How to Sort and Pack a Messy Room When Moving

Packing for a household move is a lot easier in a tidy room. But what if it’s a giant mess? How do you tackle the piles and stacks?

Whether it’s a kid’s room, your basement, or even the house of a loved one, getting the mess under control is key. Here are a few things you can do.

Make a Plan

To make any progress, you’re going to need a plan. There are many ways to organize a messy room, but not all of them will work for your space.

You can start by filling up a bunch of bins and taking them to another room. You can also pick a corner and dive in piece by piece. You can even hire a professional organizer to do it for you.

Whatever you do, be consistent. If you try to do too many things at once, you may end up with a bigger mess.

Create a Clean Space

If you can’t find an inch of clear floor space, it’s time to make it. You might even want to set up a folding table.

You’re going to need room for sorting. You can clear out a clean space on the floor or use a table large enough for boxes.

In some cases, the clean space might have to be in another room. For example, if you find the messy room too overwhelming, using another room can help you create calm for sorting and packing.

Sort as You Go

To pack the mess, you’ll need to sort it. Otherwise, you’re just saving the problem for after the move.

If you don’t have boxes ready to go for packing, use bins or baskets. You can even make piles of like items if you have to. Make sure you can tell them apart, so you don’t have to sort again.

If you’re not sure how to sort clutter, you can start with the easy items. Trash goes first. Oversized, lightweight things go next. By then, you’ll have some room to sort smaller stuff.

Stay Positive

The worst thing about decluttering is that it often gets worse before it gets better. When you’re moving in a hurry, you might feel the stress and despair faster.

Nip it in the bud by finding ways to stay positive. Take pictures of your progress. Reward yourself for achieving small goals, like getting all the trash out or clearing the closet.

If you need to, get help from a friend or family member. Call someone on the phone or Skype chat about your vacation plans.

Pack Efficiently

Messy rooms take longer to pack than tidy ones. But you still should pack in a way that makes sense.

Avoid the temptation to throw everything in and slap some tape on it. Instead, enlist a helper to wrap delicate items while working on the big stuff or vice versa.

Label the boxes with the contents and room. You’ll avoid building a box mountain in your new home that way.

Tackle Your Household Move

Messy rooms can be challenging, but you can get them ready to move. Contact us to learn more about how we can help simplify your move.