How to Pack Furniture for Storage

You might be putting your furniture into storage for any number of reasons. For instance, you might be moving home and need somewhere to store furniture while your sale goes through, or you might be moving abroad temporarily. 

Whatever your reason, packing and protecting your items for storage will help safeguard them from damage and pesky mould and mildew.

Here’s our 10-step guide on how to pack furniture for moving and storage.

1. Thoroughly clean your furniture

Before you even think of how to store your furniture, get ready to get cleaning! Any dirt left on furniture when it’s moved into storage could damage it permanently. 

• Use a dry cloth to remove any dust particles.
• Clean wooden furniture using a wood cleaning product, then apply a coat of furniture polish to help stop the wood from drying out in storage.
• Hoover your sofa and upholstery and clean the fabric to remove loose dirt.
• Apply leather cleaner and protection to leather furniture. 
• Polish any metal components on your furniture.
• Make sure that everything’s dry before you wrap and pack it – trapped moisture can lead to mould spreading over your furniture while it’s in storage. 

2. Dissemble your furniture

Using the instruction manuals as a guide, dissemble the pieces of furniture that can be dissembled, and remove any drawers. This will make your furniture items easier to pack, transport, store and help prevent accidental damage.

3. Stay organised

Being organised from the outset will make the whole moving and storage process smoother. Here are a couple of pro storage tips:

• Take pics of your furniture at each stage of the disassembly process, so you have some reference points when the time comes to reassemble it.
• To ensure you have everything in one place, put the screws, bolts etc., in a clear plastic bag and attach it to the appropriate piece of furniture.

4. Wrap your furniture

Wrap furniture for storage. This is a key step and will help keep it in good condition. For furniture made of wood, wrap old blankets around them before applying the packing wrap. Upholstery such as chairs and sofas should be wrapped in breathable packing that prevents moisture from getting in. For metal, use plastic wrap underneath a softer material. You can also buy specialist furniture covers for storage.

5. Protect glass items

Glass requires more TLC. For extra protection, you can pack glass components into a styrofoam (or eco-friendly alternative) box before loading it into a storage box. But first, wrap mirrors and glass tabletops, etc., in packing paper and bubble wrap.

6. Choose a storage solution

Don’t forget to book your storage space! Keep costs, flexibility, and security in mind when searching for a storage unit. At Storage X, we pride ourselves on being London’s most affordable furniture storage solution. Our units start at £15 per week, and you can hire them on a monthly rolling basis.

7. Move your furniture into the van

If you choose Storage X, we’ll pick up and transport your furniture, so you won’t need to worry about the ‘moving’ aspect of packing furniture for moving. But if you’re storing your items elsewhere, you should put large items around the walls of the van, with smaller items inside. 

Be careful not to pack things too high and secure items using unique straps. Also, be careful when lifting, and don’t try to do anything alone.

8. Prioritise safety

When it comes to packing furniture for storage, here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Get at least two other people to help.
• Remember to disassemble furniture into smaller parts.
• Research how to lift properly to avoid hurting your back.
• Make sure nobody is standing behind the furniture when it’s lifted into the van.

9. Pack furniture intelligently

Let’s imagine you’ve reached the storage unit; now what?

When it comes to how to pack furniture in a storage unit, there’s more to it than shoving everything inside and hoping for the best. Again, try to take an organised and common-sense approach. 

Here are some key don’ts:

• Don’t put things right next to each other – like people; your furniture needs room to breathe.
• Don’t store items directly on the floor – place them on wooden pallets first to keep them dry.
• Don’t place items against the walls – if it gets humid and climate control isn’t available, condensation on the walls could lead to dampness and mould.

10. Don’t overfill your storage solution

Ensure you can easily access your storage unit by leaving an aisle at the back and sides. Filling your unit with too much clutter can lead to certain things being knocked over and broken. Why not take some time to declutter before hiring a storage unit?

Are you ready to book your storage unit?

Now you know how to pack furniture for long-term storage, it’s time to get the ball rolling. With Storage X, you don’t have to worry about moving your furniture to a short or long-term storage facility because our expert team will pick it up for you. We pick up from anywhere in London and deliver to anywhere in the UK.  Tell us when your moving day is, and we’ll be there.