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How to Pack Photos and Art for a Move

This post part of my #MoveItOrLoseIt series, where I share my best moving tips with you. Find links to more moving tips at the end of this page! I'm showing you how to wrap your artwork and photos for your upcoming move! Also there's one live plant packing tip! SWEET! The great thing about my tips are that if you decide not to unpack these items right away, you'll be fine to keep them as they are until you're ready - even if that's months from now.


 

LOOSE PHOTOS


Girl, we gotta talk about all these loose hard copies of photos laying around your place. What is your intention with these photos? Scrapbooking? Make a photo album? Digitize them? All great ideas. Regardless of what your intentions are, be honest with yourself that unless you hire someone to do it for you, it is not going to happen before you move. Because priorities. Wrangle ALL your unframed photos you have in drawers, cabinets, and boxes and put them all in one container labeled "photos". If you have time to break it down by date/event/person then BLESS YOU. But the true goal right now is to put the photos all together so that when you need to find a photo, you're looking in one container, not 5 locations.


Our photo bin lives in our memorabilia bin because we have limited storage. If you have more space I'd encourage you to keep it out on a shelf so you can easily access it.



 

FRAMED PHOTOS


Most framed photos can be easily wrapped, without needing tape. Simply use whatever type of packing material you have available to wrap your framed photo into a little burrito. The first tip is to clean your photos before you pack them - don't pack dusty photos!


My example below is a basic 4x6 photo of my Nana - she's drinking out of a mug that reads "There may be wine in this..." and it's one of my favorite photos. Just fold the paper into the middle, toward the frame, tucking the top and bottoms in last, to create a snug little burrito blanket for your frame. Then label that baby (see next example).


For slightly larger frames, you can do the same method if you have large enough paper. I only have one size, so I improved by taping together paper and wrapped it with the half-ass spirit of Christmas. Label the top of the frame and the front of the frame. - You'll see why in the next section!



Now that you've labeled and wrapped all your framed art, now it's time to pack it safely inside either your box or container. Line the bottom of your box with paper for a cushion. In case of any butter-fingers moments, you'll have a little built-in protection. Stand the art up on its short end, so you can read the label you wrote at the top. fill the box as much as you are able and pad empty space with packing paper. (This reduces things shifting inside and breaking) Label the box generically "Framed Photos & Art" OR Label them based on the room form which they were packed. Now, bask in the glory of what you've just done. It's now SUPER easy to see what you have. Take a photo of the box before you tape it closed for easy future reference about the boxes contents.



 

PACKING LARGE ART


For rectangular/tall art, consider using a tall garment box (with paper padding on the bottom) and stand the art up on its short end. (See top two photos below) You can choose to wrap the art in paper or not, for extra protection. For larger/square art, you can either purchase a Large TV cardboard box OR use the cardboard you already have to Frankenstein a large enough case to protect the art. For the TV box, you can either: 1. Travel a few pieces inside the box as it's intended to be used 2. Use the two pieces as their own boxes. Just pad the top and tape it closed.


BONUS PACKING TIP: Tall plants can travel in tall garment boxes too! If it's a live plant, keep the top open for air and light.


Well, those are my super awesome tips for packing your art and photos! If you liked this, be sure to check out my other blog posts that are part of the #moveitorloseit series! How to Declutter Before a Move - ft. Missy Elliott

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