Useful Tips for Safely Moving Your Furniture and Artwork

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If you are planning to relocate, you need to be aware that whether or not you hire movers or do it yourself, your furniture should be treated with care during the moving process. When you move into your new house, you most probably want your most valuable (and heavy) possessions to remain in a perfect state. If proper care is not taken, your wood furniture can be scratched and your art pieces broken.

Thankfully, with some basic supplies and several quick tricks, you can safely relocate your furniture. It’s best though to leave the moving to a commercial moving company service, as that is the best way in which to make sure your furniture will remain intact and that you avoid any potentially serious accidents. 

Getting packing supplies

There’s a common moving misconception that you only need cardboard boxes, packing tape, and moving blankets to pack and cover your belongings. While these items are sufficient, purchasing only a few additional supplies would help facilitate your transition to a new home or storage facility. It’s always best to be prepared rather than come up short when packing up your home. It’s good to also have handy the following additional pieces for your furniture:

  • A roll of bubble wrap
  • Covers for sofas and mattresses
  • Stretch wrap made of plastic
  • Plastic bags that can be sealed
  • Sheets of cardboard

Preparing the furniture for packing

Dust and other debris can scratch hard surfaces during the moving process. Wiping the furniture prior to moving means that no unnecessary dirt enters your new house. For the move, remove any knobs from your furniture and the drawers from dressers and desks. This provides additional storage space while also lightening heavy furniture for the transfer.

Furniture should be disassembled ahead of time

Dismantle your furniture entirely if possible. Tables and couches should have their legs off. Take off the bed frames and the cushions. If a piece of furniture can be safely removed, do so. This will make moving the furniture easier and will help to prevent harm from running up against walls or door frames. It will also make packing your moving truck simpler. Keep the following suggestions in mind:

  • Consult a manual, if one is available, to decide how to properly disassemble furniture.
  • Sealable plastic bags can be used to store screws and other hardware for each piece of furniture. Tape the bag tightly to the object to prevent any hardware from falling out.
  • If you have a lot of pieces of furniture, use masking tape and a marker to mark where each piece goes. This will help to secure your furniture.
  • When dismantling and reassembling, use caution with the drill. You don’t want to run the risk of stripping the screws. Lower the torque setting and use the appropriate size drill bit for the job.
  • To save time on moving day, consider dismantling furniture the day before.

Wrapping furniture and artwork 

When it comes to safely moving your furniture and precious artwork, bubble wrap and plastic sheeting are two of the best materials at your disposal. To cover fragile wood bits, wrap them in bubble wrap. To protect your upholstered pieces, use plastic wrap or specially made plastic sofa covers. In a pinch, use old blankets or packing blankets. Using cardboard sheets in between wooden parts is also a smart idea. This provides additional protection and aids in the prevention of gouges and bruises when the furniture is on the truck.

Bubble Wrap is also useful for shielding glass table tops, mirrors and framed artwork. Consider taping a large “X” on the object with tape first, so that if it does crack, it will shatter less easily. Wrap the whole thing paying particular attention to the corners, then place it in between two sheets of cardboard to complete the process.

Make a plan for loading

It is equally important to prepare how you will load your belongings into the moving truck. This will make your life and the lives of your movers simpler. Begin by erecting a box wall across the back of the truck. To avoid slipping, boxes should be the same size, sealed, and tightly packed. Choose your heaviest boxes for this part, which should not contain any delicate objects. It will have more stability.

Bring any square furniture, such as dressers or desks, into the room. For added cushion, position them directly against the box wall. Using packing blankets or corrugated cardboard to separate items.

Use the tops of the dressers to store additional boxes; just make sure the boxes are lightweight and tightly packed to avoid slippage. Next, bring in the mattresses. If you haven’t wrapped your mattress, place a blanket on the floor to shield it from dirt.

Upholstered products require special care. Secure the pieces to the truck’s hooks with rope, and carefully choose which objects will be packed around them. Even if you wrapped your upholstered pieces, add a layer of packing blankets for extra protection.

Don’t forget to be cautious when unloading the vehicle. Make sure the movers’ route to each space is clearly marked. The less time you spend looking for the best place to position your heavy furniture, the less likely it will be destroyed.

Moving does not have to be a traumatic experience. Remove some of the stress from the equation by properly packing, securing, and moving your larger pieces. This will help ensure that your furniture arrives in good condition at your new home. Learn more on how to keep your belongings secure inside a storage unit if you plan to use self storage for your transfer.

About the Author

Michaela Smith is the marketing director of Empire Movers, a New York based commercial moving company. With over 15 years of experience on the market, they have succeeded to become one of the most trusted companies through their professionalism and dedication.