This post provides a room by room moving checklist so you’re not overwhelmed with packing!
Moving to a new home can be both exciting and overwhelming, especially if you’re juggling work, family, and daily life. It’s easy to feel buried under the moving process, but this detailed, room-by-room checklist helped me and I believe it can help you transform the chaos of moving into an organized, stress-free move!
This guide is designed to help you tackle the moving process in a calm and organized way. Whether you’re moving into a new house across town or planning a long distance move, this checklist will walk you through the best way to pack, sort, and prepare for each room in your home, from your living room to your laundry room. With ample time and necessary supplies, you’ll have a clear plan for your move date.
Before diving into the packing process, it’s essential to get prepared. Begin by gathering your moving supplies, such as sturdy boxes, packing tape, packing paper, bubble wrap, utility knife, labels, a permanent marker, and plastic bags. Also, consider getting wardrobe boxes for clothing and moving blankets to protect each piece of furniture like your bedroom furniture and living room couch. Use stickers on your boxes and write room names where items belong to help make moving into your new home a good time for everyone!
First Steps Before You Begin Packing to Make Moving a Breeze
Once you have all the necessary supplies, take the following steps before your big move:
- Set a Moving Date: Establish a moving date that gives you enough time to organize and pack. If you’re planning a long-distance move, a good idea is to try to schedule it with a moving company well in advance. Depending on how much stuff you have, you’ll also want to give them plenty of time to load the moving truck. If you’re not using a moving company, it is still helpful to establish a moving date to help you work through your moving packing list.
- Start Decluttering: Begin by sorting through unused items, non-essential items, and anything that doesn’t belong in your new place. Consider selling items on Facebook Marketplace or plan to have a garage sale ahead of your move to get rid of items you no longer need. This will make packing easier and help you avoid moving the stuff you don’t want. The Room by Room Moving Checklist includes an items to sell sheet to help you stay organized and keep a list of things you don’t want to pack for your new home! Here are a few questions to help you decide what to get rid of:
- Have I used this item in the last year?
- Is this item expensive to replace?
- Do I still like this item?
- Use a List: Download the Room by Room Moving Checklist for every space in your current home. This ensures nothing gets overlooked. Consider creating your own color-coding system for the items as you move room-by-room through the list. For example, you could plan to pack all of the rugs together, or you might prefer packing such items by room. Perhaps you want to keep smaller items together or maybe you prefer to pack the different rooms in their own boxes.
- Secure Important Documents: Place your important documents—like birth certificates, passports, and financial records—in a safe place where you can easily access them on moving day. A file box or zip lock bags are a great option. If you have a lot of paperwork that doesn’t need to be hardcopy, consider scanning or digitizing your files and then shredding private documents.This decluttering trick has significantly reduced the amount of excess I have lying around my house!
The Ultimate Room by Room Checklist to Help You Get Organized
Here are packing tips for each room in your home. Be sure to download the free room by room moving checklist below.
1. Living Room
The living room often holds a mix of furniture items, electronics, and personal decor. It is one of the most frequently used rooms and packing this room efficiently will save you a lot of stress later.
- Pack Books: Place books in small boxes to avoid heavy, cumbersome boxes.
- Fragile Items: For items like vases, photo frames, wall decor, and other breakable items, use bubble wrap and packing paper to provide extra protection.
- Large Items: For larger items like coffee tables, end tables, TV stands, and couches, consider wrapping them in moving blankets or plastic wrap. Use a handcart or dolly to help lift heavy items. Disassemble any large pieces, like a pool table, to make them easier to move.
- Electronics: If possible, pack electronics in their original boxes for the best protection. If you no longer have these boxes, sturdy boxes and packing paper will do the trick. You could also take a photo before disassembling any electronics so you’ll know how to set it up again in your new home. Don’t forget to remove light bulbs from lamps.
- Plants: Place potted plants in a box that is bigger than the plant. Use packing paper to secure the containers in the box so they don’t slide around. It’s okay for plants to be in darkness for a few days while you’re moving.
- Miscellaneous Items: For small items, group similar items together. Use large plastic bags for soft items like throw blankets, curtains, rugs, or cushions.
2. Kitchen / Formal Dining Room
The kitchen often contains the most fragile items and valuable items, and perhaps the dining room is what you consider your little-used room. It’s important to pack these rooms with extra care. Be sure to check out the “Open First” Box checklist in the Ultimate Room by Room Moving Checklist so you can grab the kitchen items that you’ll want to use on the first night in your new home.
- Dishes and Glassware: Wrap each dish and glass in packing paper or bubble wrap. Pack them standing up in boxes to avoid breakage.
- Small Appliances: For smaller kitchen appliances like toasters, blenders, or coffee makers, use the original boxes if possible. If not, sturdy boxes with plenty of padding are your best option.
- Pots and Pans: Nest pots and pans together with a dish towel or piece of bubble wrap in between to keep them safe.
- Food Items: Start by packing up non-perishable food items. Items like canned goods and dry goods should be packed in small boxes so they aren’t too heavy. Leave fresh food and any refrigerator items until the last week.
- Cleaning Supplies: Keep bathroom essentials and kitchen cleaning supplies packed separately for easy access during the transition.
3. Bedrooms
Packing the bedroom requires some organization, especially when it comes to furniture items and personal belongings.
- Wardrobe: If you have a lot of clothing, wardrobe boxes can be a lifesaver. Simply hang your clothes in the box to avoid wrinkles.
- Bedding: For bedding, large plastic bags or garbage bags work well to keep everything together. Label the bags so you can easily find your sheets and pillowcases after the move.
- Furniture: Disassemble bedroom furniture like beds and dressers, if possible. Wrap these pieces with moving blankets or plastic wrap to prevent damage and keep them from getting any scratches. You’ll especially want to protect your mattress from getting dirty or wet during your move.
- Personal Items: Pack jewelry and other personal belongings in small boxes or zip lock bags for easy access. You can also string necklaces through drinking straws to avoid tangling them.
4. Bathrooms
When packing the bathroom, you’ll want to focus on bathroom essentials and breakable items.
- Shampoo, Soap, Cosmetics, and Toiletries: Pack your cosmetics and toiletries in zip lock bags to prevent spills. Keep the most frequently used items separate and accessible. Important items like prescription medications and items for your unique needs should be kept in a safe place.
- Towels and Linens: These can be packed in large boxes or large plastic bags.
- Cleaning Supplies: Pack any bathroom cleaning supplies in a separate box and label it clearly.
- Toilet Paper: Don’t forget to pack a few rolls of toilet paper for your first night in the new house—you’ll want them easily accessible!
5. Office / Storage Room
Your home office and storage areas can be tricky to pack, especially if you have a lot of important documents or electronics. Be sure to pack these items with extra care.
- Electronics: For items like your computer, printer, and monitors, try to pack them in their original boxes. If you don’t have these, use sturdy boxes and bubble wrap to ensure they’re secure.
- Documents: Keep important documents organized and in one place. Use a file box for paperwork that needs to be moved securely.
- Small Items: Pens, paper, and other office supplies can be packed in small boxes or zip lock bags.
6. Garage
The garage often houses larger items and tools that require special attention.
- Lawn Mowers: Drain any fuel from your lawn mowers or other larger appliances to prevent spills during the move.
- Tools and Equipment: Group similar items together and pack them in sturdy boxes. For anything sharp or dangerous, make sure the boxes are securely taped and labeled.
- Storage Tubs: If you have storage space filled with unused items, consider donating or selling things you don’t need. For the remaining items, pack them carefully in cardboard boxes or moving boxes.
7. Guest Bedrooms
Packing guest bedrooms follows the same principle as packing your own bedroom.
- Bedding and Furniture: For guest room furniture like beds or dressers, disassemble when possible. Wrap the pieces in moving blankets or plastic wrap to protect them during the move.
- Linens and Decor: Pack any spare sheets, pillows, or extra décor in large plastic bags or large boxes. Label them clearly so you can find them easily.
If nothing else, don’t forget your pets! Believe it or not, it happens when there is so much to remember during a move!
Some Additional Packing Tips to Make Moving Easier
Gather Packing Supplies
Label your boxes on the bottom of the box and on the sides for easy identification. Don’t forget to mark fragile boxes with “FRAGILE” so professional movers know to handle them with care. Use bungee cords to keep rugs together.
Room-by-Room Packing
The best way to stay organized during the move is by focusing on one room at a time. Tackle each room separately, and pack similar items together. Label your boxes clearly with the room name and a list of contents to make unpacking easier.
Use Ample Padding
For fragile items, always use packing paper, bubble wrap, or a moving blanket. Extra padding helps protect delicate items like glassware, electronics, and family heirlooms. Be sure not to pack boxes too heavy.
Keep First Things First
Pack your first step or first things items (such as bedding, bathroom essentials, and kitchen necessities) in a separate box that you can access immediately when you arrive at the new place. Use the “Open First” checklist in the Ultimate Room by Room Moving Checklist to make sure you have all necessary items for the first night in your new home!
Stay Calm and Take Your Time
The packing process can feel overwhelming, but if you follow this room by room moving checklist, you’ll make your move a smooth and successful move. Take your time and start early to reduce last-minute stress.
Important Moving Tips You’ll Be Thankful You Remembered
For Your Moving Out of House
There are a few important things to remember when you’re moving out of your current house. The following information includes a few other important details you’ll want to remember after your move-out date is set:
- Consider hiring a cleaning service before your last day to ensure you leave your property “broom clean”
- If you hire a moving company, have some cash on hand to tip movers
- Call utility companies to schedule end of service dates (water, gas, electricity, trash, internet)
- Take smart devices off your accounts (cameras, thermostats, locks, etc.)
- Change your delivery address on websites such as Amazon, PayPal, Apple Pay, Target, Walmart
- Cancel any unnecessary subscriptions and services while you’re busy moving
For Your Moving Into House
There are a few important things to remember when you’re moving into your new house too. The following information includes a few other important details you’ll want to remember:
- Create a list of furniture you’ll want to purchase for each room and keep an eye out for deals on Facebook Marketplace or at retail stores
- Call utility companies to schedule start service dates (water, gas, electricity, trash, internet)
- Consider hiring a cleaning service to deep clean your new home before moving in
- Get familiar with trash/recycling pick up schedules
- Change all of the locks
- Forward your mail at USPS
- Change of address checklist:
- Update your voter registration
- Update your driver’s license address
- Update addresses such as work, bank accounts, and medical records
FREE ROOM BY ROOM MOVING CHECKLIST (with bonus tips and pages!)
Moving doesn’t have to be stressful if you stay organized and plan ahead. By following this room-by-room packing checklist, you’ll ensure that every item is packed with care, from your living room to your garage—and you just might have a great time packing too!
