The Best Space Saving Hacks to Utilize When Moving

When you are moving, saving space and staying organized is essential. These space-saving packing hacks can help you stay organized throughout your move.

When you want to be efficient and maximize the available space during your move, it is important to plan and pack strategically. From implementing efficient packing methods to choosing space-saving storage furniture, space-saving packing hacks can help reduce the stress related to moving and make both packing and unpacking much easier. 

Planning Your Move with Space-Saving Moving Hacks 

Before rolling a towel or taping a box, packing efficiently for your move starts with thorough preparation and a clear set of space-saving guidelines that can help you keep your belongings safe and in order. 

Declutter Before You Pack 

Let's face it — most of us have a lot of “stuff,” and not all of it is needed or used. Moving provides the perfect opportunity to take an inventory of all those belongings and eliminate items you don’t need to save both space and reduce stress in your new home. Decluttering your home before you pack can be a time-intensive task, but it’s worthwhile, especially if you haven’t moved in years. You don’t want to go to the trouble and expense of packing and moving items you never intend to use again.

The most basic approach to decluttering is to tackle it room by room. As you go, create piles of items to recycle, donate, or throw away. This process should include purging areas such as closets and junk drawers that tend to be the most cluttered spaces because they are, as they say, “out of sight, and out of mind.” 

Smart Packing Techniques for Space Optimization 

When it comes to saving space when packing for a move, one category of items —clothing and linens — stands out for its helpful potential. Because these items are soft and basically unbreakable, they come with some specific packing hacks you can use to reduce their volume. 

First, always roll your clothes rather than fold them. This is a great tip when packing for travel as well because rolled clothing takes up to 50% less space than folded clothing and can generally be transported this way with fewer wrinkles. Consider nesting smaller items of clothing within larger items and then using rubber bands or hair ties to keep them tight and together. Utilize your suitcases as well by placing rolled clothing inside suitcases for transport to your new home. 

The second hack you can use for clothing and linens is compression. You can save space this way using tools such as packing cubes, compression bags, and vacuum storage bags. In each case, you compress soft, more voluminous items like coats, bedding, and duvets by taking out the air surrounding them and decreasing the space they occupy.

Space Saving Organization for Moving Day 

While using packing hacks ahead of time is an important first step, once the big day arrives, there are a few additional hacks you can use to keep your belongings organized and save space during your move. 

Label and Categorize Boxes for Organization and Efficiency 

As you pack, make sure that you clearly label and organize your boxes by room as well as contents. This way, on moving day, you can strategically place all items into a moving truck or pod so that they come out in those same categories. This will ensure that all your items get to the right space in your new home and prevent confusion and wasted time when unpacking. 

In addition, it’s a good idea to pack a few bags or boxes separately with daily use items such as basic kitchen supplies, toiletries, first aid supplies, and cleaning materials. Keep these daily use items with you or toward the back of the moving truck (so they come off first). That way, if there is any delay in unpacking or unloading your items, you can still find and use these key essentials. 

Use Packing Materials Efficiently 

Another great way to save space during your move is to use the items that you are moving to complement each other. You may have more packing materials available than you think, thus saving time and money. It's always good practice to make the most of the items you have on hand.

Multi-Purpose Packing 

One of the most common and most used packing hacks is multi-purpose packing where you use items you already own to serve as insulation and support for more fragile pieces. For example, wrapping picture frames in towels to protect them is popular. You can also use clothing to provide padding for fragile items inside boxes and blankets to protect the outside of larger items like furniture. 

Pack Boxes Carefully 

Another important packing hack to note is the importance of balance. Although it is tempting to try and fit as many items as possible into one box, this is not always the safest option. Of course, you want to make sure to utilize as much space as possible, but it’s also important to consider the weight of boxes and give items enough room to avoid damage. 

Invest in Space-Saving Storage Furniture 

It’s a little more expensive, but investing in space-saving storage furniture is another great hack for packing when you move as well as for staying organized once you get to your new home. Especially when space is tight, planning your interior decorating and design in a way that takes space into consideration can help keep everything in its place as well as contribute to an overall sense of organization in your home. 

Multi-Functional Furniture Pieces 

One way to save space at home is to use multi-functional furniture pieces that provide hidden storage options. These pieces double as space-saving moving hacks because you can use those storage spaces in lieu of boxes. Popular storage furniture options include coffee tables, ottomans, and tables. 

Space-Saving Tricks for Small Places 

Once you are in your new space, the type of furniture you choose as well as where you place it can also have a huge influence on organization and space. Consider adding items such as vertical hanging solutions, wall shelving, over the door storage, and rolling bins to your home to maximize the space you have. 

Make Moving Stress-Free by Utilizing Space-Saving Hacks 

Taking care to plan and pack strategically is critical if you want to save space during your move as well as in your new home. Everything from how you roll your clothing to the type of furniture you have (and how you use it) can affect the amount of space you need in a truck or self-storage unit when moving. 

Of course, while space-saving hacks are helpful to everyone getting ready to move, sometimes the only way to ensure that everything is done right is to invest in residential moving assistance. Mabey’s Moving and Storage is a domestic and international moving company based out of Albany, NY. Our years of experience moving people locally and all around the world has helped us become a Capital District leader in moving and storage. We can provide guidance to help you enhance your space-saving hacks even more. Contact us today to learn more about our services and for a free quote.