A packing how-to.

Packing: The art of filling a box
Although the industry orders many different carton sizes, most professionals use five basic types.
Mattress cartons (obvious).
Wardrobes (tall cartons with a hanging bar, for clothing).
Picture cartons (thin, vertical cartons for pictures, paintings, and mirrors).
Dish barrels (tall, thicker corrugated cartons, for lamps, china, and various fragile and high value items).
General use cartons (small, medium, and large sizes. Used for books, clothing, kitchenware, linens, bedding, toys, etc.)
Also used by movers: bundles of white paper, called newsprint (for wrapping), and plastic tape (for sealing cartons). Packing done by a professional is quite expensive, as you are charged both for the cost of the provided carton and the labor to fill it. Dish barrels and picture crates are the most expensive cartons; they are labor intensive and time consuming to pack. The costs are preset, and charged per carton. A moving company should pack your goods for two basic reasons: either your household items are of high value and fragile, or you have neither the time nor the energy to pack yourself. In each case you will be increasing cost for either peace of mind or the delegation of work. You can even adjust move costs by deciding who will pack what, and in what increments. You can reduce the packing charges quite a bit if you allow the movers to pack only the breakables (i.e. dining room, kitchen, living room items) while you pack the books, bedding, clothes, linens, toys and tools. Be aware that any box you pack that they move must be filled to the top, and sealed. (Don't forget to mark the room and contents on it!) If you were packing and moving yourself, I would still suggest using a local moving company as a carton resource. In these days of compactors and recycling, retailers don't have the stockpiles of "throw away" cartons they once had. If cost is a driving consideration, buy used cartons (called "stock") from the movers in lieu of new. Most movers have a used carton area, and if they are moving you may give you the stock for free. Even if they charge you, used stock is much cheaper than new stock. Check it over, making sure the flattened cartons are not torn, soiled or stained. Buy some newsprint and tape also while there. Begin by buying dish barrels, book cartons and medium cartons. These three will cover almost anything in your home. If moving yourself, avoid the cost (and space) of wardrobes: you can lay the clothing down up top. Avoid also the cost of mattress cartons (just be careful not to drag the mattress on the ground, as it will soil the bottom edge.) Avoid purchasing the largest cartons (6 cubic feet and over), they are very difficult to pack correctly and if filled with the wrong items, will be impossible to pick up.
Ok, so just how do I pack? As I said before, if you are paying movers for the relocation, defray the packing costs by packing all the non-breakables yourself. Use the small and medium sized cartons you have secured to pack books, bedding, linens, toys, tools, papers, pots & pans, plastics, etc. Use newsprint only to keep items from rubbing against each other in the carton, or to tighten up the carton's contents. All boxes must be filled to the top, lest they crush down and collapse when stacked. If you are moving yourself, or just want to pack it all in any event, please change your packing order: save the above mentioned items, the "easy" stuff for last. While you have the time, energy and carton resources pack the high value, fragile and difficult items first. As you walk into each room with your tape, paper, and cartons look around. Identify whatever it is you don't want to pack...and do those items first! Anyone can pack books and blankets! Leave them for last. The specifics: There is not enough space in this column to address each item you might have to pack. Let me explain a few basics.
Dish barrels: use these for lamps, small pictures, dishes, cups, glasses, stemware, nicnacs, etc. Place a light cushion of newsprint on the bottom of the box, then wrap and place the heaviest and tallest items in first. All items should be wrapped in paper to prevent damage. Fill the bottom completely, then place another cushion of newsprint in, and start another layer of wrapped items until full, then repeat process with lighter items until barrel is full. Always start heavy in the bottom and finish light.
Plates, small pictures, china: wrap in-groups of three of four, with paper in between each piece. Place on edge in the box, not flat!
Stemware: wrap and place vertically in the carton, not on its side, top facing down.
Carton size and weight: heavy items, small cartons. Use your larger cartons for light bulky items, or you will be unable to pick them up. I hope this has helped, and as always, start early and plan. You have many options available, as time and resources will permit.