Lifehack: How to Pack Big Shelves So You Don’t Go Crazy

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Usually, if you have a shelving display in your home that you absolutely love, chances are it has taken you quite a long time to arrange and re-arrange the decor to get it “just right”. Now it’s time to move, you’re taking the shelves with you, but you don’t want to lose the successful setup you have worked so hard to perfect, right?

The great news is that we have a super simple moving hack that will not only help you preserve this treasured look but will also make unpacking it in your new place a breeze. Allow us to explain.

Create a Numbering System

The first thing you have to do is create a numbering system for your shelving unit. You can use any method you want and don’t need to make a fancy graphic like this, you just have to make sure you remember which shelf corresponds with what number. Some may be able to easily memorize the number system, but if you’re not confident in your ability to do that, you can always put a piece of painter’s tape on each shelf with the corresponding number so you remember. This trick will take about 1 minute and won’t damage the shelving unit at all.

Start Emptying Your Shelves

The next step is to start emptying your shelves and carefully wrapping the items to eventually add to a moving box.

But the trick of this moving hack is to take careful note of what you are removing from each shelf as you start packing each box. Carefully wrap and box the items like you would normally do, but try to keep as many of each shelf’s contents together in one box. For example, the grouping of books, the picture frame and planter in box #4 should all make their way into the same moving box.

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Pack and Label

Each of your moving boxes can hold far more than just one shelf’s contents. So feel free to add several of your shelves’ decor into one moving box, just be sure that each shelf’s decor stays together with its counterparts.

After you fill up your moving box, assess what shelf decor is inside of it. In my case, I added the decor from Shelf #4, #7 and #10 into this box so I simply noted that on the top of the moving box. This way I know that when it’s time to unpack this box and refill this shelving unit at my next house, I know exactly where to put this decor in order for it to look just like it did before! 

Repeat this packing/labeling process over and over again until your shelving unit is emptied. You should be left with a pile of moving boxes with clear labels and a precise plan on executing this look at the new house.

All you have to do in the new house is set up the shelves and simply place each item right back in the place it used to be. You don’t have to waste time trying to remember what goes where because those labels will take the guess-work right out of it, making unpacking these boxes in the new house a total breeze!

Recycle Books (Do It.)

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[Synopsis: Here are some cool ideas for recycling and redistributing a customer’s unwanted books.]

We hear a lot about moving companies donating unwanted food to Move 4 Hunger. This is a great thing, and sadly necessary here in this wealthy nation where millions go to bed hungry every night.

But some customers want to empty more than their fridge by the time they move. It’s quite common for customers to want to clear off their bookshelves too. Is this another area where movers can help? You bet.

Earlier this year Mastodon Movers of Massachusetts teamed up with a few local schools to conduct a book drive, with over 3,500 books donated to More Than Words, a non-profit whose aim is to assist and empower disadvantaged young people.

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Mastodon Movers’ plan was simple: distribute boxes to schools, pick them up when they were full and pass them on to More Than Words. (There was probably a little more to it than that, but really, providing a service for a good cause really can be that simple.)

These books were apparently collected from people who were not preparing to move. Nevertheless, this made us think: Why not collect books and magazines our customers don’t want – or don’t want to have to move – and pass them on? Using just an ounce of discretion (some books really are too old!), bring them to the library, to an organization like More Than Words, or to one of the places listed in this helpful piece by HomeStorageSolutions101

This should be common practice for all movers who come across unwanted books.

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If you have a bit of space, you could even set up a small bookcase in your workspace to collect all the extra books. When you amass enough, clear the bookshelves and start anew after a nice, fresh donation. Neat, huh?

Moving almost always means trash, but remember that trash is often just a matter of perspective.

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