Choosing the right packing materials for a house move

Before you start packing, it would be a good idea too to sort through and categorise your belongings first. You can check out our guide to making house moves less stressful for more tips on that!

To help you navigate the challenges of moving home, we have out together a brief guide to choosing the right packing materials.

How to chose the right packing materials for your move

Packing for your house move can be a tedious task, so it’s best to get organised early. Before you get started, make a quick inventory of each room you’ll be packing, this way you will also know what packing materials you will need. Of course, the type of materials you select is also important. Make sure to pick materials that are of high-quality and resistant; they will need to safely contain all your belongings during the drive to your new place.

Here are some of the most common packing materials you’re likely to need during a move.

Boxes

This is the most versatile and efficient item you will need for your move. Cardboard boxes are in fact ideal to carry a variety of items in a safe, organised way. Invest in boxes made from corrugated cardboard as these will provide an additional layer of protection for your items.

You can also find “double-walled boxes” on the market, ideal for packing heavier items.

Tape

Though you might be tempted to use the standard Sellotape you have at home, consider investing in wide plastic tape that is purpose-made for packing. This will in fact guarantee that none of your belongings fall out of the boxes at any point during the move. A good use of wide tape is also to hold together loose pieces of furniture you have dismantled prior to your move.

Wait until you have packed everything away in each box before you tape them shut so that you won’t have to keep re-opening each box.

Bubble wrap

This is possibly the most important packing material if you’re planning to move fragile items, such as vases, tableware and glasses. Take your time to safely pack each item individually and use plenty of bubblewrap to avoid any accidents happening during the move. You will find that there are various types of bubble wrap o the market; wraps with larger bubbles are useful for bigger items, while wraps with smaller bubbles are useful for smaller items.

Be sure to securely tape the items on each side, as well as the top and bottom so that they don’t slip out of the bubble wrap during transport.

Packing paper

This serves a very similar purpose to bubble wrap, taking plastic out of the equation. Similarly to newspapers, packing paper can be used to stuff items, such as cups or glasses, and wrap these to avoid them getting smashed during the move.

Packing paper is also great to add an additional layer of protection to your storage boxes. Whether you decide to add some scrunched up paper in your boxes for extra padding or you want to use this as a separator between items, packing paper is ideal to keep your belongings safe during a move.

Labels

Though this isn’t technically a packing material, labels will be extremely useful during your house move. By taking the time to label each box, in fact, you’ll save yourself a lot of hassle when having to unpack. You can opt for printed out labels or simply use a marker and some masking tape, either way works and it will help you stay organised throughout your house move.