Nobody immediately knows how to start packing properly, or what the best techniques are. Any expertise you have probably comes from trial and error, but when you’re planning to move into a new home, you just want to get it all done quickly and safely.

Firstly, we have some general tips on how to pack your fragile items sensibly. It doesn’t matter what you’re packing, these tips will be relevant.

  • If you run out of supplies (boxes, bubble wrap, sellotape etc.), you will get stuck. Make sure you have plenty to get the job done.
  • Don’t overpack your boxes, as they will either get damaged or you’ll injure yourself moving then.
  • Use random items to fill gaps in your boxes, rather than transporting a lot of empty space and requiring extra boxes to do it.
  • Label everything and don’t rely on your memory to know where everything is. You can almost guarantee you will lose track otherwise.
  • Never fill large boxes with heavy items or small boxes with light items. This a common mistake, but the opposite is much more helpful.

Specific types of fragile items will be a lot safer if you wrap them or protect them in a certain way. Here are a few examples of techniques you can use to transport your household items.

Plates – Wrap each plate individually in packing paper to prevent scratches. Lay them into boxes vertically rather than stacking them, as this is less dangerous. Pad out gaps in the box with extra paper before sealing and labelling it.

Glassware – Try to pack items of similar sizes together. Stack your glasses or cups in small towers and wrap up the entire tower with a generous amount of paper. Again make sure to plug any empty areas to stop towers falling over and breaking.

Lamps – These tend to be large but delicate, so it’s worth wrapping light shades up in bubble wrap after taking the lamp apart as much as you can. Wrap parts individually and pack them together with plenty of padding.

Ornaments – Additional bits and pieces in different sizes can be the most tricky things to pack. If you have nothing of a similar shape to pack with it, an item can easily get damaged. Use lots of bubble wrap, secured with tape, to create packages that can safely be stowed together in one box. If this is impossible, you may need to put together a custom cardboard box to hold a large and awkward item.

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