7 Packing Mistakes That Damage Furniture

Furniture is where most moving mistakes happen — not because movers are careless, but because packing furniture properly takes technique most people never learn until something gets scratched. Here are the seven mistakes we see most often, and how to avoid each one.

1. Wrapping directly with plastic stretch film

Plastic stretch wrap is great for holding drawers shut and stopping doors from swinging open, but wrapped directly against wood or polished surfaces, it can trap moisture and pull off the finish when removed. Always wrap furniture in a moving blanket or paper padding first, then use stretch film over that to hold the padding in place.

2. Moving wardrobes and cabinets fully loaded

It's tempting to leave clothes or items inside a wardrobe to save packing time, but the added weight strains joints and hinges during transport, and shifting contents can crack interior panels. Empty cabinets and use dedicated wardrobe boxes for hanging clothes instead.

3. Skipping furniture disassembly

Bed frames, large wardrobes and sectional sofas that are moved fully assembled are far more likely to be damaged going through doorways and stairwells. Disassembling legs, headboards and sofa sections takes extra time upfront but prevents most of the dents and scrapes we see on move day.

4. Losing screws and small hardware

Nothing derails a reassembly faster than missing screws. Keep hardware for each piece of furniture in a labeled zip bag, taped to the matching furniture part — not loose in a box with everything else.

5. Not protecting corners and edges

Table corners, cabinet edges and glass tabletops take the brunt of bumps during loading. Corner protectors or folded moving blankets taped over edges prevent chips and cracks that standard wrapping alone won't stop.

6. Stacking heavy boxes on furniture

Sofas and mattresses aren't built to have heavy boxes stacked on top during transport. This can permanently deform cushions and frames. Keep boxes on the truck floor or on shelving, never resting on upholstered furniture.

7. Rushing glass and marble items

Glass tabletops, mirrors and marble surfaces need to be crated or padded separately from the rest of the load, transported upright (never flat, which adds pressure across the center) and cushioned on all sides.

Getting furniture handling right is really a matter of technique, not luck. Our crews disassemble, wrap and pad furniture the same way on every move — which is why it's one of the parts of the job we take the most care over.