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Guide to Packing Your Dining Room

In most homes, the dining room is one of the most important rooms of the house. It often includes expensive china and crystal. In some cases, the breakables may be important antiques or family heirlooms. These are fragile pieces that are highly valued, and not just financially. The value could be sentimental, but it is rarely trivial.

How to Pack Glass and China

  • Chinaware, glass, and crystal stemware are often some of the most valued items in a home, but especially in a dining room.
  • Place layers of newspaper on the bottom and top of the box
  • Wrap all glass and china individually in paper
  • Wrap the outside of your glasses and tuck the edges of the paper over the lips into the cups
  • Cushion all glassware and china by placing paper or bubble wrap between the individual pieces in the box
  • Double up on the paper for highly valued pieces
  • Label boxes with the contents and the words “FRAGILE – THIS SIDE UP” in bold colorful letters

Moving House: Happy Woman Unpacking Dishes

Packing Tips for Flat Glassware

Flatware is easier to pack than stemware, but it’s still important to protect it from breakage.

  • Place layers of newspaper on the bottom and top of the box
  • Wrap each piece in paper individually
  • Bundle your flatware in sets of three by wrapping the bundle in another layer of paper
  • Place each bundle on edge and in rows within the box
  • Lay a double layer of newspaper across the top of the bundles in the box
  • Label the box with contents and write “FRAGILE – THIS SIDE UP” in bold letters

Tips for Packing Silver and Other Delicates

The biggest issue for silver is tarnishing. To prevent this from happening, try

  • Wrapping it in newspaper or plastic
  • Wrap hollow ware like cups and bowls individually
  • Place loose flatware in a box or wrap it in a bundle
  • To prevent shifting in chests, wrap pieces of silver individually and place back inside the chest then fill the chest with paper
  • Mirrors, plaques, pictures, and curios should be wrapped individually in tissue with an outer layer of newsprint

Do not wrap lamp shades in newspaper. The print will seep into the shade and discolor it. Use tissue paper instead. You can nest smaller lamp shades inside larger ones. Keep lamp shades separate from other items and pack them in their own boxes clearly labeled.

If you have large items made of glass, such as dining tables or table leaves, china cabinets, etc., consult with your moving company on such items.

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Moving Tips, Uncategorized

Guide to Packing Your Kitchen

One of the most important rooms in your house to move is your kitchen. You likely have a lot of dishes, and chances are, many of them are breakable – glasses, chinaware, ceramics, and perhaps even larger items like electric can openers and microwave ovens. Packing your kitchen items for safe moving, space management, and organization is very important.

Keeping Your Kitchen Organized During Your Move

Before you move, take the time to sort your kitchen items into those things you’ll be taking with you and those things you won’t. If you’re purchasing new kitchenware, for instance, you may opt not to take certain dishes. Put them in a separate box or bag. Other items many people opt not to move with them are canned goods. You’ll end up taking these things to shelters, food banks, and thrift stores, or you may decide to have a moving sale. Either way, separate them well before your move from the items you’ll be taking with you.

Another thing you’ll want to do before you move is pack an essential items box. These are things you’ll need the last couple of days in your old home and the first couple of days in your new home. This list should include, at a minimum:

  • Plates and bowls for one meal
  • Silverware for one meal
  • A frying pan
  • Glasses for one meal
  • Coffee cups or mugs
  • Coffee pot
  • Cooking utensils (ladle, stirring spoon, meat knife, etc.)
  • Dishcloth
  • Dish soap and wash rag
  • You only need enough dishes for one meal because you’re going to wash them after each use. Pack everything else for the move.

Hispanic woman packing wine glasses

Packing for Safe Keeping

You want to protect your breakable items. So make sure you pack all of your plastic bowls and glasses and other non-breakables separately. Wrap your breakable kitchen items with wash towels and dish cloths.

Pack items you don’t use often in their own boxes. These may include crystal, wine glasses, mixing bowls, cookie sheets, cookbooks, and wall hangings.

Finally, all of your breakables should be packed together tightly and wrapped in paper, towels, or bubble wrap. The key is to keep the glass, china, and other breakable material from banging against each other during the move.

Start collecting the paper, bubble wrap, etc. a week or two before your move so that you have it available when you are packing. Make sure you collect enough boxes before the move, and get plenty of boxes of various sizes to accommodate the successful movement of smaller and larger dishes.

Tips for Managing Space During the Move

Consider the space inside your moving boxes. Put smaller bowls inside larger bowls and stack them. This will take up a lot less space than simply packing all of your kitchen items in random boxes. You can do the same thing with pots and pans. Put your lids for bowls, pots, pans, skillets, and other kitchenware in one box together. Stack them largest to smallest with the larger lids on the bottom. Wrap glass lids with paper.

Keep all your food items together with perishable and nonperishable items in separate boxes or containers.

If you have shelves that can be disassembled, then you should disassemble them for the move. That will take up less space.   

By keeping your kitchen items organized during your move, you will save yourself space, time, and a lot of headaches.

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