Every room has its challenges when you're packing up a house. The bedroom is mostly soft stuff. The lounge is bulky but straightforward. Then there's the kitchen, which is basically a room full of breakable things, sharp things, and liquids that will leak if you look at them wrong.

The kitchen takes longer to pack than any other room. It's also where most moving damage happens. But it doesn't have to be painful if you tackle it in the right order.

Start with what you never use

You've got a bread maker in the back of a cupboard. A fondue set from 2019. Three mismatched wine glasses you keep because "they still work." Pack all of this first, weeks before your move if you can. You won't miss it.

It gets the easy stuff out of the way and forces you to decide what's actually coming with you. If you haven't used it since the last move, it's probably not coming to the new place either. Donate it, sell it on Marketplace, or put it out on the kerb. Gold Coast kerb finds move fast.

Plates, bowls, and anything ceramic

Plates break when they're packed flat and stacked. Always pack them on their edge, like records in a crate. Wrap each one in packing paper or a tea towel and stand them upright. A rigid plastic crate is ideal for this because the walls don't flex. Cardboard boxes bow under weight, which is exactly what you don't want holding up a stack of dinner plates.

Bowls are similar. Nest them with paper between each one, then pack them snug so they can't shift around. Fill any gaps with tea towels or paper. The goal is zero movement inside the crate.

Glasses and mugs

Wrap each glass individually. Stuff paper or a sock inside the glass before wrapping the outside. Pack them upright, not on their side, and keep them in a single layer if possible. If you're stacking, put something rigid between layers.

Mugs are tougher than glasses but handles are the weak point. Wrap the handle separately, then wrap the whole mug. Pack handle-side up.

One crate of glasses is better than one overloaded crate of glasses. Don't get greedy with it.

Knives and sharp stuff

Blade guards if you have them. If you don't, fold a piece of cardboard around each blade and tape it shut. A knife block can go in as-is if it fits. Loose knives rolling around a box is how people end up at Gold Coast University Hospital on moving day. Don't be that person.

Small appliances

The toaster, kettle, blender, and coffee machine. If you still have the original boxes, use them. If you don't (and most people don't), wrap each appliance in a towel and pack them individually. Remove any detachable parts — blender blades, coffee portafilters — and wrap those separately.

Wrap cords around the appliance and secure with a rubber band. Loose cords tangle with everything and scratch surfaces.

The pantry

Anything open gets sealed in a zip-lock bag or thrown out. Half a bag of flour in a moving crate is a disaster you'll be cleaning up for weeks. If it's nearly empty, toss it and buy fresh at the new place.

Spices, oils, and sauces go in a separate crate with the lids tightened and the bottles standing upright. Put a layer of paper towel at the bottom in case something leaks. Keep this crate accessible because you'll want it on your first night in the new place.

The fridge

Use up what you can in the week before. Anything left over goes in an esky for the drive. Don't pack fridge items in with everything else unless you enjoy explaining a soy sauce spill to your removalist.

If you're moving the fridge itself, defrost it 24 hours before. Wipe it out, leave the doors slightly open, and put a towel underneath to catch the melt. On the truck, keep it upright. A fridge that travels on its side needs to stand upright for the same amount of time before you plug it back in, which is annoying when you just want a cold drink after moving all day.

What to keep out on moving day

Pack one small crate with your moving day essentials and keep it with you, not on the truck:

Kettle and a couple of mugs
Tea, coffee, sugar, a splash of milk in a thermos
Paper towels and bin bags
A sharp knife, a chopping board, and basic cutlery
Snacks that don't need a fridge
Phone charger

That first cup of tea in a new kitchen hits different. Don't bury the kettle at the bottom of a packed crate.

How many crates for a kitchen?

A typical Gold Coast apartment kitchen needs 4–6 crates. A full family kitchen in a 3–4 bedroom house is more like 8–12, depending on how much stuff you've accumulated. Check our crate quantity guide for a full room-by-room breakdown.

Plastic crates are genuinely better for kitchen packing. They're rigid, they stack without collapsing, and they handle weight. A cardboard box full of plates is one humid Gold Coast afternoon away from a soggy bottom. Collect your crates from our Gold Coast location before packing day and return them when you're unpacked.

Check out our crate hire packages or grab a free quote below.

How to pack your kitchen without breaking everything