Even if you’re not a huge book fan, but you have many, then you still need to know how to pack books for moving in the best way possible. 

Why? Because books are tricky to pack:

• They occupy a lot of space because of their size. 
• Hardcovers are usually pretty heavy.
• Paperback editions can be fragile, especially if you’re not careful with the edges.

That’s why it’s important to know how to pack books for moving. You need to make sure the packaging is appropriate and can hold that many books. Then you need to pack them the right way in order for them to not be damaged during transportation. And of course, let’s not forget sorting and labeling them. 

So if you care about your books and you want to make sure they make it safe and sound to your new place, here is how to pack books for moving:

Size down your book collection before packing

First thing first. Size down!

I know, a tragedy! But trust me, it’s better in the long run, you will have a cleaner, more organized space….and more room for new books!

I recommend going through your whole collection and checking to see if there are any books you don’t want or don’t need anymore. If you’re stuck on the how, I’ve actually written a short, but comprehensive guide on How to declutter books. Check out the article for more details!

Group the books before packing them

If you want to make your life easier when you have to unpack, think of a way to organize them before actually packaging them.

There are many ways to go about:

1. It can be by type of books: Hardcovers and Paperbacks. I don’t particularly recommend this option because you will end up with heavy boxes (with the hardcovers) and lightweight boxes (with the paperbacks), and too bad for the people who will have to carry the heavy ones. 
2. You could also try packing them by author. Especially if you have large collections of prolific authors like Stephen King.
3. I also recommend the genres option. Young adults in one box, non-fiction in another, and so on.

Either way, think about how you will organize them in the new place, and pack them accordingly, to make your life easier. 

How to pack books in BOXES

The first and obvious choice of packaging are BOXES. 

Preferably, sturdy, medium-size cardboard boxes that are sealed with sturdy packing tape on the bottom and the top. 

Before actually starting to pack, make sure the boxes are not damp, because then they will ruin the books. Also, have a marker on hand to label each box. 

How to pack hardcover books in boxes

The easiest way to do that is to place the hardcovers in the box standing upright, with the spine against the box’s side part. Exactly like you would arrange them on a shelf. 

How to pack paperback books in boxes

The paperbacks can be packed in flat stacks, one on top of the other. Or you can set them spine first in order for the paper edges to face up. That way, you will avoid bending the pages. 

How to pack books in SUITCASES

Yes, you’ve read that right. You can pack books in suitcases. I’ve done it before. 

It’s not exactly convenient or efficient, but you can do it, in certain circumstances. 

For example, I had two large suitcases that I would fill up with books every day and take them to the new place. I was in a particularly lucky scenario where I wasn’t in a hurry to move all in one go, so I took my time packing and transporting my things, and I could afford to transport only two suitcases a day. I know most people are not that lucky, so you might not like this option. 

But if you can, or if you have extra suitcases you can use on the day of the move, just stack the books on top of each other and trolly them to your new home. 

How to transport the books

The books are packed, labeled and ready to go to the new place. But how will they get them to the new place? There are multiple options, but the two most frequently used ones are 

• Transporting them yourself (with your car or a rented van), or
• Hiring a moving company.

I definitely recommend hiring a local moving company, like Fresh Start – The Moving Crew Springfield,. They’re considered to be one of the most trusted moving companies out there and have great reviews. They do residential and commercial moving in Springfield MA and surrounding areas, and they have 8+ years of experience. If you’re in the area, check them out!

All in all, moving companies are great because they will literally do the heavy lifting for you. Moreover, it will save you money and time and effort. Win-win on both sides. 

So this is! Now it’s time to start packing! I hope this blog post helped you; let me know in the comment how you prefer to pack books for moving!

The post How to pack books for moving appeared first on Cozy Home Hacks.

I, for one, can’t wait to go on mine. I actually have two summer vacations planned: one is just a weekend away at the seaside (we live about 2.5-3 hours next to the sea), and the second one is a longer one, a one week road trip. Counting the days!

Since I’ve always loved to travel and I had the privilege and opportunity to do so, I’ve gotten used to packing fairly quickly. By quick, I mean I’m usually done in 30 min to an hour, tops, depending on the length of the trip. 

But I always manage to forget something, or don’t even think to bring it in the first place. For example, on my last trip, I forgot to bring tweezers, and I had two strays that bugged me for 3 whole days before I caved in and brought a cheap one from the supermarket to resolve the situation. (Guess who just added tweezers to her list of summer vacation packing?)

So I’ve decided to create a packing checklist for summer vacations, based on my previous experiences. Here is how to pack for summer vacations, I hope it helps you pack better and faster, so you won’t forget anything and the whole process doesn’t stress you out:

How To Pack for Summer Vacation

CLOTHES

The key tip on how to pack for summer vacation that I can give, especially when it comes to clothes, is to plan your outfits. 

Let’s say you are gone for three days. Think of three outfits, top + bottom. 

If you want to save space, you can wear one pair of jeans for two days and the third day you’ll wear a dress. So instead of three pairs of pants and three tops, you will have one pair of pants, two tops and one dress. 4 items instead of 6. More room for souvenirs and shopping, am I right? 

Besides your daily outfits, don’t forget pajamas, socks, underwear (bras and panties). Maybe an outfit for late nights or days you stay inside, if you’re staying in, and not visiting and walking all day.  Or a car drive outfit, if you’re going on a road trip (more tips on how to prepare for road trips here).

If you’ve already reserved a meal at a fancy restaurant, maybe grab a special outfit for that night, too.

And of course, don’t forget bathing suits and cover-ups. I recommend at least 2 bathing suits, for diversity and for wetting reasons. 

SHOES & ACCESSORIES

This section of “how to pack for summer vacation” will look different according to taste, destination, comfort level, etc. You choose what you know you need and want. 

Flip Flops will be mandatory if you’re going to the pool / seaside, and so will sunglasses. 

Maybe you won’t need beach towels, so check to see if your hotel provides them. 

TOILETRIES

This is a rather important section of your luggage. You definitely need a toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, even SPF, if you’re going to the beach. 

Otherwise, some things you can leave behind, if you want to pack light. For example, you might be able to skip body wash, shampoo and conditioner, if the hotel provides them. 

The rest is up to you. For example, makeup. How to pack for summer vacation when it comes to makeup? Well, you might only bring a CC cream, a concealer and a mascara. Or you might have a separate bag just for your makeup products. Your choice. (Just make sure you have room for them in your luggage)

MISCELLANEOUS 

Then we have the “Others” category. This includes electronics, chargers, entertainment, and the little things that you usually keep in your purse / carry on, like documents, lip balm, tissues, and so on. 

The two most important items of this list are, by far, the phone charger and the travel documents. Definitely don’t forget those!

And that’s it. That’s how to pack for summer vacation! The printable above should help you pack everything you need! Let me know in the comments if I missed anything!

The post How to pack for summer vacation + Packing Checklist appeared first on Cozy Home Hacks.