Written by the Moving team – for anyone who wants to move furniture without any hassle.

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What does moving furniture mean?

You don’t just throw everything in a box and hope for the best. Packing furniture for moving is all about thinking ahead, using the right packing materials, and using a smart order. Think of it as a game of Tetris where every piece of furniture fits safely in the van. When you’re moving, you’ll notice that not everything will go exactly according to plan. Okay, this isn’t always the case, but unfortunately, it happens more often than you might think.

Example
Our colleague Sam once put his precious cast iron table in a van without any protection. One bump, a slide, and the paint showed scratches. Since then he swears by moving blankets and bubble wrap. Packing materials for your move are very important. During your move, make sure that the stuff is packed in the right way.

The fast workflow

Step	Action	Why you do this
1	Taking inventory	Then you know exactly what to bring
2	Stock up on packing materials	Optimal protection = less damage
3	Disassemble and label	Getting large furniture through narrow doorways
4	Packing and sealing furniture	Prevents dirt, moisture and scratches
5	Smart car charging	Weight distribution prevents sliding
6	Unpack and check	Your belongings are spick and span

Preparation & planning

Moving planning in 8 weeks

Week 8–6: Clear out and sell what you no longer use. Book a moving company or a student moving service.
Week 5–4: Order moving boxes, moving blankets, wrapping foil and other packaging materials in various widths.
Week 3–2: Disassemble large furniture. Prepare furniture covers for moving day.
Week 1: Wrap fragile items such as dishes and glassware in wrapping paper and bubble wrap.
Moving day: Check that each box has a moving sticker. This will save you from having to ask the movers.

Inventory & edding-3000-method

Take an Edding 3000 marker. Write on each box:

Room color (red = kitchen green = bedroom)
Content category such as “books” or “dishes”
Priority 1 – 3

You will find everything later without having to search for a long time.

Required packing and packaging materials

Packing material	Length / size	Application	Indispensable because…
Moving boxes	choice of 50 pieces	Stackable storage	sturdy cardboard protects items
Bubble wrap	length 5 or 20 meters	Fragile items	shock absorbing
Stretch/wrapping film	30 to 50 cm wide	Sealing drawers and benches	moisture resistant and keeps dust out
Moving blankets	150 × 200 cm	Large furniture	prevents scratches
Protective corners (u-corners foam corner protectors)	variable	Table and painting corners	impact resistant
Mattress covers & white goods bag	single and double	Mattress and washing machine	waterproof
Clamp buckle tension straps	3–5 m	Securing in the car	prevents sliding
Warning labels	set of 56	“Fragile” or “above”	stands out

Analogy
Good packing material works like a motorcycle helmet. You hope you never need it, but it will save you a big blow if something goes wrong. Pay close attention to this when packing.

Practical tips for packing furniture

Wrapping the bank in three layers

Wrap the upholstery in a moving blanket.
Seal everything tightly with wrapping foil. You will need at least 10 or 20 meters to wrap with. So make sure you have enough.
Place a warning label “top = top” on the backrest.

Wrap the sofa in wrapping foil or moving blankets

Use corrugated cardboard on sharp corners. Leave small openings for ventilation so that leather does not sweat. This is for protection and packing your furniture is therefore very important. Perhaps you still have your own stock and you can use it to pack your precious belongings.

Pack smart and get the bank through the door

Measure the sofa diagonally and the door opening. Unscrew the legs and tape the screws in a bag under the sofa. A simple action prevents searching. So you actually need a whole assortment of packing materials. You can say that this is indispensable for every move.

Transporting the sofa in the furniture covers

Place the sofa upright against the side of the moving van. Cross two tension straps. If you are driving through rain, put a plastic sheet over the top. Protecting your furniture is very important. Especially during transport during your move.

Packing bed and mattress

Remove the slatted base and label left and right.
Slide the mattress into a mattress cover. No more stains.
Screws go in a bag with a “bed” sticker.

Moving tables, chairs and crockery

Place foam corner protectors on table tops. You have different sizes for this.
Tie chairs together in pairs with mini wrapping foil. This way you ensure that everything is properly packed.
First wrap dishes and glassware in bubble wrap, then in wrapping paper. Place the plates vertically like plates in a plate tray. Make sure you have a length of 5 meters.

Sealing large furniture and white goods

Secure the washing machine drum with transport bolts.
Put a white goods bag over the machine. This keeps the paint clean.
Use moving blankets around a refrigerator and seal them with wrapping foil. Estimating how many you need can be tricky.

Disassembling furniture on moving day – how, what and why

You will save backache and money if you disassemble large furniture. Take photos with your phone step by step, then you can rebuild everything just as quickly later. Think about this during a move.

Furniture	Average disassembly time	Risk of damage after disassembly
Ikea PAX wardrobe	30 min	90 % less chance of scratches
Oak sideboard	45 – 60 min	Doors remain intact
Dining table	10 min	Fits better through the door

Protection of surfaces & corners

Slide painting corners onto frames. Place corrugated cardboard between furniture so that paint does not chafe. Place fragile items vertically in boxes because vertical pressure distributes force better. This is important to ensure that the move goes smoothly. It is also useful to purchase the perfect work glove. Corrugated cardboard for protection in various degrees is very useful. Think of parcel shipments that are protected with this or even painting corners. You can also use foam corners for this. Or u-fix corners.

Labeling, coding & documenting

Stick moving stickers in five colours, one colour per room. By naming the moving boxes, it is easy to see what you want to take with you and you will also know immediately where to put everything in your new home.
Scan each box with a QR app and add a photo. Instead of using a total of 56 moving labels, you can also use these.
Number the boxes so you know if one is missing. By naming moving boxes you will make the boxes stand out and everyone will know where to put them. You can also always use our checklist so you don't forget anything.

Loading transport and moving vans

Place heavy cabinets against the front wall of the vehicle. Secure everything with ratchet straps. Place boxes with fragile items in the middle. Drive forward a meter and brake gently to see if anything shifts. No movement? Then you're good. Does it go wrong? Don't worry. This can happen of course. Did you hire professional moving help? Then your furniture is well insured.

Unpacking in the new house

First, put down the bed and coffee machine, then it will feel right at home. Use our checklist to unpack in a logical order. Clean surfaces and level furniture.

Environmentally friendly & budget-friendly moving

Rent moving blankets instead of buying them.
Ask neighbors if they have any moving boxes to spare.
Choose narrower rolls of stretch film for small furniture. Less waste, same protection.

Special scenarios and case study

Case Study – Student Relocation Service

A student moved from a third-floor studio apartment without an elevator to an apartment with an elevator. He hired two students for two hours. They disassembled the bed, used stretch film and moving boxes, and labeled everything with moving stickers. Cost? €210 less than full-service movers and zero damage thanks to smart packing.

Common mistakes

Don't make a plan.
Call boxes “miscellaneous.”
Put the screws loose in your coat pocket.
Leave the bench uncovered in the rain.
Place fragile items at the bottom.

10 tips for packing during the move!

Start six weeks before moving day.
Invest in good packaging materials.
Work room by room so that you maintain an overview.
Use clear moving stickers.
Protect dishes with towels.
Put “fragile” and an up arrow on each fragile box.
Seal drawers with stretch foil.
Request a no-obligation quote and calculate the moving costs.
Keep a “first night” box aside with coffee chargers and toilet paper.
Offer packaging material online afterwards so it earns another round.

Protect your furniture – FAQ

Ask	Answer
How many moving boxes do I need?	Allow 10 to 12 boxes per room or use our checklist to estimate.
Can I reuse wrapping film?	Usually not, wrapping film tears easily, so it is better to take a narrower roll to reduce waste.
Do I need to book movers?	A moving company saves time, a student moving service saves money, choose what suits you.
How do I transport a washing machine down stairs?	Use a stair runner with two people and secure the drum with transport bolts.
What if I discover damage?	Note it on the packing slip, take photos and report the damage within 24 hours.

Download & receive our checklist

Our handy PDF shows the full timeline all the essential materials and boxes to tick. Get our checklist for free and keep your move under control.

Request a price indication from Moving

We hope you now know exactly how to pack furniture for moving. Protect each piece of furniture with care, use the right packing materials and continue to follow our practical tips. That way, your moving day will go smoothly.

Do you have any questions or would you like a price indication? Contact us for a free quote and let us arrange your move smoothly.