Moving to a new home or business can be exciting. During the move, making sure your furniture arrives at your destination in one piece is a top priority. Everything needs to be done correctly, from packing supplies to moving methods, to keep your furniture safe. The guide on how to protect furniture during a move covers the essentials and some common questions you might have.
Knowing your furniture is well-protected can reduce the stress associated with moving day. As you plan your move, here are a few steps to keep in mind.
Taking a room-by-room inventory of your furniture is an excellent start to decluttering and organizing your belongings in a manageable way. Fortunately, professional movers can help you inventory every item and figure out how many boxes you’ll need as part of their estimate. It helps to make a list of the furniture in each room and take pictures or videos of every item to assess the pre-move and post-move conditions.
Take measurements of furniture and pathways before moving to allow for strategic planning and a smoother process. By measuring doorways, hallways and staircases, you’ll know if large items can pass through without getting stuck. If not, you can come up with an alternative plan ahead of time instead of trying to force furniture through tight spaces, which can cause damage to the items themselves and your walls and floors.
Using the right packing materials and supplies can make all the difference in protecting furniture while moving. Some of the supplies you’ll need include:
Cleaning furniture can help prevent dust and dirt buildup from scratching delicate finishes on wood, glass and metal furniture during the move. It’s also important to dry surfaces properly after cleaning to prevent mold and rot that can occur from moisture being trapped.
Furniture padding is crucial for protecting items from damage during a move. It’s especially designed to absorb impacts and friction, shielding your furniture from scratches, scuffs and dents. You’ll want to use moving blankets for large and durable furniture, Bubble Wrap to cushion fragile items and protect delicate corners, and foam padding for electronics or antique pieces.
When working with moving blankets, you should use stretch wrap and packing tape to secure the furniture padding around the item. Stretch wrap is perfect because it sticks to itself and leaves no residue.
Some materials that require specialized wrapping techniques include:
Another excellent way to protect furniture during a move is to disassemble it. Disassembly helps reduce weight and makes moving some items through tighter spaces easier. To do this effectively, it’s best to review the original assembly instructions for guidance.
You can typically remove legs from couches and tables and take out drawers, shelves and doors from other furniture. Place small parts and hardware in clearly labeled plastic bags. You can tape the bag to the furniture part it belongs to.
If you’re going to be moving furniture between different levels, prepare the path ahead of time. Start by measuring doorways against the sizes and dimensions of your furniture, and remove doors if needed to free up space. You should also protect banisters, walls and floors in your path using guards and runners.
As you move your furniture, maintain clear communication with the people you’re working with and use the right techniques to keep it safe from damage. A few strategies for moving furniture down stairs include:
Mirrors and glass are fragile, so they require specialized packing techniques. Use Bubble Wrap and picture cardboard to safeguard both sides. You can apply painter’s tape in an X on mirror surfaces to help absorb shocks and shield the corners with foam or cardboard protectors. Be sure to place the wrapped items upright in a sturdy box. Once packed, clearly write “Fragile” in large, noticeable letters on every side of the box and “This Side Up” on the top.
High-value and delicate items must be handled with extra care to avoid damage. To pack antiques or heirlooms, use extra padding and crates. For electronics, be sure to take photos of cable connections and use original boxes or sturdy alternatives.
It’s important to strategically pack each item in a moving truck to use space efficiently and prevent damage during transit. Here’s how:
If you have a lot of furniture, especially heavy or delicate items, or are stressed about the moving process, it’s best left to a professional. Movers have training and experience handling all kinds of furniture. They also have access to specialized equipment that makes the moving process safer and more precise.
Moving services often include full-service packing as an extra, with experts using quality materials to wrap and box every item. They can also offer custom crating for glass items and art.
Still have questions about how to protect furniture while moving? Here are answers to some of the most common ones.
No. It’s just best to disassemble furniture that improves safety or space efficiency, like tables or shelves.
Remove and protect the cushions separately, then wrap the sofa frame with moving blankets or cardboard for padding. Follow up with stretch wrap to secure the padding around the sofa. Keep it upright during transit.
Use moving blankets around the furniture as the first layer, then stretch wrap over padding to shield the items from moisture. Ensure the items are completely dry before you pack them and avoid putting plastic directly on wood for long durations.
Glass should be vertical, or standing upright, during a move.
Protecting your furniture during a move requires effort, supplies and expertise. At Corrigan Moving Systems, we can help make your moving process stress-free by handling all your needs, from preparing your furniture to loading it in our trucks. We offer local and long-distance moving services and packing solutions for homes and businesses.
Contact us today to schedule your no-obligation in-home or virtual moving estimate.
