Declutter before you buy boxes
Every unwanted item you pack costs time, space and energy twice. Begin with a pre-move declutter and decide what will be kept, sold, donated or responsibly disposed of. Use up open packets and throw away out-of-date food before packing the kitchen.
Label for the room it is going to
Write the destination room on the top and two sides of every box. Add a short contents note, such as 'everyday pans' or 'children's winter clothes', and number the boxes. If the new home has two similar bedrooms, agree names or colours before anyone starts packing.
- Use one label colour for each floor or room.
- Mark fragile boxes clearly on every visible side.
- Keep a simple numbered inventory on your phone.
- Photograph anything with a complicated cable or shelf arrangement.
Pack one night as if you were staying in a hotel
Each person needs a bag with clothes, toiletries, medication, chargers and anything needed for work or school. Keep clean bedding, towels, loo roll, a kettle kit and basic breakfast supplies separately. These bags travel with you, not at the back of the removals van.
Leave handover notes for the other end
Make a short note of what belongs in important cupboards, where children's familiar things should go and which kitchen items are used every day. It helps family, removals staff or a professional unpacking team make good decisions without interrupting you constantly.
Pack with unpacking in mind
Keep items from the same drawer or shelf together where possible. Do not mix three rooms to fill a final box. A box that can be emptied completely in one place is far faster to deal with than one that sends you around the house. For the next step, read what to unpack first or our guide to professional unpacking.