Monthly Archives: January 2021

How to Properly Pack a Bedroom

When it comes time to pack up your house for a move, most people assume that large pieces (like pianos and pool tables) and fragile objects (like crystal and figurines) require the most forethought … and that assumption wouldn’t be wrong. It’s just that different possessions and different areas of your home can each benefit from careful planning and prep work, and bedrooms are no exception.

In fact, bedrooms can be one of the trickier rooms to pack. Why? Because they contain items you and all your household members use every day. So you don’t want to pack away needed items too soon, nor do you want to wait until the last minute, when you’ll likely be rushed and stressed with the moving truck in your driveway and the daylight hours ticking away. Just like anything else in life, following a step-by-step plan will keep things at hand, keep you on schedule, and keep your move on track.

Simple Steps to Efficiently Packing Bedrooms

  1. Schedule sorting time. Before you put one thing in one box, make sure you’re not wasting time, energy, and money by moving things you no longer want, need, or use. You can get through this step pretty quickly if you devote about one hour to each bedroom, one session at a time. Start with the least-populated room and work your way up to the master bedroom, since, admittedly, the master closet might need a little extra attention. Better yet, have each family member be the “sorter” for their own room, sifting through all its contents and extracting those items that can either be thrown away, given away, or sold. The broken hat rack in the corner? On the curb for trash pickup. The rocker you haven’t rocked in since your teenager was a baby? List it online. Toys the kids no longer play with and books they’ve outgrown … the sweater with the permanent stain … the empty dust-collecting perfume bottles … the lamp you’ve been meaning to fix for months but never will—time to let it all go and start with a clean slate. As for clothing, the universal rule of thumb is that if you haven’t worn it in over year, it’s safe to donate (like that prom dress from 2001). The great thing about this step is that you can complete it long before packing begins and it can greatly reduce the volume you’ll be moving.
  2. Off-season items go first. Moving in late spring or summer? Then it’s completely safe to pack up all winter things in the bedroom: flannel sheets, blankets and quilts, furry robes, and all your cold-weather apparel—coats, sweaters, scarves, gloves, boots. Same goes for a late fall or winter move: pack up your bathing suits, shorts and tanks, flip-flops, flimsy pj’s, pool toys, suntan lotions and potions now and it’ll save you valuable time later.
  3. Stow away those knickknacks. Have small boxes and plenty of protective bubble wrap / cushioning material on hand so you can clear away your tchotchkes and such at a casual pace, without fear of breaking or damaging anything by moving too quickly or carelessly. Yeah, you love that graduation photo, but it doesn’t need to be out on your dresser till moving day, so now’s the time to pack up shelf decorations, photos, collectibles, glass articles, and anything else nonessential to the daily operations of your bedroom. While you’re at it, add all but one of the books stacked on your nightstand, your photo albums and journals stowed away in drawers, tokens and trophies … for the next couple of weeks at least, you can get by with only necessities, not extras.
  4. Proceed to shoes and bedding. We’ve all got more pairs of shoes than we’d ever wear in a given time span, right? Might as well pull out just the few you’ll need and wear most often as your move approaches, then pack up the rest in medium-sized boxes. And you won’t be needing more than one change of sheets, either, so it’s safe to pack up any other bedding and linens that aren’t currently in use on beds already; given how light these items are, you should be able to squeeze a lot of throws and pillows in just a few large boxes.
  5. Label, label, label! This last step is the most important, and it applies to your move as a whole. Make sure you clearly mark what room each box, tub, and crate belongs in, along with its contents and any special instructions, such as a FRAGILE sticker. There’s nothing more frustrating in the immediate aftermath of a move than trying to find something you need quickly and having to go on a lengthy treasure hunt to locate it. Oh, and be sure to fill your boxes to the brim, leaving no empty space, so that they’ll stack nicely in the truck.

All that’s left now falls into two categories: (1) things you need on a daily basis and (2) your furniture. Bring along the things you use every day in your car with you, to make sure you have uninterrupted access to them. As for your furniture, mattresses, and other large items, leave those to your professional movers. They’re experts at taking things apart when necessary, wrapping and protecting all your bulky items with care, and setting them back up, ready for your first night’s sleep in your new home.

Visit our website for more tips on packing and moving, and call us anytime for a moving consult or estimate:

BB&D Moving Services
301-57-5447 (MD)  |   571-375-2826 (VA)  |  786-390-4040 (FL)  |  bbdmoving.com/