How to Pack for a Move: Packing Tips for a Smooth Move

At HLH, we're always happy to offer our clients helpful packing advice to make moving less stressful. While we're here to assist, here are some tried-and-tested packing tips to ensure your move goes as smoothly as possible.

1) Use Boxes Whenever Possible

If it can fit in a box, pack it in a box! Sealed boxes are easier to stack and handle compared to bags or loose items. They also provide extra protection for your belongings, minimising the risk of damage during the move.

2) Tape Both the Top and Bottom of Boxes

To prevent any accidents, make sure to tape the bottom and top of your boxes securely. This will stop items from falling out during transit. For extra strength, tape over areas where there’s already tape; tape sticks better to tape! If your tape isn’t adhering well, rub your hand over it to secure it in place.

3) Prepare a Last-Minute Essentials Box

Moving can be overwhelming, so have a box for essentials like medication, phone chargers, important documents, and a change of clothes. This will reduce the stress of searching through multiple boxes for important items when you reach your new home.

4) Label Everything!

It might seem obvious, but labelling your boxes can save a lot of time. Write down which room each box needs to go in, and even label furniture using low-tack masking tape (placed on an inconspicuous spot like the inside of a drawer). This way, you won’t have to answer lots of questions about where things go during the unloading process.

5) Keep Track of Dismantled Furniture

If you take apart any furniture, put the screws, nuts, and bolts in a small bag, and tie the bag directly to the furniture piece. Tie-handle bags work particularly well for this and ensure everything stays together.

6) Avoid Using Tape on Furniture

Tape can leave sticky residue or even damage furniture surfaces. Instead, use shrink wrap, which sticks to itself without harming your items. (We stock shrink wrap in our warehouse, so feel free to ask!)

7) Label Duplicate Items

If you have multiple items that are similar and need disassembly, label them as ‘one of one’ and ‘two of two’. Even if they look the same, they might not go back together in the same way, and this will help avoid mismatches—especially when dealing with things like beds or pillows.

8) Disassembling Ottoman Beds

For ottoman beds, don’t struggle with the lifting mechanism. Most ottoman beds can be disassembled easily by removing a 13mm bolt. This simple step will save you a lot of effort.

9) Protect Delicate Pictures and Clocks

Fragile items like mirrors or clocks with protruding parts need extra care. We recommend shrink wrapping these items to a large piece of cardboard to offer more stability and prevent damage during the move.

10) Relax and Leave the Packing to Us

And finally, the best advice we can give? Put the kettle on, sit back, and let us take care of the packing! Moving doesn’t have to be stressful when you’ve got professionals to handle the heavy lifting.