A Step-by-Step Guide to Wrapping Your Own Furniture for an Upcoming Move

August 12, 2024

Wrapping Furniture for an Upcoming Move

A man and a woman are moving into a new home.

Step 1: Gather Your Supplies

Before you start, make sure you have all the necessary supplies:

Moving blankets or pads: These provide a thick layer of protection for your furniture.
Bubble wrap: Great for fragile items and extra padding.
Plastic stretch wrap: Helps secure moving blankets and protect against dust and dirt.
Packing tape: For securing bubble wrap and stretch wrap.
Furniture sliders: To move heavy pieces without scratching floors.
Cardboard sheets: For added protection of delicate surfaces.

Step 2: Disassemble Where Possible

Disassembling your furniture makes it easier to wrap and transport. Remove legs from tables, detach cushions from sofas, and take apart bed frames. Keep all screws and small parts in labeled plastic bags so you can easily reassemble everything later.

Step 3: Clean and Dry Your Furniture

Wipe down all surfaces to remove dust and dirt. Make sure everything is dry before wrapping to prevent mold and mildew during transit.

Step 4: Protect Fragile Areas

For furniture with glass or delicate surfaces, use bubble wrap to cover these areas first. Secure the bubble wrap with packing tape, ensuring it is snug but not overly tight.

Step 5: Wrap with Moving Blankets

Moving blankets are your furniture's best friend. Here’s how to use them effectively:

Cover large surfaces: Lay the blanket flat and place the furniture on top. Wrap the blanket around the piece, ensuring all sides are covered.
Secure with tape: Use packing tape to keep the blanket in place. Avoid taping directly to the furniture to prevent damage.
Double up if necessary: For particularly valuable or fragile pieces, consider using two blankets for extra protection.

Step 6: Use Plastic Stretch Wrap

Plastic stretch wrap helps keep everything in place and adds a layer of protection against dust and dirt. Here's how to apply it:

Start at the bottom: Wrap the plastic around the base of the furniture.
Work your way up: Continue wrapping in a spiral motion, making sure to overlap each layer.
Secure the ends: Tuck the end of the plastic wrap under the last layer to keep it from unraveling.

Step 7: Use Cardboard for Extra Protection

For items with delicate surfaces like tabletops or mirrors, cut cardboard sheets to size and place them on the wrapped furniture. Secure the cardboard with tape or additional stretch wrap.

Step 8: Label Everything

Label each wrapped piece with its destination room and any special handling instructions. This will make unpacking much smoother and ensure movers know which items need extra care.

Step 9: Use Furniture Sliders

When it's time to move your wrapped furniture, use furniture sliders to avoid scratching floors and to make the process easier. Place the sliders under each corner of the piece and gently push it across the floor.

Step 10: Load Carefully

When loading the moving truck, place heavier items on the bottom and lighter, more fragile items on top. Use straps to secure furniture in place and prevent shifting during transit.

Conclusion

Wrapping your own furniture for a move can be a time-consuming task, but with the right supplies and techniques, you can protect your belongings and ensure they arrive at your new home in perfect condition. Remember, the key is to be thorough and take your time. Happy moving!

By following this guide, you’ll be well on your way to a smooth and successful move. If you have any questions or need professional assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out to S.B. Taylor Transport. We’re here to make your move as stress-free as possible!

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Overwhelmed by Packing? You Don't Have to Do It Alone

By Brie Grant • January 31, 2026

Moving is stressful enough. Packing doesn't have to be. We've heard it countless times: "I know I should start packing, but every time I look at my closet, I just freeze." Or "I'm working full-time, managing kids' schedules, and now I have to pack an entire house in three weeks?" Here's what we want you to know: You don't have to pack your own boxes. It's Okay to Ask for Help There's this unspoken expectation that packing is just something you should do yourself. Like somehow you're not a capable adult if you can't manage to wrap every dish, fold every piece of clothing, and label every box while juggling everything else in your life. Let us be clear: that's nonsense. Packing an entire household is physically exhausting and emotionally draining. You're handling memories with every item. You're making a thousand tiny decisions about what goes where. You're doing this while probably also managing work, family obligations, and the million other details that come with moving. Asking for help isn't a luxury—it's smart planning. What Professional Packing Actually Looks Like When you work with S.B. Taylor Moving for packing services, you're not just hiring people to throw things in boxes. You're working with a team trained in the art of careful, thoughtful packing. Our team approaches packing the same way we approach moving: with care, compassion, and respect for your belongings and your story. Here's what we can help with: Full packing services - We pack everything, room by room, with systematic labeling so you know exactly where things are when you arrive at your new home Partial packing - Maybe you want to pack personal items yourself but need help with the kitchen, garage, or those overwhelming "everything" rooms. We work alongside you. Unpacking and setup - Moving day is exhausting. We can unpack boxes, put dishes in cabinets, hang clothes in closets, and help you settle in so you can actually sleep in a functional bedroom that first night. Organization as we go - With my 20 years of experience as a CNA working with seniors and families in transition, I understand how overwhelming it feels when you can't find anything. We organize as we unpack so your new space is actually livable from day one. Why Our Packing Services Are Different Before I started S.B. Taylor Moving, I spent two decades as a Certified Nursing Assistant. I worked in memory care, hospice, and with veterans. I learned how to handle people's most precious belongings during vulnerable moments. I learned patience. I learned how to read what someone needs even when they can't articulate it. That background shapes everything we do. Our team isn't just trained in proper packing techniques (though we absolutely know how to wrap a wine glass so it arrives intact). We're trained to see you as a whole person, not just another job on the schedule. We understand that the box of photo albums isn't just heavy—it's your entire family history. We know that packing up a nursery when you're downsizing hits differently than packing up a garage. We get that sometimes you need us to just quietly work while you process, and sometimes you need us to chat and keep things light. We're caregivers who happen to pack boxes. When Packing Help Makes the Most Sense You might benefit from professional packing if: You're moving on a tight timeline and there aren't enough hours in the day You have mobility limitations or health concerns that make packing physically difficult You're managing a household move while working full-time or caring for family members You're downsizing from a long-term home and feeling overwhelmed by decades of belongings You have valuable or fragile items that need specialized packing You're already emotionally exhausted and need someone else to handle the logistics You simply don't want to pack and would rather spend your limited time on other priorities That last one? Completely valid. How It Works: The Three-Day Process Day Before Moving Day: Packing Our team arrives with all supplies and packs your entire home systematically. We use detailed box labeling—not just "kitchen" but "kitchen - everyday dishes and coffee mugs." This makes unpacking SO much easier. Moving Day: Strategic Placement We load everything, transport it to your new home, and here's the key: we set up your bed first and place every box in its correct room. No mountain of boxes in the garage. No digging through the living room to find your kids' school clothes. Everything goes where it belongs from the start. Day After Move: Unpacking With our detailed labeling system, we know exactly which boxes need unpacking first. We unpack strategically—kitchen essentials, bathrooms, bedrooms—so your home is functional, not just full of empty boxes. You can cook dinner and shower in a space that feels like home, not a storage unit. This three-day approach means you go from packed and ready to settled and living in your new space in 72 hours. Real Talk About Cost Yes, professional packing is an additional cost. We're transparent about that. But here's what we've seen time and again: people who try to do everything themselves often end up: Taking time off work (lost wages) Buying supplies piecemeal at retail prices (expensive and inefficient) Packing poorly in a rush (leading to damaged items) Arriving at their new home completely exhausted and unable to function Taking weeks to unpack because they're overwhelmed When you factor in your time, energy, and peace of mind, professional packing often makes financial sense—especially during an already expensive and stressful life transition. You Deserve Support Moving is ranked as one of life's most stressful events, right up there with loss of a loved one and divorce. You're not being dramatic if it feels hard—it is hard. At S.B. Taylor Moving, we built our entire business on a simple idea: people deserve compassionate support during life transitions. Whether you need us to pack three boxes or three thousand, we're here. Whether you're moving across town or across the state, whether you're upsizing, downsizing, or just sizing differently—we've got you. You don't have to do this alone. Ready to take packing off your plate? Call S.B. Taylor Moving at 207-502-4035 or visit www.sbtaylortransport.com to schedule a free packing consultation. Serving York and Cumberland counties with the care you deserve.