Moving Apartments? Double (and Triple) Check Our Apartment Packing List

Moving apartments is really exciting: new places to discover, new people to meet, and new streets to explore.

It’s also really stressful. Whether you’re moving into your first apartment, or stepping up to a larger home, it’s easy to forget something in the moving process.

Follow these handy moving tips and our apartment packing list to have a smooth and stress-free move!

How to Prepare For a Stress-Free Move

Moving is only stressful if you’re unprepared. As soon as you know you’re moving apartments, start getting ready! It’ll reduce the stress on the day and mean you can settle into your new apartment quickly.

Here are some steps you can take to reduce the stress of moving day:

Check What You Can Take With You

Find out what you’re allowed in your new apartment before you start packing everything away. Some tenancies, such as college dorms, have strict regulations on items such as not allowing hot plates or certain light bulbs.

If you’re moving across state lines or across the border, check what you’re allowed to take with you. Your moving company will be able to tell you which items they can help you move, too.

Sell Anything You Don’t Need

There is no point in moving stuff you don’t need or want, but it’s so easy to just sling everything in boxes and not think about whether you really want it.

A month before you move, sort through your stuff. Make a pile in each room of Keep, Charity, Sell, and Sling. Be ruthless: anything you haven’t worn or used in the last year needs to go!

Selling items you don’t want is a great way to raise moving costs, too. Have a yard sale or sell on local boards like Craigslist and save the proceeds to spend on your moving truck or your first-night takeout in the new place.

Have a Day or Two Overlap

If you’re moving locally, arrange a day or two of overlap on your old and new apartments. This will help to reduce moving day stress and allow you to prepare the new apartment.

Measure up your new place and make a floorplan for your furniture. Show this to your movers so they’ll know where everything needs to go. You can also take a few smaller items ahead of moving day to reduce the amount of stuff you need to shift in one day.

Clean your new apartment while it’s empty so that you can start with a fresh and dust-free home!

Empty Your Kitchen Cupboards Before the Move

Plan your meals ahead of the move. Try to use up as much of your pantry food and fresh produce in the fridge as possible, as this takes up a lot of space.

Arrange for a grocery delivery to arrive at your new apartment after your arrival. You’ll be able to restock your fridge and be sure to have tasty snacks to fuel your unpacking!

Stock Up on Packing Essentials

Stock up on everything you need to pack your apartment up well before your moving day.

You can start packing non-essential items a few weeks before which will reduce the stress of moving day.

Make sure you have plenty of:

• Cardboard boxes in various sizes
• Bubble wrap
• Acid-free tissue paper
• Pens to mark boxes
• Packing tape

And packing will be easy!

Handy Packing Tips

Before you get started, check out these helpful packing tips to make sure you’re getting the most out of every box.

Save Space with Creative Packing

Fragile items require a lot of protection. Save money on buying lots of bubble wrap by using your clothes instead!

Wrap plates in hand towels and stuff balled-up socks between glassware. This will save you packing space and protect fragile items at the same time.

Use Suitcases for Heavy Items

If you’re a book hoarder or you like to lift weights at home then you’ll find that a standard moving box won’t hold heavy items well. It’s also going to be hard to lift an entire box of books!

Use your travel suitcases instead. The wheels on a cabin bag make it useful for transporting very heavy items with ease.

Pack a Go-Box

Put essential items that you’ll need as soon as you arrive at your new apartment all into one box. This could be medications, toilet paper, important documents, and spare clothes.

Put some snacks in the go-box too, as well as some bottled water. Include enough to share with the people who are helping you to move.

The most important item for this box is a box cutter! Forget this and you could end up ripping boxes apart to unpack!

Color Code Boxes

Label boxes on the side and the top with the room it should go in as well as a brief list of contents. This will make it much easier to find everything at your new home, reducing stress and helping you to unpack and settle in quickly.

Color codes will make your boxes easy to sort by room, too. Stick colored paper on the box and write the contents on it. When you arrive at your new apartment, stick the same color paper on the door of each room. Then your moving company, or helpful friends, can put boxes in the right room without needing to ask you every time.

Balance Your Boxes

Pack heavier stuff at the base of a box and then add light items on top.

And try to balance the weight evenly across the box too, which will avoid any toppled boxes and damaged goods.

Your Apartment Packing List by Room

Now you know how to pack it’s time to remember what to pack.

An entire packing list can be overwhelming, so we’ve broken down your essential list room-by-room. You won’t miss a single thing!

Bedroom

Remember that soft items such as pillows can be used to protect more fragile things in other boxes.

• Bed frame
• Mattress
• Bedding
• Pillows
• Ornaments
• Bedside tables
• Lamps
• Dressing table
• Chair
• Wardrobe hangers
• Laundry basket
• Alarm clock

Kitchen

Stack plates sideways with protective card or towels in-between each plate, instead of in a pile, to help prevent breakages.

• Plates
• Glassware
• Mugs
• Cutlery
• Tablecloths
• Kitchen towels
• Cleaning equipment
• Table
• Chairs
• Ironing board
• Iron
• Microwave
• Toaster
• Oven
• Pans
• Cooking utensils
• Plastic bags
• Foil and plastic wrap
• Bin bags
• Bin
• Colander
• Can opener
• Laundry detergent
• Drying rack

Living Room

You can pack many items ahead of time, such as books, to reduce stress during moving week.

• Couch
• Chair
• Side table
• Coffee table
• Floor lamp
• Picture frames
• Ornaments
• TV
• Computer
• Cables
• Games console
• Electric fan
• Side table
• TV stand
• Remote controls
• Table lamps
• Books

Bathroom

Some of these items, like your toothbrush and toothpaste, should be added to your go-box for easy access.

• Shower caddy
• Shampoo
• Conditioner
• Toothbrush
• Toothpaste
• Mirror
• Hairbrush
• Robe
• Towels
• Toilet paper
• Hand soap
• Razor
• Deodorant
• First aid kit

Everything Else

Sometimes we miss items that don’t live in a particular room, so make sure you remember:

• Printer
• Extension cords
• DVDs
• Sports equipment
• Vacuum cleaner
• Board games
• MP3 player
• Charger cables
• Flashlight
• Toolbox
• Batteries

Save Money on Your Move

Now the apartment packing list has removed stress for you, it’s time to think about how to afford the move.

The cost of moving is high: you have to save up for deposits, rent, moving fees, hiring a truck, and even cleaning fees for your old apartment.

Stay within a tight moving budget with these top tips!