Room by room packing tips for a more stress-free move

Moving is one of life’s top stressors, and for good reason. There are the utilities to disconnect and reconnect, mail to redirect and cleaning before the big day.

When it comes to packing, adopting a systematic approach — such as packing per room and labelling boxes as you go — can help to reduce stress and save time.

“When you have one room boxed, you’ll feel like you’re getting somewhere. Then you have a room to put your boxes in as you work your way through the house,” says psychotherapist Anita Bentata.

Living room and home office

Start by packing the rooms and items you use the least. Books and decor can be packed away weeks before the move in smaller boxes.

“For smaller quantities of books or your office or study space, use smaller cartons like an Archive Box, ” says brand strategist for Wrap & Move, Jessica Haslem. “These are great. They have a lid on the top and handles on the side, so for books, documents and folders, it can make it quite easy to carry.”

Resist wrapping computer monitors and laptops in bubble wrap.

“Most bubble wrap isn’t suitable for electronic screens because it is not anti-static. We recommend using moving boxes and blankets for maximum protection,” she says.

Bedroom

Weeks before the big move, go through your wardrobes and linen closet and declutter. You’ll save time, energy and money on packing if you have less stuff.

Roll up clothes from your drawers and pack them in your suitcases. If you have clothes hanging, box them hanging.

“Wrap & Move stock a Heavy Duty Porta Robe Moving Carton that comes with a built-in hanging rail. You can take your clothes straight out of your wardrobe and hang them in the box as is,” says Haslem.

On moving day, another tip is to place fresh sheets on the bed before you leave. At the end of a hard day, you can sleep soundly in clean bedding in your new home.

“Fold up pillows, doonas and sheets and put them straight into a moving bag. Because they’re softer and easy to carry, the 105Lt Moving Bag is great for that,” she says.

“Our Mattress Protector is a reusable plastic protector that slides over and tapes around your mattress. It protects from moisture and dust during the move, especially if you’re using a hire truck,” says Haslem.

Kitchen

The kitchen is probably the most daunting room to pack. The sheer amount of odd-shaped, fragile and sharp items requires the most time and care.

“The kitchen is the number one place where people will over stack their box, making them so heavy they can’t move them. We recommend our 26Lt, 38Lt and 52Lt Light Duty Cartons. They’re smaller and easy for one or two people to lift,” says Haslem. “We also have a range of divider inserts to fit these cartons for packing glassware, dinner plates, and, of course, wine bottles.”

Wrap crockery in butcher’s paper rather than newspaper to avoid ink staining ceramic plates.

Tape the instruction manual and any screws in a zip lock bag to larger appliances. If you’re the type of person who keeps their appliance boxes, now’s the time to use them. Fit smaller boxes into bigger boxes.

“Coffee machines, toasters, blenders, put them back into their box if you still have it and neatly stack them into a larger 150Lt Heavy Duty Moving Carton. These items are not heavy, just awkward and large in shape,” says Haslem.

Put messy items like toasters or the coffee machine in a bag or a box to prevent dirtying other items.

“Moving home, along with the finances associated with moving, are all potentially some of the biggest stresses in life,” says Bentata. “The chaos of having everything out and in boxes often stirs up unresolved chaos from the past, so creating order in your moving process is a significant way to reduce stress.”

Those who love a spreadsheet will relish the opportunity to show off their excel skills, relaxing with a bottle of shiraz out of box 38 in no time.

“Be organised. Be on top of your inventory and know what to expect. Everyone always goes in underestimating the amount of stuff they have,” says Haslem.