How to Pack Furniture for Moving

The fascinating colors of the walls may create a charming ambiance in your rooms, and the artistic carpets and curtains throughout your place may set the overall tone of your home décor.

The large variety of small items you have around the house may make it cozy and appealing, but it is your furniture that defines the interior look and feel of your property more than anything else.

The elegant and comfortable furniture pieces you use on a daily basis have most likely become an integral part of your lifestyle as many of your everyday activities will be rendered impossible without the reliable assistance of tables and chairs, sofas and beds, dressers and cupboards, and so on.

Besides, some specific furniture items of extremely high aesthetic or sentimental value probably rank among your most beloved and prized possessions.

So, it’s no wonder that when you need to move house, the question of what to do with all your furniture becomes one of your greatest concerns. Moving furniture across the country is certainly no child’s play – it is very expensive, difficult, and risky and involves a lot of time and effort on your part.

However, you will certainly not leave your comfortable and stylish pieces behind, especially the more valuable ones. The only viable solution under such circumstances is to pack your furniture pieces so efficiently that they survive the arduous moving process intact and in excellent condition.

What is the best way to pack furniture for moving?

The secret is finally revealed.

Plan Ahead And Make Informed Decisions

Diving headfirst into hectic moving preparations without having carefully planned all the aspects of your moving endeavor first will inevitably result in a number of costly mistakes and nerve-wracking experiences.

Allow yourself enough time and think through all the steps you’ll have to take in order to organize a trouble-free relocation process and to ensure the safe shipment of your belongings, including your bulky furniture. In order to make the most beneficial decisions concerning your furniture when moving house, you are recommended to:

Make A Floor Plan Of Your New Place

You need to assess the layout of your future home and measure the available space in order to decide which of your old furniture will be worth taking with you.

Otherwise, you risk spending a lot of money and effort for the relocation of a heavy furniture piece only to find out that it will by no means fit through the doors of your new place, for example.

Then, even if it does get inside, there might not be enough space or an appropriate place for it in its designated room, or it may simply not match the surroundings, etc.

If you won’t be able to use a certain furniture item in your new place, or if it doesn’t fit the interior design, or if you plan on getting a brand new piece anytime soon, you should not bother moving your old furniture in the first place. Create a floor plan to better envisage your new home and make an informed decision about your furniture.

Measure Your Furniture For Moving

Once you know the dimensions of your new property, it’s time to measure your furniture.

Note all the numbers for width x depth x height, as well as the diagonal dimensions of the furniture. Take accurate measures and don’t forget to take into account any protruding parts and odd shapes as well, when calculating how much space you will need to get a certain item out of your old property and into your new one.

Of course, you also need to measure the entryways, doors, height clearances, and stairways in order to plan an appropriate escape route for your furniture. Also, pay attention to obstacles such as railings, ceiling fans, etc.

Proper measurements will let you know not only if your furniture will fit through the doors, but also how much packing materials you will have to provide.

Get Rid Of Your Old Furniture

In case you’ve decided not to take some of your old furniture with you for any of the above-mentioned reasons, you need to get rid of it before Moving day. Your best option is to sell your no longer needed pieces, of course, as you will be able to pocket some extra money.

Or, you may give them away to family or friends, or donate them to charity, especially if you want to help people in need and/or don’t have enough time to organize a sale.

Make An Inventory Of Your Furniture

It is a good idea to make a detailed list of all the furniture you intend to move to your new home.

Take a piece of paper or create a spreadsheet on your computer and mark down the type of your pieces (cupboards, wardrobes, dressers, desks, beds, mattresses, sofas, couches, bookcases, tables, chairs, and so on), their number and current condition (brand new, as new, slightly worn out, very worn out, completely worn out and so on).

This furniture inventory will help you keep track of your belongings, will help you figure out what specific packing materials you need and how much of them to get, and will even help your moving company prepare an accurate moving estimate.

Besides, making a list in advance will allow you to determine how much time you will spend packing and wrapping your furniture and how much extra help you will need to load the pieces into the truck.

Secure Help

You cannot possibly move large and heavy furniture by yourself, so appropriate assistance is of paramount importance for the successful outcome of your moving endeavor.

• Moving by yourself – If you have decided on a DIY move, remember that you will need the help of at least several reliable friends willing to share the Herculean task of lifting and carrying around bulky furniture. Remember that it will be very strenuous and time-consuming work and you risk severe damage to your furniture and your property, as well as personal injuries;
• Hiring professionals – Professional movers and packers have extensive experience and specialized equipment that will allow them to get the job done in a quick and efficient manner. They will properly pack your furniture to provide the best possible protection, will safely ship your items to your final destination, and will deliver your belongings in the same condition they were before the move. You’ll save yourself a lot of time, effort, and nerves, and even the money for repairing or replacing eventually damaged furniture.

Get a free moving quote to receive an accurate idea of the experienced services movers offer and their charges before making a final decision about your forthcoming relocation.

Plan ahead and never rush things as hasty last-minute decisions usually result in great troubles, especially when heavy and bulky household items are involved.

Gather Supplies

Your next step when preparing furniture for moving is to gather the packing supplies and tools you will need.

• Packing materials for moving furniture -investing in a sufficient number of adequate packing supplies will ensure the safety of your furniture while in transit:
  • Corrugated cardboard sheets
  • Bubble Wrap
  • Packing tape
  • Plastic stretch wrap
  • Moving blankets
  • Sealable plastic bags
  • Sofa and mattress covers

• Equipment – You will need some special equipment to safely move your furniture around and a set of tools to disassemble your furniture (if necessary):
  • Furniture pads
  • Moving straps or ropes
  • Hand tools (a hammer, screwdrivers, a wrench, a pair of pliers, a pair of scissors, measuring tape, a box cutter, a knife, etc.)
  • Personal protection gear (work gloves, sturdy shoes with anti-slippery soles, etc.)
  • Property protection materials (corner guards, foam paddings, plywood sheets, film protectors, etc.)
  • A dolly (in the event of a self-move)

If you have hired professional moving services, however, you will not need most of the items in the last group, as your movers will bring all the specialized equipment required to take your furniture out of your home and load it on the moving truck (as well as to disassemble and pack your pieces, if you wish so).

How To Prepare Furniture For Moving

The last thing to do before actually packing your furniture for shipping is to prepare the pieces in order to make the relocation process as safe, easy, and simple as possible.

Empty and clean your furniture

Leaving your books in the bookcase or your plates and glasses in the kitchen cabinets and expecting the movers to pack them and load them onto the moving truck as they are is definitely quite unrealistic, to say the least. You need to remove all the items from your furniture in order to make the large pieces a bit lighter and safer to lift and carry.

Pack the contents of your furniture separately, according to their type and handling requirements, to provide adequate protection for each of your smaller possessions.

The only exception? You may leave small clothing items or office supplies in their respective drawers, especially if you are moving short distances, as they are not particularly prone to damage and will not add much to the weight of the dressers or desks.

It is also a good idea to clean your empty furniture pieces before packing them. You will probably want to have everything thoroughly cleaned when you reach your final destination but you may not have the time and the energy to address the matter immediately upon arrival.

Besides, you certainly don’t want to take with you all the dust and dirt, possible mold spores or bacteria, etc., that might have accumulated on your furniture over time (and especially during the hectic moving period). What’s more, dust and other debris can scratch polished surfaces during the moving process.

Disassemble furniture for moving

Dismantle your furniture as much as possible:

• Remove cushions and covers;
• Remove any knobs, casters, and pulls;
• Remove the legs from tables and couches;
• Take bed frames completely apart.

Removing any detachable parts will make the furniture easier to move and will help prevent damage caused by hitting or brushing your pieces against walls and door frames.

It will also make it easier to arrange your large and awkwardly-shaped items in the moving truck. However, when disassembling your furniture, stick to the following useful tips:

• To correctly dismantle a specific furniture piece, refer to its manual (if you keep it) or find instructions online;
• Put screws and other small hardware from each piece of furniture into a separate sealable plastic bag. Tape the bag securely to the corresponding item to prevent losing the small parts (make sure you don’t attach the bags to areas that could be damaged when the tape is removed);
• Take several photos while disassembling complicated furniture or use masking tape and a marker to note where each piece goes. This will help you reassemble the item quickly and correctly when you get into your new home.
• Any larger disassembled parts should then be carefully wrapped and stored in boxes. Don’t forget to clearly label each box so that you can easily find the one you need when the time comes to reassemble the pieces.

It is a good idea to dismantle your furniture (except the bed, of course) the day before moving day – you will save some valuable time.

Packing Tips For Moving Furniture

When packing furniture for moving or storage, your primary concern should be to ensure their safety. Cardboard boxes may not be of much use as most furniture pieces are too large to get into a box. That’s why you need to create a protective shell around your items by carefully wrapping the furniture and providing some extra support.

How To Pack Furniture For Moving

Designate a clean and flat place to pack your furniture – you need a large space where no other items will get in your way and cause eventual damage.

1)      Use some bubble wrap first to protect delicate parts and then wrap the entire piece in moving blankets. Consider paper or cloth padding for additional protection whenever necessary (around fragile small elements, over intricate decorations, in remaining small hollow spaces, etc.);

2)      Secure the wrapping materials with tape but be careful not to tape directly on painted or polished surfaces;

3)      You are advised to use shrink wrap to keep the padding in place – moving blankets and other wrapping materials will stay perfectly and snugly wrapped around the pieces. Besides, using plastic wrap when moving furniture will help prevent dust and dirt from getting to the item while in transit;

4)      Fold large clean pieces of corrugated cardboard around the corners of your furniture pieces and tape them securely in place. Use plenty of bubble wrap around furniture legs that cannot be removed and secure cabinet doors and drawers with cardboard pieces. Then, add another layer of shrink wrap for extra protection or use ropes to ensure that the protective coverings won’t slip off;

5)      Glass surfaces (tabletops, showcases, and others) should be covered with a flat cardboard piece first, then wrapped in bubble wrap and packing paper (paying special attention to the corners) and placed in telescoping cardboard boxes, if they have been removed from the larger furniture piece or placed between two sheets of corrugated cardboard, securely taped around the glass. Consider taping a giant “X” on the item first so, if it does break, it will be less likely to shatter;

6)      Mattresses and sofas can be packed in plastic covers, specially designed for the purpose. They provide maximum protection from rips, stains, and moisture. Plastic shrink wrap can be used instead if you don’t have the specialized packing materials.

Although the above tips for packing furniture describe the best way to protect furniture when moving, there are a few more specifics you should be aware of:

• Apply wax on fine wooden surfaces to protect them against scratches;
• Keep in mind that tightly sealed shrink wrap can cause mold to form. Leave some air holes in strategic places to allow the furniture to breathe and to prevent moisture and mold from building up inside;
• Do not use plastic wrap directly on wooden or leather furniture. Otherwise, moisture may be trapped underneath the plastic wrap and cause the wood or leather to warp or mold. Besides, when the temperatures are high, shrink wrap can adhere to the leather and damage it. Always wrap leather and wooden furniture in paper padding first and then use plastic wrap to secure the wrapping to the furniture;
• You can use plastic wrap directly on upholstered furniture to keep dust and dirt off.

Now that you know how to protect furniture during a move, you need to turn your attention to the actual process of taking your pieces to the moving truck.

How To Take Furniture Out Of Your Home Safely And Easily

In the best-case scenario, you will have hired professional movers to complete the strenuous task of hauling your large furniture and loading it on the moving truck.

However, you should still take some preventive measures to avoid damage to your property and/or accidents:

Clear obstacles out of the way

remove small items, slippery leaves, and anything that might cause the movers to slip, trip, or fall. Consider removing the doors from their hinges to provide some extra inches of free space and to avoid damage to the doors;

Prevent property damage

Cover the floors with plywood sheets and carpet film protectors (this way you will not only prevent scratching, scuffing, or denting the floors but will also keep dirt away from your carpets).

You can use scrap cardboard pieces, towels, and newspapers instead the professional protective materials, but make sure to hold them securely in place and avoid slippery covers.

Don’t forget to cover the stairs as well and to wrap the banisters in thick blankets as they are very prone to damage. Using corner guards is a must and you may also consider covering the walls and installing foam paddings on the door frames.

Never drag furniture directly along the floor! Your efforts will pay off – you will not have to deal with repair works or extensive cleaning if you have taken adequate measures to keep the good condition of your property;

How to Prevent Property Damage When Moving

Ensure safety

Keep your kids and pets away from the moving chaos, don’t rush things, make sure the items are well secured on the dolly, and plan carefully to prevent accidents and injuries.

If you are up to the relocation challenge and you are moving house without professional assistance, there is one more crucial factor to take into account – your own safety.

To avoid injuries on moving days, you need to be familiar with proper lifting and moving techniques and to wear personal protection gear.

How To Pack Furniture In A Moving Truck

However efficiently you cope with the task, disassembling and wrapping furniture for moving will not ensure the safety of your pieces unless they have been properly secured in the moving truck. So, when loading the truck, keep the following tips in mind:

• Line the floor of the moving truck with moving blankets to protect the bottoms of your pieces and to add some extra protection against vibrations or if some of your items accidentally topple on the floor;
• It is generally recommended to create a wall of boxes across the back end of the truck first. Arrange tightly sealed heavy boxes of the same size (that don’t contain fragile items) in this section to bring added stability;
• Load your regularly shaped furniture next – dressers, desks, etc. Place them directly against the boxes for added cushioning and use blankets or corrugated cardboard between pieces for extra protection;
• Use the hooks or paneling on the inside of the truck to secure your furniture with strong ropes;
• Move in your mattresses next – be sure to place them upright and put flat fragile items such as paintings or mirrors between them;
• Arrange your oddly shaped furniture in the remaining space. Remember that upholstered pieces need additional care, so add a layer of blankets around them for extra safety and carefully choose which items to place around them;
• You can put more boxes or other items on top of your furniture but choose light ones and be sure to prevent slippage;
• Make sure the truck is properly balanced – objects of similar weight should be placed on opposite sides of the truck;
• Be very careful when unloading the truck and taking your furniture into your new home as well.

If you have hired professional movers to help you with your relocation, they will know all the above tips, of course, as well as many other useful specifics.

Your furniture will be in good hands!

Especially if you are moving antique furniture or extremely delicate pieces, such as a piano, you are strongly recommended to take advantage of the competent services movers offer.

Anyway, consider proper insurance for your valuable furniture items and keep all receipts, contracts, etc. until you get your furniture back and make sure it is in good condition.

If your furniture pieces will be placed in storage for a certain period of time, you need to take some extra specifics into account when packing them. You can find more detailed information about packing items for storage here.

Heavy furniture pieces are among the most difficult things to move but proper packing gives you a fair chance to receive your items in good condition. Once you have your beloved furniture arranged according to your preferences to provide the convenience and charming home décor you seek, you will be able to feel at home once again!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)