How Should Each Type of Furniture Be Packed?
How Should Each Type of Furniture Be Packed?
Most damage in transit isn’t caused by drops, but by repeated vibration and friction on the road. Proper packing isn’t wrapping a blanket around an item — it’s knowing exactly what each type needs.
The materials we use, and why
| Material | Why |
|---|---|
| 🛏️ Thick blankets | Absorb vibration and prevent friction between items — the first layer for all wooden furniture |
| 🎞️ Stretch film | Holds the blanket in place, keeps out dust and moisture, and keeps doors and drawers shut |
| 🫧 Bubble wrap | For glass, mirrors and antiques — absorbs direct impacts |
| 📦 Double-wall corrugated cartons | Stronger than ordinary cartons — for dishes, books and heavy items |
| 🧻 White packing paper | For dishes and plates — newspaper leaves ink on light surfaces |
| 🪵 Reinforced cardboard sheets | Extra protection for the faces of mirrors, screens and marble tops |
Packing each category
🪞 Mirrors, glass & paintings
The most breakable and the most carelessly packed. The steps: tape in an X across the glass so it holds together if it breaks · then bubble wrap · then a cardboard sheet on both sides · then a blanket.
⚠️ A critical rule: they’re moved and stored standing on their edge, not flat. Laid flat, they break under their own weight and any pressure on top.
📺 TVs & electronics
The original box protects them best if you’ve kept it. If not: bubble wrap on the screen, then a cardboard sheet on the front, then a blanket. And photograph the device connections before unplugging — it saves you the confusion of reconnecting.
⚠️ Screens are always moved upright — laying them flat puts pressure on the panel and causes permanent spots.
🍽️ Dishes & plates
Each piece is wrapped individually in white paper. Plates are packed standing like books, not stacked — upright plates withstand vibration, stacked ones break. Glasses are stuffed with paper inside and placed on top.
💡 Use small boxes for the heaviest items. A large box full of dishes gives way at the bottom.
👔 Clothes
Hanging clothes stay on their hangers inside special wardrobe boxes we provide on request — so they arrive ready to hang, no ironing needed. Folded clothes go in boxes or your suitcases, and they make useful padding for other items.
📚 Books & files
Heavier than you expect. Small boxes only, and don’t fill them completely. Pack them flat or standing on their spines — not on the page edges, which bends them.
🪑 Wooden furniture
Whatever can be dismantled is dismantled — beds, wardrobes and large tables. The parts are numbered during disassembly, and each item’s screws go in a labeled bag taped to it. Then a blanket and stretch film, with extra care for the corners since they’re the first to rub.
🛋️ Sofas & upholstery
Stretch film directly on the fabric to keep out dust and dirt, then a blanket. Cushions are wrapped separately. Leather sofas need a blanket first, because film directly on leather can leave marks in the heat.
🏺 Antiques & valuables
Double bubble wrap, then a separate padded box so the item can’t move inside at all. Label it clearly. Our advice for irreplaceable items: carry them yourself.
The labeling system that saves you hours
What wastes the most time after a move is searching for something in an unmarked box. The fix is simple:
- Write on three sides, not just the lid — boxes get stacked and the lid disappears.
- Write the destination room, not the source room — “new kitchen”, not “old kitchen”.
- Color-code with tape for each room, so the crew knows where each box goes at a glance.
- Mark fragile items clearly in plain words — not with a symbol only some people understand.
- Put a number on every box and keep a list of its contents on your phone.
Pack yourself or let us pack?
✅ Pack it yourself
Clothes · books · small items · anything you don’t want anyone to see. This saves part of the cost and gives you control over the organization.
🤝 Leave it to us
Wooden furniture · mirrors and glass · TVs · dishes · antiques. These need materials and experience, and one mistake costs more than the packing itself.
🚫 Five mistakes that cost furniture
- Wrapping wooden furniture in film directly without a blanket — it traps moisture and marks the finish.
- Filling large boxes with heavy items — they give way at the bottom or can’t be lifted at all.
- Leaving empty space inside a box — the contents shift and break. Fill the gaps with paper or clothes.
- Wrapping plates in newspaper — the ink transfers and they need a full wash after the move.
- Moving mirrors flat — they break under their own weight. Always on the edge.
Professional packing with quality materials
A trained crew and quality materials — or a moving-only package if you’d rather pack yourself. We show the difference in the written quote.