How to Pare Down and Pack Up Before Installing New Flooring
Upgrading your home with new flooring will make your space considerably more comfortable, appealing and up to date. However, installing new floors in a furnished home can be complicated, since furniture, decor and other items must be removed before the project begins.
Before the installation date, I recommend scheduling time to pare down your belongings and pack the remaining items in an organized fashion. This can be a time-consuming process, so I suggest starting several days before the installers arrive. If you are intentional about culling your possessions, your new space can be free from clutter and filled only with items you truly love. Read on for a room-by-room approach to paring down and packing up your belongings.
Before You Start
Some floor installers include furniture moving in their price, while others charge extra for this service. Generally, floor installers know how to move furniture from room to room with little disruption to your life. Other installers do not move furniture. In that case, you can either hire someone or move the furniture yourself. However, no matter who does the heavy lifting, you’ll most likely be responsible for packing and moving plants, lamps and other smaller items from the room.
Whether you’re updating the floors in your entire house or just one room, a reputable flooring company should be able to advise you on the best furniture-removal options for your situation.
Some floor installers include furniture moving in their price, while others charge extra for this service. Generally, floor installers know how to move furniture from room to room with little disruption to your life. Other installers do not move furniture. In that case, you can either hire someone or move the furniture yourself. However, no matter who does the heavy lifting, you’ll most likely be responsible for packing and moving plants, lamps and other smaller items from the room.
Whether you’re updating the floors in your entire house or just one room, a reputable flooring company should be able to advise you on the best furniture-removal options for your situation.
Living and Family Room
I recommend having sturdy boxes, packing paper and packing tape on hand. You most likely won’t be moving the boxes out of your home, so heavy-duty moving boxes probably won’t be necessary. Label one box for donations and have a large trash bag available.
To start, slowly walk around the room and consider your decor — lamps, decorative pillows and throws. Decide if you want to refresh some of your belongings to go with your updated flooring. I recommend also taking a photo of your living room and viewing it on your phone or computer screen. Compare your space to your favorite Houzz photos. This might depersonalize your room and make it easier to cull your possessions.
After removing items you want to donate, wrap lamps and other fragile items in packing paper and place them in boxes. Use small boxes to pack heavy items like books for easier lifting. Label the outside of each box with a list of its contents and the room it came from. Store boxes in the garage, basement or another room in your house. Hopefully, the floor installation will take only a few days, so keep the boxes fairly accessible.
I recommend having sturdy boxes, packing paper and packing tape on hand. You most likely won’t be moving the boxes out of your home, so heavy-duty moving boxes probably won’t be necessary. Label one box for donations and have a large trash bag available.
To start, slowly walk around the room and consider your decor — lamps, decorative pillows and throws. Decide if you want to refresh some of your belongings to go with your updated flooring. I recommend also taking a photo of your living room and viewing it on your phone or computer screen. Compare your space to your favorite Houzz photos. This might depersonalize your room and make it easier to cull your possessions.
After removing items you want to donate, wrap lamps and other fragile items in packing paper and place them in boxes. Use small boxes to pack heavy items like books for easier lifting. Label the outside of each box with a list of its contents and the room it came from. Store boxes in the garage, basement or another room in your house. Hopefully, the floor installation will take only a few days, so keep the boxes fairly accessible.
Dining Room
You probably won’t need to pack the contents of a built-in bar, hutch or china cabinet. However, it will be necessary to wrap and pack breakables stored in stand-alone furniture. Before packing up a china cabinet or hutch, consider donating duplicate or never-used items. Review your table linens, place mats and napkins and think about culling pieces or sets that are stained or discolored. Dispose of broken candles and chipped glasses or stemware.
If you have a freestanding bar cart or liquor cabinet, it may be time to declutter its contents. Not all liquor can be stored indefinitely. Dispose of old bottles and wrap the remaining ones and place them in a sturdy box for safekeeping.
You probably won’t need to pack the contents of a built-in bar, hutch or china cabinet. However, it will be necessary to wrap and pack breakables stored in stand-alone furniture. Before packing up a china cabinet or hutch, consider donating duplicate or never-used items. Review your table linens, place mats and napkins and think about culling pieces or sets that are stained or discolored. Dispose of broken candles and chipped glasses or stemware.
If you have a freestanding bar cart or liquor cabinet, it may be time to declutter its contents. Not all liquor can be stored indefinitely. Dispose of old bottles and wrap the remaining ones and place them in a sturdy box for safekeeping.
Kitchen
It’s easy to pack up a kitchen that’s getting just new flooring. It’s not necessary to empty the contents of cabinets and drawers. Simply remove floor mats, trash cans, counter stools, pet bowls and any other items kept on the floor.
It’s easy to pack up a kitchen that’s getting just new flooring. It’s not necessary to empty the contents of cabinets and drawers. Simply remove floor mats, trash cans, counter stools, pet bowls and any other items kept on the floor.
Primary Bedroom
I recommend tucking small items displayed on dressers and bedside tables into a sock or T-shirt drawer for safekeeping. Wrap larger items in packing paper and store in a box.
If you’re getting new flooring in your closets, remove shoes, laundry hampers and other items. Consider tossing any shoes that are uncomfortable or worn out. If you have space, consider storing the remaining shoes on the shelves at the top of your closet.
Don’t forget to remove any items under your bed. Some of my clients store old wall decor there. If you don’t think you’ll ever hang these pieces again, consider letting them go.
I recommend tucking small items displayed on dressers and bedside tables into a sock or T-shirt drawer for safekeeping. Wrap larger items in packing paper and store in a box.
If you’re getting new flooring in your closets, remove shoes, laundry hampers and other items. Consider tossing any shoes that are uncomfortable or worn out. If you have space, consider storing the remaining shoes on the shelves at the top of your closet.
Don’t forget to remove any items under your bed. Some of my clients store old wall decor there. If you don’t think you’ll ever hang these pieces again, consider letting them go.
Child’s Room
You’ll need to remove freestanding bookshelves, toy baskets and other storage containers from your child’s room and closet. Anything hanging in the closet can remain in place.
Consider using this time to cull toys or books your child has outgrown or doesn’t play with anymore. Some children have a hard time letting go of toys. However, many of my clients’ children feel overwhelmed with too many toys and are happy to donate some of their possessions. You may be pleasantly surprised by your child’s reaction to letting go of a few things.
You’ll need to remove freestanding bookshelves, toy baskets and other storage containers from your child’s room and closet. Anything hanging in the closet can remain in place.
Consider using this time to cull toys or books your child has outgrown or doesn’t play with anymore. Some children have a hard time letting go of toys. However, many of my clients’ children feel overwhelmed with too many toys and are happy to donate some of their possessions. You may be pleasantly surprised by your child’s reaction to letting go of a few things.
Home Office
My clients often have large shelves of books and decor in their home offices. If the shelves are built-in, the items can remain in place during the floor installation. However, if the bookshelves are standalone pieces of furniture, books and decor must be packed.
For many people, myself included, books can be difficult to part with — especially old favorites or sentimental volumes. However, some books, such as out-of-date business books, self-help books, reference books and unremarkable novels, might be easier to let go of. Consider paring down unwanted books and donating to a local charity or library book sale. Also think about donating any decor you no longer like. Toss or shred old papers, documents or other clutter that may have accumulated on the flat surfaces in your office.
Place small desktop items into drawers and pack larger items such as desk lamps into boxes. Remove anything that sits on the floor, such as trash cans and floor lamps. If you have a desktop computer, monitor or printer, you may want to move them to another room.
My clients often have large shelves of books and decor in their home offices. If the shelves are built-in, the items can remain in place during the floor installation. However, if the bookshelves are standalone pieces of furniture, books and decor must be packed.
For many people, myself included, books can be difficult to part with — especially old favorites or sentimental volumes. However, some books, such as out-of-date business books, self-help books, reference books and unremarkable novels, might be easier to let go of. Consider paring down unwanted books and donating to a local charity or library book sale. Also think about donating any decor you no longer like. Toss or shred old papers, documents or other clutter that may have accumulated on the flat surfaces in your office.
Place small desktop items into drawers and pack larger items such as desk lamps into boxes. Remove anything that sits on the floor, such as trash cans and floor lamps. If you have a desktop computer, monitor or printer, you may want to move them to another room.
Bathroom
The installation of new flooring in a bathroom, without a bathroom remodel, probably won’t cause too much disruption to your lifestyle. With a refreshed floor, perhaps it’s time to replace your bathroom rugs and trash cans. Remove anything else that’s resting on the floor, like a bathroom scale or storage baskets.
The installation of new flooring in a bathroom, without a bathroom remodel, probably won’t cause too much disruption to your lifestyle. With a refreshed floor, perhaps it’s time to replace your bathroom rugs and trash cans. Remove anything else that’s resting on the floor, like a bathroom scale or storage baskets.
One Last Note
Although it’s not necessary to remove items from built-in shelves, fireplace mantels or floating shelves, I suggest packing anything that’s breakable or precious to avoid accidental damage. The same goes for wall art or decor that’s expensive or sentimental. Wrap these items carefully and put them in an out-of-the-way place.
Make sure you label all packed boxes. Hopefully, if you spent time downsizing your belongings, your home will feel tidier and clutter-free after the new floor is installed. If not, you always have another chance at culling your belongings as you unpack your boxes.
Although it’s not necessary to remove items from built-in shelves, fireplace mantels or floating shelves, I suggest packing anything that’s breakable or precious to avoid accidental damage. The same goes for wall art or decor that’s expensive or sentimental. Wrap these items carefully and put them in an out-of-the-way place.
Make sure you label all packed boxes. Hopefully, if you spent time downsizing your belongings, your home will feel tidier and clutter-free after the new floor is installed. If not, you always have another chance at culling your belongings as you unpack your boxes.
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