How to Pack Your Bedroom for a Move

From your cozy bed to your overflowing nightstand, packing up your bedroom is one of the most daunting tasks in your home. Not only do you want to move your items safely, but you’ll also encounter lost socks and forgotten books along the way!

Learning how to pack your bedroom for a move means breaking down the elephant into metaphorical bites. After cleaning and decluttering, start packing the least used items. You’ll want to save the most used items and furniture for last.

Keep reading to learn how to pack up a bedroom in a way that keeps your sanity – and furniture – intact.

Before continuing, check out these helpful tools and resources:

• Moving cost calculator – Just enter your move dates, origin and destination cities, and the estimated size of your move, and let the magic algorithms do the rest.
• Best interstate movers – With such high stakes, hiring a top-rated long-distance mover with verified customer reviews is essential.
• Best moving container companies – It’s simple. You load and unload, they drive, and you save money.

How should I organize my bedroom when moving?

It’s perfectly normal to find your bedroom an intimidating place to move. These rooms are where we let our hair down and truly relax, which means they can get pretty messy!

Clean up first

Cleaning up is the first step when packing for a move. With so many tasks on your plate, the last thing you need is bouncing between organizing, moving bedroom furniture, and cleaning.

Consider vacuuming, dusting, and picking up items off the floor. Dig in your closet for any boxes you haven’t looked into.

Make a list to declutter, donate, or sell items

This step you absolutely can’t rush. You need to review your items and determine where they’ll be in your life.

Do you have some books you haven’t touched in several months? Consider donating them to your local library. Do you have a nice desk you’re considering upgrading when you arrive at your new place? Sell it on eBay or Facebook Marketplace to get extra money for your move.

Leaving this decision to the last second might have you trashing items you’d rather donate or donating items you’d rather sell.

Gather up packing supplies

You don’t want to pack without supplies, right? After you clean up and make your list, gather packing materials to get a lot done quickly.

The packing supplies you’ll need in the bedroom include the following:

• Cardboard boxes of various sizes
• Packing tape
• Sharpies for labeling
• Plastic bins
• Plastic bags
• Shrink wrap and/or packing paper
• Furniture blankets
• Furniture pads
• Mattress bag

Where do I start packing up a bedroom?

Preparation is a must-have feature of any move, regardless of complexity. Because the bedroom is so unique and filled with variety, we’ll break down this section into steps.

Start with the items you use the least

You’ll need to use your bedroom for several more days as you gradually move everything out. Your first step is to start with your least-used items so you’re not inadvertently making your life harder.

As you sort out the costs of your move, pack up items that you don’t use all that often, like:

• Nightstands
• Small bookshelves
• Off-season clothing (for example, winter clothing if you move in the summer)
• Jewelry
• Lesser used accessories (such as hats for special occasions)

Gradually move to the more common items

Once you have your least used items sorted out, gradually move toward your more commonly used items. This section involves anything you interact with several times per week.

Frequently used items and furniture in a bedroom may look like:

• A drafting desk
• Chairs or stools
• Lamps
• Dressers
• Yoga mats
• Shoe racks

Leave your most used items and furniture for last

The very last items you should move in a bedroom are the staples. These items are used daily, so you’ll likely need to keep them around until the last few days!

The most used items in a bedroom are usually the following:

• Mattress
• Mattress frame
• Home computer
• Working desk
• Accessories such as speakers or webcams

How to pack your bedroom for a move

Packing your bedroom is similar to packing up your kitchen or living room. You need to maintain the common sense that comes with safely moving furniture and fragile items.

How to pack your clothes

Depending on your sense of fashion and space, this step could be brisk or time-consuming. Your clothes don’t just need packing; they need cleaning.

We recommend washing and drying your clothes before moving them. There’s the possibility of bringing dust mites, spider eggs, or pantry moths into your new home. The other benefit is to have your clothes clean on arrival so you can put off laundry!

If you’re in a rush, you can toss your clean clothes into trash bags and label them with packing tape. If you have more fragile clothing that’s prone to wrinkles or tears, fold them carefully into cardboard moving boxes.

• How to pack clothes for moving

How to pack shoes

Packing your shoes has its own section because of how unique footwear is compared to the rest of your wardrobe. You need to make sure your shoes are clean before storing them for transit.

Rinse off the bottom of your shoes to avoid bringing dirt, scat, or insects into your new home. If your shoes are machine washable, toss them in and dry them thoroughly. If not, a quick rinse and outdoor dry session should be sufficient. Make sure to pack your shoes in pairs instead of dumping them willy-nilly.

How to pack your blankets and pillows

The bed is always one of the least convenient aspects of the bedroom. Mattresses and frames are large and unwieldy, so you’ll need help.

Determine if you want to ask friends to help with moving or if you’ll hire a moving service. While moving services can get pricey, they’re incredibly convenient and save you time. Moving professionals are familiar with all the working details of an effective move and can seriously cut into the stress of transitioning.

Wrap up your blankets, pillows, and pillowcases in a plastic bag to keep them from getting dirty or bug-ridden on the way. We recommend washing these beforehand so you don’t accidentally bring dust mites to your new house!

How to pack your mattress and frame

Do not, under any circumstance, get your mattress wet. Mattresses are often susceptible to mold and mildew, so get a mattress cover as soon as possible!

Professional movers move mattresses, but you should double-check the mattress for any possible stains or mold build-up. Once you have the all-clear, let your movers know that you need mattress help. They may charge extra for the supplies they’ll need to bring, such as straps and blankets.

As for the mattress frame, try to disassemble it before the move. Moving out of your home will be much easier, especially if you live in an upstairs apartment. Label all the working parts and screws so you can quickly reassemble the bed frame upon arrival.

How to pack furniture

Furniture is a broad category, so you’ll have to approach each item on a case-by-case basis. You can easily pack small furniture into boxes or bags, while large furniture will need a second pair of hands.

If you can disassemble the furniture, do so. It’ll be much easier to lift and store, especially when you have limited room in your moving truck or shipping container. Cover furniture that can’t be disassembled in wrapping to protect it from scratches or scrapes.

If you need to move a lamp, unscrew the bulb and remove the harp (the wire that protects the light bulb).

How to pack various knick-knacks and accessories

Let’s be honest: the bedroom is a magnet for all sorts of little knick-knacks and accessories. Depending on your hobbies and decoration habits, this step might be the most time-consuming!

For this step, you need lots of packing paper and smaller boxes. Try to sort your accessories with matching items so you can quickly unpack them upon arrival. For example, keep comic book figurines together in one box and throw pillows in another. Label each box clearly and make sure nothing moves around in transit with packing paper.

If you have a lot of books, try not to overload any one box. These items get heavy fast and can increase your risk of a pulled muscle.

How to pack fragile jewelry and antiques

These items need the utmost care upon transport. While you should trust a reputable moving company to move your boxes, it’s your job to ensure they know what they’re holding.

Fragile jewelry and antiques must be wrapped carefully and packed with packing paper. Both functions reduce excess movement to prevent scratches, dents, or breakage. If you’re nervous about strangers handling your items, consider taking these items with you.

Learning how to pack your room for moving means learning a lot about yourself. Not only will you transition smoothly into your new home, but you’ll also have a deeper appreciation for organization.