Packing Room-by-Room: Kitchen, Bedroom, Garage

Packing a whole home at once is overwhelming.

Packing one room at a time with a clear plan? That’s manageable.

When you break your move into zones – kitchen, bedroom, garage and so on – you stop feeling like you’re drowning in stuff and start making steady progress. Each room has its own packing logic, mistakes to avoid and smart shortcuts that keep your things safe and your brain calm.

In this guide, we’ll walk through how to pack three of the most important (and tricky) spaces in your home:

• the kitchen (fragile + heavy),
• the bedroom (personal + comfort),
• the garage (awkward + often forgotten).

You’ll get simple, practical steps, not perfection rules – plus tips on when it makes sense to bring in our crew at United Prime Van Lines to speed things up and protect the tough stuff.

General Strategy Before You Pack Any Room

Before we dive into each room, a few universal rules will save you from chaos later:

• One room = one cluster of boxes.

Don’t mix kitchen and bedroom in the same box “just because it fits.” You’ll hate yourself on unpacking day.

• Label like your future self depends on it (because it does).

Room + key contents + “fragile/heavy” is enough:

“Kitchen – pans & pots – heavy”

“Bedroom – nightstand items – fragile”

• Declutter as you pack.

Have three bags/boxes ready in each room: donate, trash, recycle. Don’t move things you never use.

• Pack most-used rooms later, least-used rooms earlier.

Garage and storage spaces can be done first. Kitchen and bedrooms are closer to moving day.

Now let’s go room by room.

How to Pack Your Kitchen Without Losing Your Mind

The kitchen is usually the slowest and most fragile-heavy room in the house. It’s a mix of glass, odd shapes, sharp edges and heavy items.

Step 1 – Strip the kitchen down in smart layers

Don’t start with every cabinet at once. Move in this order:

• Rarely used items

holiday dishes, big serving platters, specialty baking tools.

you can pack these weeks before moving day.

• Backstock and extras

spare paper towels, extra spices, extra cleaning products.

• Everyday items (last 3–5 days)

plates, a couple of pans, daily utensils and cups.

leave just enough to live on; pack the rest.

• “Last night / first day” set

a minimal set of dishes, utensils and one pan, which will go into your essentials box.

Step 2 – Pack dishes and glassware like a pro

Plates & bowls:

• Use small or medium boxes; dishes get heavy fast.
• Add a layer of crumpled paper at the bottom.
• Wrap each plate in ink-free packing paper.
• Stand plates on edge like records, not flat.
• Fill all gaps with paper so nothing moves.

Glasses & mugs:

• Stuff each glass with a small paper ball.
• Wrap in paper or a mix of paper + bubble wrap.
• Pack upright in a box with dividers if possible.
• Place lighter items on top, not underneath.

Label these boxes:

“Kitchen – plates”

“Kitchen – glasses & mugs – very fragile”

Step 3 – Tame pots, pans and oddly shaped items

• Nest pots and pans: big on the bottom, smaller inside.
• Place a sheet of packing paper or a dish towel between each to avoid scratching.
• Put lids together in a separate box or stack them vertically along one side of a box.
• Wrap oddly shaped items (colanders, baking trays, mixers) in paper or stretch wrap if needed.

Heavy kitchen boxes should never be oversized. You want them liftable and sturdy, not heroic.

Step 4 – Small appliances and food

Small appliances (blender, toaster, coffee maker):

• If you still have original boxes, use them.
• If not, wrap each appliance with paper or bubble wrap.
• Secure any loose or sharp parts (blades, attachments) in labeled bags.
• Pack upright in medium boxes with padding on all sides.

Food:

• Toss expired items and spices you haven’t used in ages.
• Avoid moving open bags or messy containers if you can.
• Seal all food that’s coming with you in zip-top bags or tight containers.
• Cans and jars go in small boxes (they’re heavy) with padding at the bottom.

Step 5 – Don’t forget cleaning supplies and under-sink items

• Check bottles for leaks; tape lids if needed.
• Pack cleaning supplies upright in a small plastic bin or lined box.
• Do not pack harsh chemicals with food.
• Keep a basic cleaning kit for move-out and move-in (spray, sponge, paper towels, trash bags).

If this all sounds like a lot, you can always ask our crew to handle the kitchen packing for you. We do this every day, and we know how to pack so things arrive in one piece instead of as a puzzle of broken glass and loose lids.

How to Pack Your Bedroom: Comfort, Clothing & Calm

The bedroom is less about fragile items and more about comfort and personal stuff. If you pack it well, your first night in the new place feels like a real home, not a storage unit.

Step 1 – Start with off-season and rarely used items

• Pack off-season clothes first (winter coats in summer, etc.).
• Box up extra bedding, spare pillows and decorative blankets.
• Take down wall decor, photos and small lamps early and wrap them.

This gives you visible progress without disrupting daily life too soon.

Step 2 – Pack clothes smarter, not harder

You don’t have to fold every item into a perfect cube. Use different containers for different types of clothing:

• Rolling suitcases:

Perfect for heavy items like jeans, shoes, and books. Wheels do the work.

• Wardrobe boxes (if budget allows):

For hanging clothes: just move hangers straight in.

Great for suits, dresses and anything that wrinkles easily.

• Medium boxes or duffel bags:

For folded T-shirts, sweats, pajamas, gym wear.

• Vacuum bags (optional):

Good for bulky bedding and seasonal clothes, especially if going into storage.

Keep a small set of outfits aside for your “essentials” box or suitcase – enough for 3–5 days.

Step 3 – Bed, mattress and nightstand items

Nightstand:

This is where your most personal stuff usually lives – chargers, medicine, favorite book, glasses, etc.

• Empty drawers into a labeled small box:

“Bedroom – nightstand – open first”

• Put daily essentials into your personal bag or essentials box.

Mattress and bed frame:

• Use a mattress bag to protect from dust and dirt.
• Take photos of how the bed frame is assembled.
• Put screws and small hardware in a labeled zip-top bag and tape it to the bed slats or frame piece.

If you’d prefer not to wrestle with disassembling and carrying beds, you can have our team handle disassembly, loading and reassembly so your bed is ready to sleep in on night one.

Step 4 – Jewelry, personal documents and valuables

Some things shouldn’t go in the truck. Pack these to travel with you:

• jewelry,
• passports and IDs,
• personal documents,
• cash and small high-value electronics.

Use a small box or zipper pouch and keep it with you, not buried in a random bedroom box.

Step 5 – The bedroom “first night” box

This one will save you:

Pack one clearly labeled box or bin with:

• sheets, pillowcases and one set of bedding,
• pajamas,
• a couple of outfits,
• basic toiletries,
• a phone charger,
• any nightly meds,
• a small lamp or nightlight.

Label:

“Bedroom – First Night – Open First”

This way, even if you’re too tired to unpack anything else, you can make the bed and crash.

How to Pack Your Garage: Tools, Gear & The “I’ll Deal With It Later” Zone

The garage is where all the weird, heavy and awkward stuff lives – tools, paint, sports gear, old boxes, random “I’ll fix it someday” items.

It’s also the room many people leave for last… and then regret it.

Step 1 – Declutter hard before you even start boxing

The garage is usually full of things that:

• are already broken,
• you meant to donate years ago,
• you completely forgot existed.

Go through in this order:

• Obvious trash – broken plastic, unusable junk.
• Hazardous materials you cannot move in a truck:

old paint cans,

gasoline, propane tanks,

chemicals, pesticides, solvents.

These need special disposal or to be moved in your own vehicle (if allowed and safe).

• Donate or sell tools, decor, or gear you don’t use.

Moving heavy useless stuff is one of the fastest ways to waste money and energy.

Step 2 – Tools and hardware

Safety first:

• Wrap sharp tools (saws, blades, garden shears) in thick paper or rags and tape securely.
• Put small sharp tools together in a sturdy toolbox or strong small box.

Organization:

• Use small containers or organizers for screws, nails and bolts.
• Label by type if you can (“anchors,” “wood screws,” etc.).
• Keep very important hardware (for furniture, shelves) in clearly labeled bags.

Avoid overloading one giant toolbox to the point where it’s dangerous to lift. Several smaller boxes are better.

Step 3 – Sports equipment and bulky items

• Deflate balls slightly so they don’t burst with temperature changes.
• Bundle bats, rackets or sticks with stretch wrap or tape.
• Use large, sturdy boxes or plastic bins for helmets, pads and shoes.
• Coil ropes, extension cords and hoses, and secure them with zip ties or Velcro straps.

Label boxes by activity:

“Garage – camping gear”

“Garage – biking gear”

“Garage – kids’ sports gear”

This makes it much easier to find what you need in the new place.

Step 4 – Seasonal decor and stored items

If you already keep decor in plastic bins, you’re ahead. If not:

• Wrap fragile ornaments in paper and group them in small boxes.
• Place those small boxes inside a larger bin or box labeled “Seasonal decor – fragile.”
• Pack string lights carefully to avoid a giant knot: loop them and secure with twist ties.

Anything that will go back into storage in your new place can be packed tightly and clearly labeled, so those boxes can go directly to basement/attic/garage again.

Step 5 – Garage packing safety and loading

Remember: many garage items are heavy.

• Use small boxes for heavy tools, parts and hardware.
• Keep weight reasonable (if you struggle to lift it, split it).
• Avoid stacking heavy metal items on top of delicate things – keep those zones completely separate.

If you want help in the garage, this is a place where our crew can save you a lot of time and back strain. We’re used to handling awkward items, consolidating gear and making sense of “organized chaos.”

Putting It All Together: Room-by-Room Packing Timeline

Here’s a simple, realistic order that works for most homes:

• 2–4 weeks before moving day:

Garage and storage areas

Seasonal bedroom items (off-season clothes, extra bedding)

Rarely used kitchen items

• 1–2 weeks before moving day:

Most of the kitchen

Remaining bedroom items (except daily essentials)

• Last 3–5 days:

Everyday kitchen dishes (keep just enough until the last day)

Nightstand items and clothes for the next few days

Final sweep of garage and leftover items

• Moving day:

Pack your bedroom and kitchen essentials box

Strip and bag the mattress

Keep personal valuables and documents with you

Room-by-room, box-by-box, you’ll see steady progress instead of chaos. And at any point, if you feel like it’s too much, our team at United Prime Van Lines can step in to help with packing, heavy lifting, or the entire move from door to door.