Heavy, little objects such as books, records, tins, bottles, cutlery, heavy food (rice, sugar, etc.) and heavy ornaments should be packed in smaller boxes. Long-stemmed glasses, delicate ornaments, extremely fragile china, glasses, and miniature photographs should all be packed in these boxes. The majority of books should be packed flat. They can be packed on their edges, but not with the opening facing down, as this could cause the binding to break. Photographs and records should be filled to the brim. Make sure the bottle tops are secure and that the bottles are packed upright.

Most other household belongings, such as pots, pans, glass, porcelain, ornaments, photos, clothing, food, and so on, are stored in medium-sized boxes. When packing china plates, arrange them on their edges, never flat, in batches of three or four on the bottom of the box, with paper between each dish. Fill the box with heavy china, Pyrex, mugs, bowls, vases, and other items until it reaches the bottom. Place glass and china on top of this (pack glasses upright.) Fill the boxes to the brim with soft goods like pillows, cushions, towels, and cuddly toys to fill any empty space on top. Placing soft objects between each layer of china is also a good idea. Keep the boxes square and in shape by not overfilling them.

Lighter items, such as clothing, light linens, shoes, bedding, toys, and board games, should be packed in larger boxes. Light pots and pans can easily be packed in these containers. Keep a few large boxes aside for packing your current bedding, and label them BED 1, BEDDING, so they’re easy to find when it’s time to make up the beds at your new home.