It is no surprise that one of the most dreaded parts of moving is packing. After all, you have a lot of furniture and belongings that are important to you, and it can be overwhelming to make sure that these items get to their new destination unharmed. Whether you are moving by yourself or enlisting the help of a professional moving company, you should always handle your furniture with care before, during, and after the move. That’s why it’s essential to know how to pack furniture for moving. 

In this guide, we’ll go through some of the basics for properly packing and protecting your furniture. So whether you’re moving into a new home or office, or simply want to pack items away in a storage unit, these tips will help.  

How to Pack Furniture for Moving

With a few tips and the right packing supplies, you can pack your fragile furniture without worrying about potential damage. Here are some tips for how to pack furniture for moving. 

Gather the Right Packing Supplies

Most homeowners typically stick to using cardboard boxes, packing tape, and moving blankets. Although these materials will work, they are not always the best items for the job. Consider investing in some additional supplies to help protect your belongings and make the move easier. 

Here are some additional supplies you can find in your local hardware store (or even online):

• Bubble wrap

• Plastic stretch wrap

• Corrugated cardboard boxes (preferably with handles)

• Corrugated cardboard sheets

• Sealable plastic baggies

• Durable plastic bins with handles

• Sofa and mattress covers

• Furniture sliders (to place underneath table and chair legs)

• Dollies (to help move different sized and heavy furniture items)

We recommend using a combination of these materials to protect your belongings. For example, plastic bins offer extra protection and waterproofing, which makes them a good choice if the weather takes a turn for the worse during your move. 

Clear Out Unused Furniture and Belongings

Before you even start packing, you’ll want to go through your belongings and decide which pieces can stay and which pieces should go. If your new location is a downsized area, you’ll definitely want to clear out unused furniture. To make this process more organized, consider splitting your belongings into different groups: Throw Away, Keep, and Sell/Donate. 

Broken or severely damaged belongings should probably be thrown away for safety reasons. Plus, this furniture will just take up space in the moving van. Any unused furniture or belongings can be sold or donated. If you aren’t sure whether you want to move something, consider keeping some items in a storage unit for the time being.  

Prepare Your Furniture In Advance

One of the most important steps to prepare your furniture is to clean it thoroughly before packing it away. Clean and dust each piece beforehand to ensure that none of the dirt or debris damages your furniture. Cleaning also helps ensure that you won’t drag any unnecessary grime into your new home or office. 

Also, be sure to remove drawers out of dressers and desks to give yourself extra storage space. This will also help lighten the load of heavy furniture items. If you are packing small items, we recommend creating an inventory list to keep track of everything that is going with you. Also, be sure to carefully label each box with its contents. 

Dismantle Furniture

When possible, we recommend dismantling larger furniture pieces. Doing so will make the furniture easier to move and will help prevent damage when furniture brushes up against walls. We recommend removing the legs from tables and couches, as well as taking apart bed frames and removing cushions from sofas and chairs. In short, if a piece can be safely dismantled, do it. This will also make it easier to load everything onto the moving truck. If you cannot safely dismantle your furniture on your own, consider hiring a professional moving company to help. 

Here are a few tips for dismantling furniture. 

• When possible, refer to the original instruction manuals to safely disassemble (and later reassemble) your furniture.

• Use small resealable plastic baggies to hold hardware, screws, instructions, and other small items that belong to furniture pieces. Be sure to label the bag and tape it to its respective furniture piece. 

• Avoid using power tools when possible and be careful not to strip the screws. Make sure you use the correct drill bit and lower the torque setting if you must use a power tool. 

• Consider dismantling your furniture a couple of days ahead of time. This will help you save some time on moving day. 

Learn How to Carefully Wrap and Pack Furniture

Take your time wrapping your furniture and belongings. Bubble wrap is great for protecting delicate items, especially wood pieces. You can protect your chairs, sofas, and other upholstered items using plastic wrap or fitted covers. (Of course, in a pinch, old blankets or packing blankets will do the trick.) We also recommend using corrugated cardboard sheets in between wooden pieces for extra protection. 

You can protect glass table tops, mirrors, and other fragile items with bubble wrap. Consider using painter’s tape to tape an “X” on the item that spans its entire length. That way, if it breaks, it will be less likely to shatter. Be sure to wrap glass tops or mirrors completely, and pay special attention to the corners. You can also attach cardboard to the corners for extra protection and stability. Then finish by placing the glass between two sheets of heavy duty cardboard. 

As for most of your other belongings, bubble wrap and plastic bins should do the trick. Wrap each item in plastic wrap (or heavy paper with packing peanuts) and place them carefully inside plastic bins. Be sure not to overfill the bin, as this can make the load too heavy. 

Have an Arrangement in Mind

You’ve likely had the opportunity to visit your new home or office. Take some time to plan out your desired furniture arrangement. You should have a basic idea of where you want everything to go so that the movers can place everything in the proper spot. Remember: sometimes plans can change, and what you thought would work may not work the way you intended. Keep an open mind and be flexible with the arrangement. Many moving companies can help suggest furniture layouts that maximize space and encourage good flow. 

Hire a Professional Moving Company

Packing everything up is already a lot of work, and on top of that, you’ll also have to rent your own moving van. But if you hire a professional moving company, they’ll take care of the heavy lifting by loading up your furniture on their trucks. Professional movers can help save you some hassle on moving day. 

Additional Tips – How to Pack Furniture for Moving

Now that we’ve covered some of the “do’s” of packing, let’s go over some of the “don’ts.”

Don’t…

• Rush the packing process

• Pack dirty or broken furniture

• Start the process without acquiring the right packing materials first

• Leave your furniture unprotected

• Try to do everything by yourself

How to Pack Furniture for Moving

We hope this guide has helped you learn more about how to pack furniture for moving. Here are some additional resources to help you get prepared for moving day:

How to Prepare Your Family for a Move

DIY Vs Professional Furniture Moving

How to Prepare for an Office Relocation

How to Prepare for a Winter Move in Arizona

If you’re planning a move and need the help of a professional moving company, contact our team at Andrews Installation Group. We have over 10 years of experience and are one of Arizona’s go-to moving companies. Contact us with questions or to schedule your next move!