your mixers, blenders, toasters, coffee makers, and other kitchen appliances clean and dry at all times
• Wrap any parts that aren’t attached to the rest of the item separately.
• You can use packing peanuts, foam sheets, old towels, or any other appropriate padding to fill any holes in the boxes.

Bonus tip: If you’re moving only across town, it’s not worth it to transfer perishable groceries, which are regarded as non-allowable products by movers. Spices, on the other hand, maybe worth transporting because they are expensive, difficult to come by, and light in weight, so they won’t add to the overall moving costs. In addition to your wine collection, you’ll need to move specialty oils and exquisite vinegar that cost a lot of money, as well.

4. Packing Dining Room

There are many fragile and pricey artifacts in a dining room, so it takes a lot of time and attention to pack them.

a) Lamps and chandeliers

• Lamps – Light bulbs and shades should be removed, cords and wires should be wrapped around the lamp base, and each lamp base should be placed in a small moving box with lots of padding inside. Wrap lampshades in bubble wrap or soft packing paper. To protect the lampshades, stack them one on top of the other and store them in a solid moving box filled with crumpled paper or bubble wrap (if you have delicate or expensive lamp shades, pack them separately).
• Chandeliers – Remove all non-ceiling elements (such as light bulbs and chains), disassemble as much as possible, and wrap each piece in soft packing paper (careful not to lose smaller fastening pieces) (if applicable). Assemble the chandelier and secure it with packing peanuts, bubble wrap, or foam sheets in a heavy-duty moving box. Using large-size bubble wrap, seal the box tightly and write FRAGILE and HANDLE WITH CAUTION on at least three of its sides.

b) Paintings and photographs

• If your item is damaged in shipping, use painter’s tape to create an “X” on the glass surface of a framed picture.
• Every painting and photo should be wrapped in soft packing paper and taped to the edges to ensure that the item is secure.
• Over the paper-wrapped photo, place a layer of bubble wrap. Packing tape should be used to ensure that the package is securely wrapped.
• You can use a special picture box or break apart a couple of standard cardboard boxes and fit them around the frames of your painting or photo;
• Make sure the corners and sides of the box are well cushioned with crumpled paper, packing peanuts, or foam sheets;
• If you’re shipping more than one framed piece, be sure enough is cushioning between them.
• Make certain that the box is not empty so that the photographs are not able to move around when it is packed;

c) Dining room furniture

• Dining room table – Wrap the table’s legs in bubble wrap after removing them. Wrap the table extension leaf (if possible) in a moving blanket and store it in a safe place. Lower the table leaves and secure them with packing tape if you’re relocating a drop-side table. Corrugated cardboard can be folded around the table’s sides and corners for added protection. Moving blankets can be used to protect the surface. It’s best to separate and wrap the glass top of your table with packing paper and bubble wrap before putting it in a suitably telescoping box.
• Chairs – Use bubble wrap to cover the arms and legs of your dining chairs. Save your chair’s leather and fabric upholstery from staining by wrapping it in stretch wrap. Wrap the chairs in moving blankets and secure the cushioning using packing tape or ropes;
• Cabinets and cupboards – Your furniture should be thoroughly cleaned and disassembled before you begin the process of removing all of the stuff from it. Tape the little hardware bits of each piece of furniture to the matching item and seal the plastic bag. Larger furniture pieces should be packed individually (be extra careful with glass elements, such as showcases and glass doors). Bubble wrap protruding parts and give extra attention to decorative features. Use moving blankets to cover the entire piece of furniture and tie them in place using packing tape or ropes. When further protection is required, use paper or fabric padding.

5. Living Room

It’s only natural that a huge area like the living room requires a lot of time and work to pack. Our room-by-room packing checklist has it as the following item.

a) Packing The TV

•  Remove the TV’s wires and antennas from the socket. Using straps or cable ties, secure all of the wires and cords, and put everything in a sealable bag.
•  Take caution when dismantling and storing your set, especially if it is attached to a wall.
•  Put some clean cardboard on the screen for added protection.
•  Packing tape or stretch wrap can be used to seal the blanket around the TV.
•  Place the TV in a sturdy cardboard box with plenty of padding and add bubble wrap, foam sheets, or anti-static packing peanuts to any empty spaces. A large plasma TV should be packaged in its original box or a custom-made wooden crate with plenty of padding because they are very heavy and delicate.
• You should mark the package “fragile” and seal it tightly.

b) Stereo equipment

• Transport screws secure lasers in CD and DVD players.
• Stereo turntable tonearms can be locked in place with a plastic lock and a rope. Secure the platter by screwing it in.
•  Use bubble wrap to wrap up your stereo and put it in an appropriate box (its original box or a special electronics box will be best). Seal the package carefully and designate it as FRAGILE with lots of cushioning.

c) Speakers

• Make sure all speakers are covered in anti-static bubble wrap.
•  Put the smaller speakers in robust moving boxes that are well-padded.
•  Consider using moving blankets or another appropriate padding to protect larger speakers from damage (do not forget to secure the wrapping).

d) Discs and tapes

Cassette cassettes and CDs should be stored in small moving boxes (do not forget to line the bottom of the box with a thick layer of crumpled paper). Then seal the box with bubble wrap, foam sheets, or crushed newspaper. Use FRAGILE as a mark.

e) Books

• Small, sturdy book boxes (book boxes would be best) should be used to pack the books, which should be lined with packing paper. Before putting the more valuable volumes in the boxes, wrap them with packing paper.
• The books can be stacked with their open portions towards the box edges or their spines facing the box bottom. Another option is to stack your books on top of each other along the box’s sides (just make sure you put the heaviest volumes at the bottom). Make sure the box doesn’t exceed 45 lbs.
•  Make use of any excess space in the box by stuffing it with crushed paper and then sealing it with packing paper.

f) Rugs

Roll the rug, seal it with plastic ties, then wrap it in plastic for additional protection.

6. Home office

It doesn’t matter if your home office is tucked away in a corner of the living room or if it’s a different room. You’ll want to pack it carefully because it’s likely to include a slew of crucial papers and high-end devices.

a) Computer 

•  Use an external hard drive or a cloud-based storage solution to store crucial work files and documents.
• Unplug and detach any wires and cables, being sure to label them for quick re-assembly following the transfer.
•  Packing tape can be used to secure a sheet of bubble wrap over the monitor’s screen after it has been removed from its stand. Bubble wrap the entire monitor and secure it in a sturdy moving container. Seal the box and label it FRAGILE and HANDLE WITH CARE; fill it any voids with foam sheets or packing peanuts.
• Add a second layer of bubble wrap to the PC tower to protect it from the elements. Before relocating the computer, place it in a strong moving box lined with bubble wrap or old towels. Anti-static peanuts are the greatest option for padding, and you should tape the box close and mark it accordingly.
• Packaging peripherals (such as a mouse, keyboard, or webcam) in bubble wrap and packaging paper ensures that they arrive in perfect condition.

b) Office furniture

• Desk and desk chair. You should remove any drawers from your desk, secure the doors, and wrap the entire piece in moving blankets. Disassemble the desk chair if you can so that you can wrap each component and put it in a large moving box. If not, use furniture pads to safeguard the chair.
•  Bookshelves and file cabinets. As stated in the section on living room furniture, pack accordingly.
•  Documents. Put all of your paper documents in binder pockets or plastic sleeves, then put the binder in a large moving binder to protect yourself from identity theft. Always have a copy of your most important documents on hand.

 7. Child’s Room

For the sake of your children’s well-being, it’s best to keep their room in its current state as long as possible during the stressful moving process. However, you must begin preparing it for moving well in advance, as there will be a large number of toys and games as well as other items in the children’s room to deal with.

a) Toys and Games 

Sort through your children’s toys and get rid of anything that is broken or missing parts. Do not throw out toys and games that are still in good condition, even if your children have outgrown them. You can either give them away to friends or neighbors or donate them to a charity.

•  Use bubble wrap to better protect delicate toys.
•  It is best to wrap every toy in a piece of soft packing paper for safe shipping.
•  Ziploc bags are a great way to keep small toys and accessories safe during a move.
• Protect stuffed animals and other soft objects from the weather with plastic bags.
•  Use sturdy cartons of the same size to pack board games, jigsaw puzzles, construction sets, and other similar items.
• Pack a handful of your kids’ favorite toys in their important boxes the morning of moving day.

b) Books

Your moving book collection should only contain books that your child enjoys and is age-appropriate. The same way you pack other books (see above).

c) Clothes and shoes

•  Sort through your children’s clothing and shoes and throw away anything too small or worn out. Donate any gently used shoes and clothing that your kids won’t wear again to friends or charity; this is a great way to give back to the community.
• Prepare your kids’ shoes for moving by cleaning them thoroughly and removing any pebbles that may be embedded in the soles. Put crumpled paper in the shoes and then wrap each pair in a piece of packing paper. Use cardboard boxes of a similar size to store the shoes in their original packaging.
• Pack your kids’ clothes in luggage or cartons lined with clean packing paper.

d) Children’s Room Furniture

In the same way that you pack your bedroom room furniture, you should pack the beds and mattresses, dressers, and nightstands for your children’s room (see below).

In the living room and home office sections above you will find detailed instructions on how to pack desks, desk chairs, bookshelves, cabinets, rugs and curtains, mirrors and decorations, and so forth.

8. Bathroom

The bathroom is one of the most difficult rooms to fit into a home, despite its small size.

a) Expired, unlabeled, or unreadable medicines and toiletries must be thrown out before packing. Recycle color-changing drugs and cosmetics.

b) You’ll need to find a way to transport any hazardous items that the movers won’t take (aerosols like hairsprays and deodorants, toiletries with alcohol, flammable products like nail polishes and removers, etc.) to your new home once you’ve already disposed of your no longer useful toiletries and medications (or use them up before the move or give them away).

c) You’ll also need to stock up on things like shampoo and conditioner, toothpaste, hand soap, toilet paper, a few clean towels, a hairbrush, eye-care products, everyday makeup, and anything else you use daily until moving day, the trip to your new home, and the first few days in your new residence. This is what you need to keep in your emergency kit.

Once you’ve completed the above, you can begin packing your bathroom items for moving:

• Cosmetics

+ Fill the hollows of eye shadow palettes with cotton to avoid breakage.

+ To avoid damage, wrap items in plastic wrap, packing paper, or bubble wrap.

+ Small, well-cushioned bags with several pockets and pouches are ideal for storing makeup and necessities.

+ Put some towels or bubble wrap between the items in a box and on top of the carton; this will help keep the contents safe.

+ Use a strong seal to keep the package safe and label it correctly.

• Liquid products (conditioners, shampoos, lotions, gels, perfumes, etc.)

+ Squishing plastic bottles before packing them for a move is a good way to get rid of any remaining air.

+ Put plastic wrap on all opened bottles of liquid.

+ The bottles should be wrapped in bubble wrap or bath towels to keep them safe.

+ When storing tubes and bottles that contain liquid, make sure to use zip-top plastic bags.

• Towels and shower curtains

Before putting them in the moving van, make sure that your towels and shower curtains are completely dry. In large plastic bags or cartons, keep them folded and ready for use. You can use old towels and shower curtains to fill moving boxes as padding when moving.

9. Bedroom

If you’re packing one room at a time, save the bedroom for last. It is possible to pre-pack some of the items and leave only the bed and a change of clothes for moving day.

a) Beds and mattresses

• Stack all of the beds’ bedding in large cartons, including pillows, blankets, and sheets; label the cartons with their contents.
• As a last resort, remove the drawers from the bed if necessary.
• Remove the mattress and put it in a special mattress bag before storing it.
• Remove the box springs (if any), remove the legs and the headboard, and dismantle the bed frame to the extent possible. Make use of moving blankets and bubble wrap to protect large and small items, respectively. In zip-lock bags, place hardware components and attach them to the original component.

b) Dressers and wardrobes

Remove any drawers, shelves, or other removable parts from the furniture. Make sure the doors don’t swing open while the vehicle is in motion. Removing the mirrors and covering them with cardboard and bubble wrap is a must if your wardrobe doors have glass or mirrors.

It is possible to move your wardrobe in one piece if it isn’t too big (just make sure you protect it with furniture pads). Taking apart and protecting individual parts of a wardrobe that is very wide or tall (such as some double wardrobes and most triple wardrobes) may be necessary.

c) Vanity tables

• Remove your vanity table’s drawers and clean them out.
• Secure all doors
• Inflate bubble wrap around the legs of the table and other decorative elements.
• Packing a large picture in a separate box with a mirror attached is the best option if you can. Protect the mirror if necessary with bubble wrap and moving blankets and a piece of cardboard.
• Use packing aids like straws and toilet paper rolls to protect jewelry, as well as pill organizers and eyewear boxes. This contains jewelry boxes.
• Fold and store soaps and shampoos carefully.

d) Clothes

• Organize your wardrobe by season, material, and size;
• Wardrobe boxes are ideal for storing your most expensive and delicate clothing.
• Do not put clothes on hangers; use plastic wrap or garbage bags.
• In a suitcase or large box, place your clothes and seal them.
• You can keep your clothes in drawers for short-distance moves (just secure them with stretch wrap).

e) Shoes

• Sort and clean your shoes.
• Wrap each pair of shoes in packing paper and use crumpled up paper to stuff them;
• Place the shoes in a shoebox filled with paper.
• Stack multiple pairs of shoes on their sides at the box’s bottom. Save space by reversing the direction of the shoes.
• Fill any voids between the shoe and the paper with crushed paper to keep it from shifting or contacting.
• To protect your goods, seal and label the box.

To get through the tedious task of moving, you’ll need someone to assist you. Your family members or friends can help you pack your belongings if they’d like. Consider professional packing and moving assistance if you feel overwhelmed by how long this comprehensive packing checklist is. The specialists will complete the task in the quickest, safest, and most efficient manner possible. You’ll save a lot of time and effort, and you’ll have peace of mind knowing that your belongings will arrive in perfect condition in your new home. So enjoy your new life and your new move. The best of luck to you!