Bedrooms are sanctuaries, now more than ever in the age of COVID-19. But if you’re like me, they are filled to the brim with clothes and things that I can’t ever seem to throw away. If you’re moving or downsizing, then this is a perfect time to rethink your bedroom. Clear out your closets, donate or sell what you don’t use, and start fresh. Here are some tips to help you sort, pack, and move a bedroom (or multiple).
Take Your Time and Sort It
Before you start the packing process, sort your bedroom. Don’t be afraid of the mess. Get everything out of bins, closets, and drawers. Lay it all out so you can evaluate it clearly. It will be messy before it can get organized. Take your time so you don’t move things that you don’t really need or items you’ve never really used. This will save you time when it comes to the packing and unpacking. This is also a great tip for saving money. The less items you have to move, the less packing materials you’ll need and the overall move will go a lot faster.
If You Have Kids, Let Them Help
Moving with kids will always be challenging. If they’re a little older, they’ll be hesitant to leave their schools and friends behind. Get them involved in the moving process. It will help them feel included and involved. Have them pack their bedrooms and take initiative. It will give them a project to do and give them a sense of control so they can transition as easily as possible.
Cover the Mattresses
Always cover your mattresses! Whether you’re renting a truck or being moved by a moving company, they may or may not have cleaned the truck. Don’t take your chances, especially with upholstered items. Most reputable movers (606 Movers included!) will have some sort of plastic wrap to cover them. If you move regularly, it may be a good idea to invest in a reusable mattress cover or bag. It’s not only the green option but you can use it again and again.
Protect Your Lamps
While lamps may seem easy to pack, they’re actually quite delicate and fragile. Make sure they are broken down and the lightbulb is removed. Then pack each individual piece separately. Find a box that will give you enough room to wrap each lamp with bubble wrap or towel and fill in any gaps with packing paper so it doesn’t move around in the box. Be sure to mark the box as fragile and the room it belongs to for easy unpacking.
Wrap Your Pictures Carefully
Moving framed art works and pictures can be a bit daunting. If you aren’t comfortable, feel free to leave this to the professionals. But if you want to handle this portion of the move, here are some tips.
First, find the most appropriate box. If the pictures are small, you can probably pack a few of them together. If they’re larger, it’s best to pack them separately. Specialty boxes do exist but they may be more expensive or harder to find. Regular medium and large sized boxes should work.
If the picture has a glass cover, tape an ‘x’ on the front. This will help keep the majority of the glass together if it does shatter or break.
Then wrap the whole piece in cheap packing or butcher paper to protect the frame from any scratches or nicks. Then wrap the frame in bubble wrap for extra protection and padding.
Place the picture in the box and use more packing paper to secure the frame in place. This will make sure it doesn’t move on the journey. Tape the box thoroughly, mark as fragile, and describe its contents so that you and the movers know what it is.
Not Sure What to do with Your Furniture?
Congrats, you’ve finished packing your bedroom! If you’re using movers, then the hard part is over. Feel free to leave all the furniture as is. If needed, most movers will disassemble and wrap the furniture in moving blankets.
If you’re moving on your own, anything movers do would apply here. Make sure you measure any doorways and hallways. This is ideal when trying to figure out if beds and dressers will fit or if they need to be broken down. Get the right tools to disassemble any legs or furniture pieces. But always make sure the parts don’t get lost. Plastic zip-loc bags are great for organizing screws and small pieces. Wrap all the large items in moving blankets and secure them with tape. While each move is different, one way to load a truck is to pack the larger items first and then the smaller items and boxes last.
Moving is not easy. It can be stressful and daunting, especially when organizing spaces like our bedrooms. We hope these tips come in handy when you have to sort and pack for your upcoming move. You can and will get through this!