How to pack like a professional

Last Updated on : 26th March 2025

For twenty years, Gentleman & A Van has offered a wide range of services including a Man and Van service for smaller moves through to a team of specialists who will organise, pack and unpack your belongings. Whether you’re moving home, relocating your business, or simply need a large item moved from one location to another, Gentleman & A Van has a service that’s perfectly tailored to your needs. The dedicated team can handle any type of moving job in London and the surrounding areas, and their state-of-the-art container storage warehouse can cater for all your storage requirements too. If you’re downsizing or just need some time to figure things out, they’ll take your belongings and store them securely until you’ve made a plan.

If you’re planning a move, check out these top tips from Gentleman & A Van to ensure you pack like a professional.

Artwork/Mirrors: Ensure you protect the corners with corner protectors. Pack the mirror in packing paper and then bubble wrap for a cushioned layer. Then fold a sturdy box flat, taping up the bottom edge to make a pocket, and slide the artwork or mirror in. Artworks and mirrors are best transported upright (not flat) to minimise the risk of adding pressure which can lead to cracking. Remember to label the box with ‘Fragile’ and add an up arrow to indicate how it should be placed.

Books: Book boxes can become very heavy very quickly so to avoid this, opt for smaller boxes and don’t over pack! Make sure any gaps are filled to prevent the items shifting during transportation.

Clothes: To keep your clothes fresh and free of wrinkles, use wardrobe boxes so they are ready to hang back up as soon as they arrive at your new home. Lining boxes with tissue paper is a great way to protect delicate fabrics. Make sure you place heavier clothing at the bottom and lighter pieces at the top. Label the boxes with the room they came from.

Glassware & China: Individually wrapping each piece using tissue paper will protect the delicate items during transportation. Larger items can be wrapped in bubble wrap for extra protection. Some people use newspaper but be careful because it can leave ink stains. Line the box with bubble wrap for extra protection. When packing plates, load them into the box vertically as, like the artwork/mirrors, this will reduce pressure and minimise the cracking risk. Remember to label these boxes as fragile.

Mark Godman, founder of Gentleman & A Van, is “A well packed box should not rattle. Cushion the bottom of each box, wrap each item individually, pack tightly and top it off with protection. It’s a technique we’ve perfected over decades of moving London’s most delicate treasures.”

Overall

Make sure you have the right materials. Strong double walled boxes, high quality packing tape, bubble wrap, and protective blankets will all help to keep your items safe.
Label everything. Label or even colour code the labels by room and include a summary of the contents, to ensure easy unpacking.
Don’t overfill boxes. Fill the gaps to prevent any shifting during transportation and ensure your boxes stay under 20kg to keep them manageable.
Pack a first night box. Essentials like toiletries, clothes, breakfast and chargers are to hand.
Extra tip – photograph complex electronics set ups, to make reassembly easier.

“Packing is an art. It’s about protecting people’s memories, not just objects. That’s why we handle each item very carefully, just as we would our own.” – Daniel Pinks, Senior Packer at Gentleman & A Van.