Packing is a pain in the backside at the best of times. But packing up your entire life to move to uni or back home at the end of term can be an overwhelming and highly stressful process, especially if not planned and thought out in advance.
Whichever category you find yourself in, you’re going to have to pack up all of your belongings at some point. You’ll probably want to do it in the shortest amount of time possible, so we’ve put together this guide on how to pack up your room in a day.
Step one: Planning
I know, planning to pack up a room hardly sounds like a fun way to spend your time, but it will save you hassle when the time comes. First, make an inventory of what you’ve got in your room and try to remember where you left it. This should give you a good picture of how much stuff you actually have to move.
Then think about what you have to pack your belongings into. Suitcases, rucksacks, storage boxes, cardboard boxes. They all work. Plan out how many cases or boxes you need to take and think about what you can pack into each piece of storage. That way, you know exactly what to do to get packed up.
Top tip: Invest in some good suitcases
Unlike hundreds of bags or back-breaking boxes, invest in some good quality suitcases. They’re durable and have lots of room, whilst the handles and wheels make carrying your belongings much easier. Depending how much you have to bring, you can either buy two big ones or a large suitcase and a smaller suitcase. The best suitcases to keep your packing organised and tidy are the ones with a decent compartment space in the lid.
You may also want to consider taking bin bags. They’re not as glamorous, but I’ve used them on many occasions to move quickly. They’re especially handy for packing clothes and bedding.
Top tip: Protect anything fragile
You may have to pack a few breakable things into your suitcase, so rather than risking any damage, there are a few ways to pack your things carefully. Make sure they’re layered in bubble wrap and tucked carefully into a space where they won’t get crushed or jiggled about. Wrapping laptops and other devices in a towel or some clothes has also saved me from arriving with battered technology.
Step two: Decision making
If you're moving out of your student accommodation, there might be clothing, kitchen items, electronics, toiletries or long-life food that you don’t want. Why not consider donating it at the British Heart Foundation donation point in your property instead of throwing them away?
Top tip: Narrow down your packing list
It’s understandable to want to pack everything you own, either because it’s sentimental to you or for ‘just in case’ you need something. However, you don’t want to take up space in your suitcase for things you won’t need once you move in. Before you start packing, write a list of everything you may want to take with you – as detailed as possible. This way you can decide what items you need and whether you’ll actually have use for them in your new home.
If you’re living with Unite Students, don’t forget that you can save yourself a lot of hassle by ordering a kitchen or bedding pack, which will be waiting for you in your new home when you arrive. This means you wouldn’t have to worry about bringing things like bedding, plates, pans etc.
If you have items that you don’t want to keep, but can’t donate, check to see if you can recycle them before dumping them in the bin and sending them to landfill.
Top tip: Assess your wardrobe
When I first started university, I packed every item of clothing in my wardrobe thinking I would wear it all, I was so wrong! I hardly ever wore them and they simply took up wardrobe space. To avoid packing too many clothes, sort through them and pack items depending on the weather. You’ll mostly need jumpers and jeans from October through to February and March. When the seasons change to spring, you can swap your clothes back to minidresses and shorts after a trip home.
Step three: Execution
When the day arrives to pack up your belongings, you’ll be in a good position thanks to your planning. Make sure you’re clear on what you decided. In fact, you could even take a piece of paper with your plan on. If you have someone with you, make sure they’re familiar with what they need to do.
Top tip: Be smart with your space
Even in large suitcases, it’s very easy to misuse the space you’re given. There are various ways to get your clothes tightly packed in your suitcase, and a great method I like to use is the rolling technique. As the name suggests, this is simply a case of laying an item of clothing flat out on a surface and rolling it into a sausage shape from one end to the other. This minimises the amount of space taken up, but also keeps your clothes from getting too creased.
Another space-saving tip is lining the edge of your suitcase with your shoes and filling them with your socks and underwear. This keeps the central area free for your main items of clothing, and also helps you keep track of where these items are. For shoe packing, keep in mind to pack for the correct weather and wear your heaviest pair on the day of the move so they don’t take up too much room.
Once you’re in your flat, pack any breakables first. This way, you can use clothing or bedding to pad it out. With that out of the way, your next priority should be to gather any valuables and pack them somewhere that you know they’ll be safe.
Now you can pack at a quicker pace. Stuff any clothes and bedding into suitcases and bin bags, then start piling any books, DVDs and other items into boxes. Remember to put aside anything you’d like to donate or recycle, which you can do once you’ve removed everything you want to keep.
Finally, if there’s anything you don’t want to keep and can’t recycle or donate (for example, opened or expired food), make sure you dispose of them properly.
Step four: The final checks
When you have everything loaded into your car or van, you’re almost ready to go. But before you head off, head back up to your flat or your room. This is a chance to double check that you haven’t left anything behind - look under the bed, behind furniture and in drawers and cupboards.
If you’ve got everything, make sure your flat is in a clean and tidy condition, and then you’re good to go. Before leaving, you’ll need to leave your room and letterbox keys at reception.
Putting items into storage
Our partners at LOVESPACE will store your things locally, collecting your boxes and then delivering them back to you in September. Plus, you get £10 off for living with us. Easy. If you need to get your belongings shipped to another location, you may want to see what Baggage Hub can do for you. Better still, you can save 10% if you currently live with us.
