Is moving day fast approaching? Moving and packing come with some natural stressors, and we have taken it upon ourselves to take away as much stress as possible so that your move can be successful and easy. Why add extra stress into your life when you can simplify the tasks related to packing and moving? Check out these packing tips and tricks to make packing and moving easier, simpler, and less stressful.

1. Leave Clothes in Dresser

There’s no need to completely unpack your dresser when you are moving. Drawer space is valuable packing space! Wrap each drawer in plastic wrap to keep everything in place, and then put the drawers back with your clothing still inside! You’ll save tons of space in moving boxes and tons of time refolding clothes by keeping them in the dresser.

2. Use a Wardrobe Box

For hanging clothes, get yourself a wardrobe box where you can keep your clothing still on their hangers. Then, when you get to your destination, you can simply unhang them from the box and rehang them in your new closet. Added bonus: you’ll save yourself that awkward bag full of pointy hangers.

3. Use Towels and Blankets As Packing Materials

Instead of investing in bubble wrap, use your towels and throw blankets as a protective layer around your more fragile items. Not only will these soft textiles keep your fragile items more secure, this strategy will also save you space in another moving box where you would otherwise have had to pack these towels and blankets

4. Take “Before” Photos

Whether it’s photos of boxes before they are closed, the back of your TV, furniture in the middle of disassembly, or any other area you will want to have visual information about when it comes time to unpack, taking “before” photos of your stuff can be immensely helpful during a move. This way, you will have visual proof of what is inside your boxes, and you will be able to set up your TV or desktop computer properly when you get to your new home (or office).

5. Color-Code Your Boxes

Labeling moving boxes with which room they belong in will help you stay organized when you get to your new space. Assigning each room a color and using color-coded stickers on the boxes is a quick visual reference that will help your movers keep like boxes together.

6. Pack an Essentials Box

One box should be dedicated to items you will need when you first arrive in your new space. Whether it’s blankets, pillows, certain toiletries, your child’s favorite stuffed animal, your laptop charger, or whatever it is that you will need immediately, you will be happy to have all of those items together in one easily-identifiable place.

7. Only Pack What You Want to Keep

Don’t throw all your belongings into boxes to sort through later. Organize it all now and don’t bring along anything you don’t actually want to still own. This will make unpacking and organizing your new space much easier, plus it will save you space on the moving truck, which will likely also save you money.

8. Pack Your Suitcases

Don’t forget to utilize storage space outside of moving boxes! This might be one of the most obvious of packing tips, and also potentially too often overlooked. Your suitcases are likely easier to move than a box, especially if they are on wheels, and they’re valuable packing space. Fit as much as you can into the suitcases you already own.

9. Keep Important Items With You

The moving truck may not arrive at your new home at the same time as you. If you are driving to your new home, keep valuables and maybe even your box of essentials from tip #6 with you in your car so that you don’t have to rely on the moving truck in order to access those items. Make sure you have with you your laptop, chargers, a change of clothes for yourself and your family members, pajamas, toiletries, that book you’re in the middle of, and anything else you might want for the first night in your new home.

10. The Ultimate Packing Tip: Let Movers Pack For You

Unloading the stress of packing onto your moving company is a huge way to alleviate stress. All the packing tips in the world are not as helpful as having someone else do it all for you. If you have to work up until your move or you have several young children at home and just don’t have time and energy to devote to packing properly, we will help make sure you are packed and ready to go on moving day!

At Big John’s Moving, our experts are skilled at organized packing and have the right packing materials to protect your belongings during your move. It is our goal to take away as much packing and moving stress as possible, and to make moving easier for you. Between these packing tips and our help with the packing process, we hope your moving experience is only a positive one!