What to Pack First When Moving?
Pack first: seasonal items, decorations, books, guest room contents, artwork, and collectibles. These are rarely used and can be boxed 2-4 weeks early. Save daily essentials for the final 1-2 days.
Key Takeaways
- Start with items you won't miss: holiday decorations, off-season clothes, books you've read, basement and attic storage, and spare bedroom contents.
- Label boxes by room and priority—'unpack first' for essentials.
- Keep a suitcase of clothes and toiletries as if traveling, to be unpacked last.
Explanation
Start with items you won't miss: holiday decorations, off-season clothes, books you've read, basement and attic storage, and spare bedroom contents. These can sit in boxes for weeks without inconvenience.
Middle stage (1-2 weeks out): pack non-essential kitchen items, most clothes (keep one week's outfits out), bathroom extras, and garage items. Pack books in small sturdy boxes early since they are heavy and rarely needed day-to-day. Create a 'moving essentials' bin for daily-use items.
Last to pack (final 1-2 days): daily dishes, toiletries, phone chargers, clothes for moving day, cleaning supplies, important documents, and valuables you'll carry personally. Pack electronics carefully in this final stage after backing up all data.
Wall art and framed photos should be packed early because they require special materials and take time to wrap properly. Use painter's tape in an X across glass surfaces to prevent shattering, then wrap each piece in packing paper followed by bubble wrap. Place framed items vertically in dish-pack boxes or picture boxes rather than flat, since vertical orientation reduces the chance of something heavy crushing the glass.
As you pack early items, photograph each box's contents with your phone before sealing it. This takes about 10 seconds per box and eliminates the frustration of searching through 40 boxes for a specific item at the new place. Store photos in a dedicated album or note app folder labeled by room so you can quickly locate anything without ripping open sealed boxes.
Things to Know
- Label boxes by room and priority—'unpack first' for essentials.
- Keep a suitcase of clothes and toiletries as if traveling, to be unpacked last.
- Pack a 'first night' box with sheets, toilet paper, basic tools, and snacks.
- If you have young children, pack their rooms last and unpack them first. Kids adjust to a new home faster when their familiar toys, bedding, and books are set up within the first few hours of arrival.