When packing for a move, the kitchen will probably take the longest—not necessarily because it has the most items, but because it requires a thorough pack job. Materials like glass or ceramic need more care and extra materials. This is not a room you want to rush through at the last minute! With a few simple tips, you can pack your kitchen like a pro…and avoid finding your nice dinnerware in pieces on the back end.
Set Aside Essentials
One of the most important tasks is separating things into two groups: what to pack early and what to leave out until the last minute. First things first, pack away seasonal/other items you won’t use anytime soon. For example, if it’s May, you don’t need those fancy Christmas dishes or entertaining platters. You’d be surprised what you can make do without in your kitchen. Decide what appliances and cookware you use every day and the ones you can live without. As your move gets closer, you can even make the temporary switch to paper plates, if desired.
Ideas for items to pack away early:
- Dishware and silverware, except what's needed leading up to the move
- Seasonal items, vases & kitchen decor
- Cookbooks
- Bulky or specialty appliances you won't be using
- Linens, placemats, napkins, & miscellaneous tablescapes
- Extra mugs, glassware, plates, or serving items
- Extra water bottles, tumblers, etc.
- Miscellaneous drawers to include towels, utensils, junk drawers, etc.
- Pantry items you plan to trash or donate
If you have room to sit elsewhere, like an island with chairs, you can break down your table as moving day approaches (be sure to keep the parts labeled and organized!).
Ideas for items to leave out until the move:
- Some basic silverware/cutlery
- A few dinner plates (or paper plates)
- A bottle opener
- Coffee maker
- Measuring spoons
- One cutting board
- One pot/pan
- One cup/mug per person
- Pizza pan/cutter
Packing a kitchen can feel overwhelming with all the knick-knacks, dinnerware, and appliances. Pack in phases and give yourself plenty of time, starting a few weeks or even months out from moving day. Know what’s in your last-minute "essentials" box for the items used daily, and mark that same box as "unpack first" or hand-carry it with you.
Prep Before Packing
Preparing appliances is a critical step of getting ready for a move. Be sure to thoroughly clean and dry appliances before packing them to avoid leaks or mold (e.g. draining the coffee maker and allowing it to air dry). It doesn't take much for mold to spread rapidly to other possessions and boxes around it—causing a whole new emotional and financial headache for you!
This also means taking special consideration when deciding what to pack from your pantry. If you have liquids and pantry items that could crack/leak and you have a long-distance move ahead, you'll want to weigh the risk beforehand.
How to Reduce Breakage
Packing is a time-consuming and demanding process. And while the primary goal is to ensure maximum protection, there are plenty of ways to reduce breaks or chips while still being efficient.
- Nesting doll method: Pack small boxes or items securely inside larger ones, ensuring each item is individually wrapped to avoid breakage. For example, carefully-wrapped mugs can go inside a larger box of non-breakable items, like Tupperware. Or place a well-wrapped glass bowl inside a larger plastic one. This helps keep things extra secure, with the added benefit of saving on space, packing materials, and boxes.
- Fill the dead space: Use linens, towels, bubble wrap, or packing paper to prevent items from shifting or shattering in transit. Even when well-protected, things like glassware are easily breakable when there's lots of dead space or gaps in a box.
- Get creative: Use towels, linens, socks, clothes, or old bedding as desired for less fragile items to save on packing materials.
- Don't overpack: While you DO want to fill any dead space to prevent shifting, you don't want to pack too many heavy items in the same box. This can not only make the boxes extremely difficult to carry for one person, but it can also result in lots of breakage when items are crushed under the weight.
Use the Right Materials
You will likely need more bubble wrap and packing paper than you think. It’s better to use more than you need than to not use enough. Glass divider inserts can be helpful in adding an extra layer between items. Additionally, you’ll need boxes of various sizes. It's highly recommended to use smaller boxes for extremely fragile items. There are also various specialty box shapes for things like high-value artwork, lamps, and documents.
Use larger boxes for lightweight items like baking sheets, plasticware, and small hand-held appliances. Medium sturdy boxes are ideal for pots, pans, heavier individual appliances, and larger pantry items. Small boxes are best for individually-wrapped fragile items as well as glass pantry/liquid items to avoid spillage.
Label the Details
Everyone is different in how they label and organize—find what works for you! But if you’re looking for a specific coffee mug while unpacking, a box labeled “glasses” may not be very helpful, so be sure to add a more detailed list if time allows. To speed up the labeling and organizing process, use these moving box labels that help sort by room and category.
Packing a kitchen is tedious and taxing. But when done right, all of your beloved appliances, coffee mug collections, and holiday plates should make it to your new home all in one piece!