If you’ve ever moved house, you might agree that packing boxes is not the most exciting thing about moving, but still it’s something that needs to be done. Some choose to do the packing themselves and others prefer to let packing companies do it for them.

If you’re one of those who would prefer to put the packing in the hands of professionals then it’s probably worth it to choose a removal company that also does packing. If this is what you’re looking for, have a look at Buzzmove where you can compare quotes from different packing companies.

If you on the other hand would like to do the job yourself, don’t worry, we have some fun ideas for how to cheer up your packing, and it might even end up saving you some money!

Alternative packing materials:
Who says you can only use bubble wrap and packing peanuts when you pack your moving boxes? Even though these might be the most common materials to use when you pack up your home, there are far more alternative packing materials you can use and a lot of them you can even find lying around your home!

Popcorn
You might think that popcorn only belongs in cinemas and home move nights, but popcorn can actually also work as a packing material! The only thing you have to think about is that you make sure you use air-popped popcorn and not sweet or buttered ones which will make the items you pack sticky and greasy.

Image source: www.realsimple.com Formula Z/S

Pom poms
If you’re child loves cheerleading or if you yourself used to be part of your school’s cheerleading team, you might have some pompoms lying around your house? If this is the case, then why not use these when you pack your boxes?

Candy floss
Who doesn’t love pink fluffy candy floss? And good news, it’s not only delicious, you can also use it when you pack! Keep in mind that you have to be a bit careful with this one as candy floss can become slightly sticky. Use it for packing glasses and items that easily can be washed after the move in this pink fluff.

Tutus
If you don’t have a little cheerleader at home you might have a little ballerina? If so, then you can use the tutus for packing in the same way as you would use the pom poms!

Marshmallows
They almost look the same as packing peanuts and they are bouncy and soft and perfect for packing. Using marshmallows as your packing material might also encourage the whole family to help with the unpacking of the boxes if they know that they will get to eat them after they are done! (If you do plan on eating them it might be a good idea to keep the marshmallows in their packaging when you use them to pack).

Image source: www.planet-science.com

Towels and bed linens
Towels and bed linens might not be as exciting to pack with as the popcorns and marshmallows, but they are very good to use for your packing to save you both money and space. These are items that needs to be packed anyways, so instead of using up a box only for towels and bed linens, use them to wrap other items which will save you box space. This way you will also save money as you will need less boxes.

Paper
Something else that is great to use as packing material and which most people have at home, is paper in different forms.  Instead of wasting money on buying wrapping materials, why not use old bills and newspapers? You can also use old documents you have shredded to put in the bottom of boxes.

What to do with the packing material after your move:

Make bubble wrap chocolate
One of the most popular (and fun) packing materials has to be bubble wrap! And there is also so much you can do with it, as for example bubble wrap chocolate. All you need is a microwave, a fridge, some chocolate and the bubble wrap and you’re ready to go! Definitely a fun activity to do with the whole family to christen your new kitchen.

Make bubble wrap clothes
Another fun thing you can do with the left over bubble wrap from your move is to try out your designer skills by designing your own clothes! Why not do a competition with your family or friends where you all get a certain time to create your bubble wrap outfits and then you do a catwalk show to show off your designs and in the end decide who did the best job!

Make a carton castle
There are so many fun things you can create with your boxes after moving, we’ve seen everything from spaceships and castles to dolls houses. If you have children this will definitely be popular, and you might even be able to get some help with the unpacking of the boxes if they know these will turn into their playhouses once the unpacking is done.

Decorate your new house
We know we might sound crazy, but you can actually decorate your home with your leftover packing materials! For example,  your packing peanuts can become a beautiful hanging decoration over your dinner table, and your bubble wrap could be used as a Christmas decoration outside your house during the holiday season!

Picture sources: www.bridalguide.com & www.dreamitbuilditstyleit.blogspot.co.uk

These are just some of the ways you can use your leftover packing materials, if you have any other tips that we’ve missed please let us know in a comment below!