Packing up any piece of furniture can be a real headache. The trickiest part? Furniture comes in all shapes, sizes, and materials—which means you can’t just use a one-size-fits-all approach. That ornate wooden table with all the intricate carvings needs way more TLC than your IKEA coffee table. And good luck trying to wrap up a big, comfy couch without ripping the fabric. Plus, the sheer weight and bulk of some furniture make it a challenge to secure everything properly.
But here’s the thing—if you don’t take the time to prep and wrap each piece carefully, you’re just asking for damage down the line. A little elbow grease upfront (or hiring a Tasker to do it for you) can save you major stress later on. Read on to learn how to wrap everything up just right so it stays safe.
Get Your Furniture Ready
1. Create a Furniture List
When you’re gearing up for a big move, it’s a good idea to take inventory of all the pieces you’re bringing with you! If you’re going the DIY route, pictures and videos will help you with reassembly and remind you how you decorated the item. If you’re hiring a Tasker, a list helps them confirm that everything made it safely to its new location.
2. Clean Furniture
Grab yourself a soft cloth or a duster, and give those surfaces a quick once-over. Just a light dusting to get rid of any abrasive particles that might be hanging around—you want to make sure there’s no loose dust, dirt, or grime that could potentially cause scratches or scuffs during the haul. No need for full-on spring cleaning mode, a little light touch-up is all it takes.
3. Dismantle Furniture
For bulky or complex furniture, you may need to disassemble or partially disassemble it before the big day. This could involve removing things like legs, drawers, shelves, knobs, and more. By carefully taking the item apart, you make it more compact and manageable to lift, carry, and load. Don’t forget to label all of the pieces and hardware so reassembling can go as smoothly as possible!
4. Measure Furniture
The last thing you’d want is for some of the prized furniture items that you spent so much time protecting to not fit through the doors or hallways of the new place. That’s why you should do a little pre-planning—get your hands on a detailed floor plan of your new home so you can map out exactly where each piece is going to go and that it’ll fit just right. Then, take the time to carefully measure the dimensions of your larger furniture items like the width, depth, height, and even the diagonal measurements to compare to the specs of the new place. Bottom line: Measure twice, move once!
Get Your Wrapping Supplies
Now that your furniture is ready to be wrapped, you want to make sure you have everything you need to get the job done. From a furniture cover for moving to shrink wrap for furniture, here’s a list of all the packing materials you’ll need:
- Bubble wrap
- Plastic wrap for furniture
- Moving blankets
- Mattress covers
- Packing paper
- Cardboard boxes
- Sealable plastic bags
- Furniture pads
- Packing tape
- Rope or string
How to Wrap Furniture for Moving
Wood Furniture
For wooden furniture, you should stay very far away from any type of plastic wrapping material—it can seriously damage your beautiful pieces! Instead, use moving blankets to gently wrap and cushion the entire surface of the item. This helps to protect the delicate finishes from any scratches or dents. You may also want to wrap the corners and edges with extra padding, just for an added layer of protection.
Couches
When you want to know how to wrap a couch for moving, here is all you need to know. If your couch’s upholstery is something light like cotton or linen, go ahead and wrap it in your plastic furniture wrap. If your couch is leather, put that plastic down! Leather needs to breathe, so you’re better off using a moving blanket or two and securing that with tape. If your couch has any sharp corners or edges, go ahead and add some cardboard for extra security.
Furniture With Glass
Any removable fragile items, like glass tabletops, dresser mirrors, or whatnot, should be taken off the main furniture piece when possible. Then, it’s time to get to wrapping. Carefully cover the entire glass surface in sheets of packing paper, using tape to hold it in place. Tip: Don’t put the tape directly on the glass, you don’t want a messy surprise later on. Once that’s secured, top it with some cardboard boxes cut to the same shape and size as the glass. Use bubble wrap as extra protection to make sure your item is nice, bundled, and safe.
Drawers
First, make sure everything is out of those drawers so it doesn’t make your move heavier than it needs to be! Second, make sure they’re secured—you may want to reach for the packing tape but it’s better to go with rope or string so you don’t leave sticky residue and potentially damage your furniture.
How to Protect Furniture When Moving
1. Measure Door and Hall Size
Before the big move, carefully measure the dimensions of all door frames, hallways, and other tight spaces the furniture will need to pass through. This helps ensure the wrapped pieces will actually fit through without getting stuck or sustaining any damage.
2. Gather Essential Moving Equipment
Make sure you have all the right tools on hand, like furniture dollies, sliders, straps, and ropes. This is crucial for getting your items to their next location in tip-top shape!
3. Use Gliders
For hardwood or tile floors, put furniture gliders under the wrapped pieces. This makes them much easier to slide and maneuver, reducing the risk of scratches or scuffs on your flooring.
4. Pick the Correct Size for Moving Truck
Estimate the total volume and weight of your wrapped furniture, then select a moving truck with ample space. You don’t want the pieces to be crammed in too tightly, which could cause damage. You also may want to look for a truck that has tie-downs and ramps, which help hold down the furniture and make it easier to load and unload.
Getting Moving Assistance
While you could go the DIY route, you may want to consider another option before stocking up on all that bubble wrap. That other option? Hiring movers in the form of a Tasker, of course! From protecting your beautiful pieces to lifting heavy items, Taskrabbit’s packing services are the perfect solution for a stress-free moving process.
