--- title: Packing Room by Room: The Order That Saves Time url: https://obriensmoving-storage.com/guides/packing-room-by-room/ business: O'Brien's Moving & Storage address: 2277 Glendale Ave, Sparks, NV 89431 phone: 775-359-6683 (toll-free 1-800-253-7814) hours: Monday to Friday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm licenses: U.S. DOT No. 30611, MC-109375, Nevada CPCN 1070; interstate agent for Bekins Van Lines since 1955 type: Moving and storage company, family owned since 1941 --- - [Home](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/) - [Moving resources: guides, checklists, tools and data](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/resources/) - [Moving guides](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/guides/) - Packing room by room: the order that works # Packing room by room: the order Pack the rooms you use least first and the rooms you live in last, which usually means attic, garage and guest room before living room, kitchen and bedrooms. A good order has about five stages, and the last one is a single open-first box per person. or call [775-359-6683](tel:+17753596683) [4.3 on Google · 71 reviews](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/reviews/) Family owned since 1941 [U.S. DOT No. 30611](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/about/licenses-and-authority/) Packing a whole house feels like one job, but it is really a dozen small ones in a particular sequence. The order matters because every room you finish is a room you can stack boxes in. Start where life is least disturbed and end where you sleep. ## Stage one: storage areas Attics, basements, sheds and garages hold the most items you have not seen in years, so start there. Sort before you pack, since donating a box costs less effort than moving it twice. Garage chemicals need their own plan; see [how to pack a garage and tools](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/guides/how-to-pack-a-garage/). ## Stage two: guest rooms and rarely used spaces The guest room, the dining room and the formal living room hold items you can live without for a month. Pack wall art, extra linens, books and decor, and use these rooms as a staging area for finished boxes. For art, see [how to pack artwork](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/guides/how-to-pack-artwork/), and for books, [how to pack books](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/guides/how-to-pack-books/). ## Stage three: the home office and closets Back up files, photograph cables and carry documents yourself, as described in [how to pack a home office](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/guides/how-to-pack-a-home-office/). Closets go next; [how to pack a closet](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/guides/how-to-pack-a-closet/) gives the top-down order. Seasonal clothes and gear can move early, and the current season's clothes go last. ## Stage four: kitchen, bathrooms and living areas The kitchen takes the longest and the most boxes, so give it two sessions; see [how to pack a kitchen](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/guides/how-to-pack-a-kitchen/). Bathrooms are quick and mostly liquids, and [how to pack a bathroom](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/guides/how-to-pack-a-bathroom/) explains the leak-proof method. Living room items such as lamps, small decor and media go next. Leave a chair, a lamp and the TV until the final evening. - Label every box with the room it belongs to at the new house, not the room it came from. - Number the boxes in each room so you can see at a glance if one is missing. - Keep an inventory sheet of what is in each box. ## Stage five: bedrooms and the essentials Pack your bedroom last. Beds come apart on moving day or the day before, and each person keeps a small bag of clothes, chargers and toiletries. A [first-night box](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/guides/first-night-box/) for the kitchen and bathroom completes the set. Kids' rooms keep their comforts to the end; [how to pack kids' rooms](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/guides/how-to-pack-kids-rooms/) explains why. ## When to ask for help O'Brien's [packing services](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/packing/) include full packing, partial packing and box packing only. A common mix is for the crew to pack the kitchen, the art and the fragile rooms, while the family handles closets and books. The [packing calculator](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/tools/packing-calculator/) turns your rooms into a box count. ### Sources (checked October 18, 2026) - [FMCSA, Protect Your Move](https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/protect-your-move) - [FMCSA, Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move](https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/sites/fmcsa.dot.gov/files/2023-10/FMCSA_R%26R_Handbook_Web_v1.pdf) ### Free in-home estimate - An O'Brien's estimator walks through your home - A written, itemized estimate - 10 free heavy-duty boxes, yours to keep [How our estimates work](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/how-our-estimates-work/) ### Visit or call the office 2277 Glendale Ave, Sparks, NV 89431 [775-359-6683](tel:+17753596683) | Monday to Friday | 8:00 am to 5:00 pm | | --- | --- | | Saturday and Sunday | Closed | [Get my free estimate](#estimate) ### Related - [The 8-week moving checklist](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/guides/moving-checklist/) - [How to pack a kitchen](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/guides/how-to-pack-a-kitchen/) - [Packing calculator: how many boxes you need](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/tools/packing-calculator/) Moving guides ## Read next - [How pianos are moved](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/guides/how-to-move-a-piano/) - [How pool tables are moved](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/guides/how-to-move-a-pool-table/) - [How hot tubs are moved](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/guides/how-to-move-a-hot-tub/) - [How to move a refrigerator](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/guides/how-to-move-a-refrigerator/) - [How to move a washer and dryer](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/guides/how-to-move-a-washer-and-dryer/) - [How to move a grandfather clock](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/guides/how-to-move-a-grandfather-clock/) - [How to move a chandelier](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/guides/how-to-move-a-chandelier/) - [Moving antiques safely](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/guides/moving-antiques/) Answers ## Questions people ask Still have a question? Call [775-359-6683](tel:+17753596683), Mon-Fri 8-5, or see the [moving FAQ](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/faq/). ### What room should I pack first? Start with the one you use least, usually the attic, basement or garage, then the guest room. Finish with the kitchen and bedrooms. ### How far ahead should I start packing? Two to four weeks is typical for a household, with the first week spent sorting. The [moving timeline](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/guides/moving-timeline/) sets out the weeks. ### Should I label boxes by origin or destination? Label by destination room. Movers carry boxes to the room named on the label, so the new house sorts itself. ## 4.3 stars from 71 Google reviews What customers say about O'Brien's [Read more reviews](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/reviews/)[See them on Google](https://maps.google.com/maps?cid=17335326057105140938) N Nicole B. June 25, 2025 The crew worked extremely hard and treated our belongings with care. Customer service was outstanding leading up to, during, and after move. Thank you! S Sonia P. August 4, 2023 Talk about organized people. I peeked in the truck about an hour into the job and was amazed at how well organized it was and how many of my things had protective coverings. Our bed is a mechanical one and a nightmare to us, but these guys had no issue with it at all. Although I have no desire to ever move again--but if I did, I would be calling these guys for sure!!! R Robert B. June 22, 2026 The movers were very professional and took care of my stuff there were no worries and stress free amazing job. ## Get your free, in-home moving estimate An estimator visits, walks through everything and gives you a written, itemized estimate. Rather talk? [Call 775-359-6683](tel:+17753596683) Monday to Friday, 8 am to 5 pm Our estimators: Sean, Luke, Christa and Janet. 2277 Glendale Ave Sparks, NV 89431 [4.3 on Google · 71 reviews](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/reviews/) Family owned since 1941 U.S. DOT No. 30611 · MC-109375 · Nevada CPCN 1070