Packing furniture is an important step in preparing to store your household belongings. This is often necessary just before a move, when temporary storage is involved.
Properly packing your furniture is not only important for long term storage, careful preparation is also essential in the short term to keep furniture in good condition.
In this article, we take you through the process of preparing your furniture for storage, including inspection, choosing packing materials, dismantling, packing and labelling, and placing your furniture in storage.
How to inspect each furniture piece to prevent damage
During a pre-inspection, you check and record the current condition of one or more items. For furniture, it is best to do this by taking photographs with notes regarding any existing damage or other particular details before packing them. This provides better protection for your furniture and better insurance for yourself and allows you to make more targeted choices when packing your belongings.
For each item, you should pay attention to the following points:
- The condition of the cover or protective layer or finish
- Loose parts and weak joints
- Hidden moisture and odours underneath the furniture, in drawers or in seams
- Sharp corners or protrusions
If a piece of furniture has loose components, such as shelves, equipment, glass panels or fixings, remove them and label them. Record in an inventory list which parts belong to which piece of furniture.
Tip: Also note the dimensions of the furniture and the door frames they need to pass through, so you know in advance whether you may need to dismantle anything.
What to look out for to prevent scratches, dents, moisture and mould
When moving and storing furniture, you may encounter risks of damage. Wooden and veneered furniture is sensitive to friction, which can cause scratches to the finish and edges. Fabric and leather furniture is more susceptible to damage to seams and undersides and, if stacked too heavily, pressure can cause dents. Moisture and poor ventilation can also cause this type of furniture to develop mould, and metal can develop rust. With glass furniture or components, corners can chip if too much weight is placed on them.
With a few simple tips, you can avoid the most common risks. Ensure that the first layer of packaging is breathable, that no tape is applied directly to a lacquered surface, and that corner protectors are placed on, for example, table tops and frames.
If a piece of furniture feels slightly damp, it is essential that you allow it to air thoroughly before packing it. If there is a musty smell, this may indicate moisture and mould. If the smell does not disappear after airing, make sure you use breathable covers and that there is sufficient ventilation in the space.
After packing, you can carry out a quick check to see whether the furniture is properly protected: press your finger on a vulnerable spot, and if the area feels almost immediately hard, add an extra soft layer.
What materials do you use to protect furniture when moving and storing?
It is useful to have a starter kit of furniture friendly packing materials on hand. The exact materials you use depend on the type of furniture and the situation.
The first layer of protection often starts with acid free packing paper, which prevents direct contact with the furniture without affecting or damaging the surface. Moving blankets provide an additional layer against wear and light knocks. For furniture that requires extra shock protection, bubble wrap can be used, but always on top of a soft underlayer.
Stretch wrap keeps the base layer and loose components together and protects the furniture from dust. However, make sure the layer is not airtight, as moisture and odours can build up. If the piece of furniture has vulnerable corners or edges, it is strongly recommended to add cardboard corner protectors. Breathable furniture covers are also useful for additional protection against dust and do not retain moisture.
Finally, tape or straps ensure that all protective layers are securely fastened and that the furniture remains stable. Label the outer layer with ‘top side’ or ‘fragile’ to ensure proper handling.
The correct packing method may vary per type of furniture:
- Wood or veneer and lacquer → do: packing paper and moving blankets; do not: place bubble wrap directly on the furniture.
- Leather and fabric → do: breathable covers; do not: wrap airtight for long term storage.
- Glass, stone, marble → do: foam and corner protectors or a board with a larger surface area placed on top of the piece; do not: use only wrap.
- Metal → do: dry fabric layer; do not: pack airtight or when the furniture is still relatively warm.
When do you use bubble wrap, wrapping paper, wrapping film and tape?
Choosing the right packing material also depends on the sensitivity of the surface, the weight and the storage period:
Packing paper, acid free: acid free packing paper is always used as the first protective layer for furniture made of wood, veneer, leather or fabric. The paper prevents direct contact with other materials and protects the surface. For example, a wooden dining table is first completely wrapped in packing paper before moving blankets or other protective layers are added.
Bubble wrap: bubble wrap is intended for extra protection on vulnerable areas where impacts may occur, such as the edges and corners of glass or stone. With glass shelves or a glass table top, the parts are first wrapped in paper, after which corners and edges are additionally protected with bubble wrap.
Stretch wrap: stretch wrap is used to hold protective layers together and to keep furniture dust free. For furniture that is stored, such as a sofa or armchair, moving blankets are secured with stretch wrap. It is important to leave small openings with breathable materials so that air can continue to circulate.
Tape: tape is only used to secure protective material, not directly on the furniture. Cardboard corner protectors or wrap, for example, are fixed with tape. If tape is temporarily needed on packing paper, use a low tack tape such as masking tape to prevent damage.
Cheat sheet per type of furniture
Regardless of the material a piece of furniture is made from, each has its own weak points. For these types, you can usually follow a similar approach:
- Sofa:
- Use a breathable furniture cover or moving blanket as the first layer
- Pack cushions separately
- Protect vulnerable corners with cardboard
- Wrap stretch film only over the covers and blankets
- Leave some space within the wrap for ventilation
- Wardrobe:
- Secure the doors with straps or wrap with a protective underlayer such as cardboard
- Remove shelves and rails and pack them separately
- Place hinges and screws in labelled bags and store them inside the furniture
- Sideboard:
- Secure the drawers and doors or remove them and pack them separately
- Cover handles and knobs with cardboard
- Pack the top with acid free packing paper, moving blankets, bubble wrap and or corner protectors
- Secure the protective layers with tape, but not directly on the surface of the furniture
- Marble or stone tops:
- First use packing paper or foam, then corner protectors
- Place sturdy boards of cardboard or MDF on both the underside and top
- Transport and store the tops upright
- Mark or label them with ‘fragile – this side up’
- Dining table, wood or veneer:
- Remove the legs if possible
- Cover the table top with acid free packing paper and a moving blanket
- Place bubble wrap or cardboard only on the corners
- Avoid direct contact of tape with the surface
- Chairs, leather, fabric, metal:
- Do not cinch the chairs too tightly
- Wrap each chair separately with packing paper or a moving blanket
- Allow leather and fabric to breathe
- Ensure metal frames are completely dry to prevent condensation
How do you disassemble furniture efficiently and safely?
It can sometimes be quite a task, but in many situations dismantling furniture is certainly worthwhile. You can pass through door frames more easily, reduce pressure on vulnerable joints, packing often becomes much easier, and there is less weight to move at once.
With complex pieces of furniture, it is best to take photographs of how you assembled or dismantled them. Keep manuals at hand and, if necessary, create label codes stating what the item is, which room it belongs in and the product code of the item.
You really do not want to lose small loose parts such as screws, hinges and other fixings, especially as some fit only that specific piece of furniture. Therefore, place them in labelled bags stating the quantity, which larger component they belong to and whether any spares are included. Attach the bag to an unfinished side or the inside of the corresponding piece of furniture. Never apply (strong) tape directly to a finished surface.
To better protect larger loose components, it is best to bundle legs together and place shelves and glass in thick covers with corner protectors. Hardware is best stored in a sturdy small box inside a larger labelled box.
Your own safety and that of your furniture during transport should not be overlooked. Always lift with at least two people or use a transport trolley for smaller furniture. Plan a clear route in advance, use floor sliders and straps, and mark heavy or fragile furniture components.
