Learn some quick, simple, and proven moving tips (many free) for alleviating the anxiety and tensions with relocation… including packing, moving (day), and unpacking hacks.
Having moved both cross country and locally… I’ve found firsthand experience the various tips and methods both time saving, money saving, and less physically taxing.
Although I can't cover all of them here, I'll share my easiest moving tips: Establishing a (box) color-code labeling system Kitchen Packing & Unpacking Bedroom Packing & Unpacking Bathroom Packing & Unpacking Office Packing & Unpacking Packing Odd-Shaped Items 
Many of these tips also work well when decluttering to donate as well as for functional storage.
Estimated Time to Complete
With the methods shared in this post, you can easily pack a box in under 5-10 minutes… depending on the items.
Level of Difficulty
Very easy.
Estimated Cost
Varies from FREE to an inexpensive purchase.
Items Needed
Packing is a bit more lax for items self-moved as packing doesn’t need to be as “private” as for "professional" moves. In other words, containers’ contents for self-moves need not be hidden.
A privacy box… unlike a clear box… fully conceals the identity of its contents.
InstructionsEstablishing a Box Color-Code Labeling Systems
Before packing that first item, it's important to establish a box labeling system.
Whether you're self-moving or hiring professionals, establishing a color-code system will make moving day easier for you and your movers. Color-coding labels (created on your computer using printer paper) allows for quick identification of a box's destination.
For those using professional movers, see the label in the image below:
Packing Label Example
Let's start with the color. For example, teal may represent boxes with kitchen contents, pink for master bathroom contents, green for guest bedroom, and so on. The room name should match the color coded for that room.
The next line is your name... followed by your address. Although this seems obvious, this is a must with professional movers. Remember, your boxes most likely will be sharing a truck with another customer's boxes.... particularly on cross-country moves. Additionally, with both local and cross country moves, a labeled box left behind on the truck... or at your prior home... can be quickly identified and eventually delivered to you. Personally, I use the same label for professional, self moves, and combos... with the latter best describing most moves. And once you have the template, it's a matter of copying and pasting in a Word or Pages document and printing out. But if you're 100% self, non-professional moving, then you can skip the address step. When it comes to labeling contents, my advice is to keep it as general as possible... particularly with valuables or with paperwork with valuable information about you that include account numbers and social security numbers to name a few. Maybe you name the contents "Group 1" as a code only you would recognize when unpacking. As a rule of thumb, create 3 copies of a box's label to tape or adhere to the top, front, and side of a box. Another rule of thumb is to print extra labels for each room with all the info except for "Contents" for those extra, last-minute boxes.... provided by a professional mover on moving day. Kitchen Packing & Unpacking
Packing Utensils & Spices
For easier unpacking and organization, I categorize "like" serving and cooking utensils in respective ziplock plastic bags. This protects items from dust and debris during the moving process... saving you the hassle of washing when unpacking and organizing at your new home. AND your items remain organized... saving you time with reorganizing when unpacking. This also works well for packing spices as the ziplock bags will catch any spills and protect items from dust and debris during transport.
Packing Plates
This is where those empty boxes from your Amazon orders and existing towel supply come in handy. 
1 - Layout.... 2 - Enfold & Stack... 3 - Pack
In the above example, I used a beach towel (or bath sheet) to enfold plates while stacking before placing in the shipping box. Additional space in the box can be for other kitchen items.
Packing Pots and Pans
Again, pull out your large empty Amazon boxes. Fortunately, today's pots and pan sets are already stackable. However, to protect their cooking finishes, separate as you stack with a paper towel.
Packing Cleaning Supplies
Unless self-moving these items using open boxes or reusable shopping bags, the box and/ or weight count for calculating professional moving costs make it more cost effective to donate or leave behind. 
Stackable food storage containers can be used for not only packing "like" kitchen items together... but also packing and organizing "like" items from other rooms.
Local, Self-Moves
Although optimal, it's not necessary to have boxes with lids which takes the hassle out of packing small appliance and odd-shaped items like blenders and food processors. That supply of reusable shopping bags allows for locally moving perishables from one home to the next... saving money and the time of a drive to the grocery store. If moving yourself, privacy boxes and packing supplies are not necessary. Using clear storage boxes and bins will actually expedite the unpacking and organizing process at your new home. Bedroom Packing & Unpacking
Packing Clothing
Whether hiring professionals or moving yourself, I highly recommend using clear vacuum seal bags... and some of you may disagree. When using professional movers... particularly moving cross country... the clear vacuum seal bags protect your clothes from the dust, debris, and smells from the moving van during transport. Yes, I would put these inside of the wardrobe boxes provided by the movers. (Professional movers provide these the day of the move.) This eliminates the need to launder while unpacking. Plus, vacuum sealed storage allows for less boxes... again saving you time. Similarly for smaller clothing items like t-shirts, shorts, jeans, and activewear, smaller clear vacuum seal bags allow for less boxes and clean clothes when unpacking or organizing at your new home. Underwear and socks fit nicely in those one-gallon ziplock and smaller vacuum seal bags... again making unpacking and organizing a breeze.
Packing Accessories Small & Large
Large reusable shipping boxes (from your deliveries) are ideal for larger and bulkier accessories likes belts, shoes, and purses. For those that easily scruff, unscented trash bags provide a layer of protection while taking up minuscule extra space. For smaller accessories like jewelry, one-gallon and sandwich-size ziplock bags allow for quick packing and pre-organized unpacking. And to prevent tangling (and the time detangling) necklaces, I roll in a towel shown below, fold, and pack. 
1 - Layout... 2 - Roll... 3 - Pack
Packing Bedding
Again, large clear vacuum seal bags are ideal for bulkier bedding like pillows, blankets, and comforters not used for packing and protecting other items... which I will get to by the end of this post. This keeps your bedding clean during transport. Plus, once vacuum-sealed, bulky bedding is easier to pack in large (wardrobe) boxes.
Local, Self-Moves
As with the kitchen items, privacy boxes and packing for self moves are not necessary. Reusable shopping bags and duffle bags are substitutes for boxes and can work well for accessories. Bathroom Packing & Unpacking
For local, self-moves, I highly recommend applying many of the same methods for organizing your bathroom for saving money covered in an earlier post. This allows packing to become your organized storage at your new home, virtually eliminating the timely unpacking step at your new home. Loose toiletries can be organized in ziplock bags and wine case boxes.
Food storage containers can organize inside your reused privacy shipping boxes for professional moves. And these stackable provide pre-organized storage at your new home. Office Supplies Packing & Unpacking
Packing Paper and File Folders
Wine cases without separators conveniently accommodate letter-size reams of printer paper and file folders. (Note: doesn't work with larger legal-size paper and file options.) This allows for organized transfer from file cabinets pre-move to quick and easy organization post-move. You can secure hanging files with packing tape inside of file cabinets for quick reloading when at your new (home) office. 
Packing Accessories (Pens, Rulers, Scissors, etc.)
Yes, those wine case boxes... this time with the separators... organize accessories for transport. Along with the ziplock bags, this makes for quick unpacking and organization. Additional space in boxes can be used for office decor adjusting separators to accommodate odd-shaped and larger items as shown in the image below. 
Packing General and Odd-Shaped Items
Packing Odd-shaped Items
As with glassware, (cardboard) separators easily fold to accommodate wider, small to medium sized, odd-shaped items.. or additional protective wrapping. As for larger items odd-shaped items, large shipping boxes are a must. Wardrobe boxes are ideal for accommodating protective wrapped items such as lamps and larger wallhangings. Again, professional movers provide these the day of the move. So have your items wrapped and ready for same-day packing prior to moving day.
Packing Candles and Diffusers
Scented items such as candles, diffusers, and essential oils require packing separately from kitchen and fabric items. Principles shared in my candle-organizing post can be applied for packing. Smaller boxes provide protection and storage organization at your new home eliminating unpacking and reorganizing... while nested in a larger shipping box for transport. Ziplock bags provide protection from spills and mess with essential oils and broken items in transport. And don't forget to wrap and protect diffusers.
Having Trouble Getting Started?
I used to feel the same way too. After all, who wants to put time into a project that may not work in their specific home? That's why I created this Quick DIY Check Prep (List) for getting you started on those projects that actually enhance your home. I use this when starting any home DIY endeavor... big or small.
Knowing the "whys" of your home projects not only helps you with the "hows" but keeps you focused on the DIY endeavors that will matter for you... saving you time and money.
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