It’s no secret that packing is the most laborious, time-consuming, and challenging moving task of them all.
However, packing is quite a general term. Packing books, for example, is a completely different experience from packing glasses, kitchen plates, or electronic devices. So, when it comes to packing rules and strategies, it is the type of items to be packed that will define your course of action.
And, of course, the methods that work best when packing small items in cardboard boxes have nothing in common with the packing techniques that yield the best results when packing heavy furniture, bulky appliances, specialized equipment, and so on.
It is the large household items that present a great packing challenge, so you need to make sure that you will be able to successfully cope with this difficult task when the time comes to move house.
Think about this – you will know perfectly well how to pack your clothes for a move… but do you really know how to pack your furniture for moving?
Below you will find practical information about the best way to pack furniture for moving. You will be guided through the various steps needed to protect your furniture pieces in the safest way possible.
What to do before packing your furniture
If you want to have a smooth and trouble-free moving experience, you need to plan everything in advance. This is especially important when you’re moving large household items that are difficult to move, such as bulky furniture pieces. To be able to make the right decisions about your furniture, you are recommended to follow these steps first:
- Step 1. Make an inventory of your furniture. Note down the type of furniture pieces you own, their number, and their current condition. Mark any duplicate, outdated, or worn-out items that you won’t be able to use in your new home. Then, do your best to figure out what kind of packing materials (and how much) you will need to pack the furniture that’s worth taking with you. If you can, try to determine how long it will take you to pack the pieces properly, as well as how much extra help you will need for their actual relocation; Moving Inventory
- Step 2. Make a floor plan of your new home. You need to assess the available space and the layout of your new house or apartment to find out which of your old furniture pieces are going to fit in. Any items that can’t fit through the doors, don’t match the interior design, or need to be replaced soon are not worth moving to your new place; Floor Plan
- Step 3. Measure your furniture for moving. Take accurate measures of the width, depth, height, and diagonal dimensions of your furniture pieces to calculate how much space you will need to get each of them out of your old property and into your new one. Don’t forget to take into account any protruding parts and odd shapes as well. Of course, you need to measure the entryways, doors, height clearances, and stairways too;
- Step 4. Get rid of unwanted furniture. Find a way to get rid of the old furniture pieces you are not taking with you for any of the above-mentioned reasons. Sell them to pocket some extra money, donate them to charity, or give them away to family and friends; What to Do With Unwanted Furniture
- Step 5. Secure help. Book the professional services of a trustworthy moving company to ship your furniture across the country or ask several reliable friends to lend you a hand on Moving day if you intend to perform a DIY move. Remember that moving large furniture over a long distance by yourself is very difficult and risky. If you want your cherished pieces to be properly packed, safely shipped, and delivered to your new home in excellent condition, your best bet is to hire furniture movers to do the job for you;
- Step 6. Gather appropriate packing supplies. You are going to need corrugated cardboard sheets, bubble wrap, packing tape, plastic stretch wrap, moving blankets, sealable plastic bags, sofa covers, and mattress bags. Some special equipment (a dolly, furniture pads, moving straps, hand tools, personal protection gear, and property protection materials) may also be required, especially in the event of a self-move.
Useful info: 5 signs your furniture is not worth moving
Now that you’ve planned the relocation of your furniture, it’s time to get down to work.
How to prepare furniture for moving
In order to make the relocation process as safe, easy, and simple as possible, you need to prepare your furniture really well for the upcoming move. There are two major steps you have to follow here:
Step 1. Empty and clean the furniture pieces
Remove all items from your furniture pieces to make them lighter and safer to lift and carry around, then pack the contents of your furniture separately and according to their type and handling requirements in order to provide them with adequate protection.
You are advised to give the empty furniture pieces a good cleaning before packing them to get rid of any dust, dirt, mold spores, or bacteria that might have accumulated on them over time.
Step 2. Disassemble your furniture for moving
Remove any detachable parts from your furniture pieces to make them easier to move and to prevent potential damage.
Be sure to
- Follow strictly the appropriate instructions for (dis)assembling a certain piece. Refer to its manual or find directions online;
- Keep the screws and other small hardware parts from every furniture piece into a separate sealable plastic bag;
- Mark the exact location of every detached part to be able to reassemble the corresponding furniture piece quickly and correctly;
- Pack safely any larger disassembled parts in appropriate boxes. Don’t forget to clearly label each box so that you can easily find the pieces you need.
- Take your furniture apart (except for your bed) the day before Moving day or even earlier, whenever possible to save some valuable time.
See also: Will movers disassemble furniture?
How to pack furniture for moving
As long as you stick to the following efficient tips for packing furniture, you have every chance to have your pieces delivered to your new home in excellent condition:
- Step 1. Use bubble wrap to protect any protruding and delicate parts of your furniture;
- Step 2. Wrap the entire piece in moving blankets or other clean and soft fabric materials;
- Step 3. Put paper or cloth padding in hollow spaces, over intricate ornaments, and around fragile parts for added protection;
- Step 4. Tape the wrapping materials securely in place. Be careful not to tape directly on painted or polished surfaces;
- Step 5. Use shrink wrap to keep the padding in place and prevent dust and dirt from getting to your furniture;
- Step 6. Tape large pieces of corrugated cardboard around the corners of your furniture pieces;
- Step 7. Cover glass surfaces (tabletops, showcases, etc.) with flat cardboard pieces, wrap them in bubble wrap and packing paper, and place them between two sheets of corrugated cardboard, securely taped around the glass;
- Step 8. Pack mattresses and sofas in plastic covers that are specially designed for the purpose of providing maximum protection against dust, rips, stains, and moisture.
Must-read: DO’S and DON’TS when packing furniture for moving
How to protect furniture when moving
The best way to protect furniture when moving is to take effective precautionary measures:
- Apply wax on fine wooden surfaces to protect them against scratches;
- Do not seal the furniture entirely in shrink wrap – instead, leave some air holes to allow the furniture to breathe and to prevent moisture from building up and causing mold growth;
- Do not use plastic wrap directly on wooden or leather furniture as it may adhere to the delicate surfaces and damage them (you can safely use plastic wrap directly on upholstered furniture though);
- Make sure there is enough free space around a furniture piece when packing it so that no other items get in the way and cause damage;
- Clear obstacles to reduce the risk of slipping, tripping, or falling while carrying furniture pieces;
- Make sure your furniture pieces are well secured on the dolly and, then, into the moving truck;
- Always plan your actions a few steps ahead and never rush things!
Your properly packed and well-protected furniture is ready for moving!
Good to know: How to move furniture into an apartment
