How to Pack for a House Move: A Room-by-Room Guide

Gather Your Packing Materials First

Before you start boxing anything up, make sure you have enough supplies. You'll need sturdy double-walled cardboard boxes (not flimsy ones from the supermarket — they collapse under weight), packing tape, bubble wrap, packing paper or newspaper, marker pens, and bin bags for soft items like bedding and clothes.

For an average three-bedroom house, expect to use around 30–40 boxes. You can buy boxes from us or from places like B&Q and Screwfix. Wardrobe boxes are brilliant for hanging clothes — they save ironing time and keep everything crease-free.

Top tip: don't use black bin bags for packing. They look like rubbish and things can accidentally get thrown away on moving day.

Kitchen — The Trickiest Room

The kitchen is where most breakages happen, so take extra care. Wrap each plate, bowl, and glass individually in packing paper or bubble wrap. Stack plates vertically in the box (like records, not like a stack of plates) — they're much less likely to break this way.

Put heavier items like pans and casserole dishes at the bottom of boxes. Fill gaps with scrunched-up paper or tea towels so nothing shifts during transit. Don't forget to empty and defrost the fridge-freezer at least 24 hours before moving day.

For small appliances like the kettle and toaster, wrap them in bubble wrap and pack them in a separate box. Drain any water from the kettle first.

Living Room — Books, Electronics, and Fragile Items

Books are deceptively heavy. Use small boxes and only fill them halfway — then top up with lighter items like cushion covers. A large box filled entirely with books will be almost impossible to lift safely.

For TVs and monitors, the original box is ideal. If you don't have it, wrap the screen in a blanket or bubble wrap and transport it upright. We carry blankets and straps in our van to secure large items.

Remove batteries from remotes and game controllers to avoid leakage. Take photos of the back of your TV unit and router before unplugging cables — it makes reconnecting everything at the other end much easier.

Bedrooms — Clothes, Mattresses, and Wardrobes

Drawers full of folded clothes can often stay in the chest of drawers — we'll just wrap the whole unit in blankets and secure the drawers with stretch wrap. This saves boxing up and unboxing all your clothes.

For hanging clothes, wardrobe boxes or simply bin bags pulled up over the hangers from the bottom work brilliantly — you can hang them straight back up at the other end.

Mattresses should ideally be covered. You can buy mattress bags cheaply online. For children's rooms, let them pack a small box of their favourite toys and books to keep them occupied during the move.

Bathroom and Toiletries

Liquids are the danger zone. Put lids on tightly and then seal with tape or cling film before putting items in a waterproof bag. Pack them upright in a box and mark it clearly. Nobody wants shampoo all over their towels.

Medicines and prescriptions should go in your "first night" box so they're always accessible. The same goes for any daily toiletries you'll need that evening.

Common Packing Mistakes to Avoid

We've seen it all over the years. Here are the most common packing mistakes:

• Overpacking boxes — if you can't lift it comfortably, it's too heavy. Aim for no more than 20kg per box. • Not labelling — you will forget what's in unlabelled boxes. Label the top and at least one side. • Packing items you should get rid of — don't pay to move things you don't want. Declutter before you pack. • Leaving everything to the night before — packing always takes longer than you think. Start early. • Forgetting to empty drawers of loose items — small items rattle around and can damage furniture. Remove anything loose.

If packing feels overwhelming, give us a call. Our packing service takes the stress out completely and we can pack a full house in a single day.