Your bedroom set has a great deal of value—both financial and sentimental—but because of its size, weight and shape, can be challenging to ship during a move. On top of that, repairs can be costly if your bedroom set is damaged in transit. To prevent damage and make sure your furniture arrives at your new home safe and sound, follow our best practices.
How to pack a bedroom set
One of the most important things you can do to ensure the safe and secure shipping of a bedroom set is to use the appropriate packaging materials. Once you've acquired the correct packing materials, you can start disassembling and packing your bedroom set. You'll need:
- Mattress bag
- Mattress box
- High-quality packing tape
- Painter's tape
- Moving blankets
- Bubble wrap
- Plastic bags
- Permanent marker
Once you've acquired your packing materials, you can start packing your bedroom set. This includes:
- Your mattress
- Bed frame
- Headboard
- Night tables, dressers, and other furniture
Packing your bed frame
Pack your bed frame before you pack your mattress. With your bed frame packed and out of the way, you'll have enough floor space to handle packing your mattress.
Start by disassembling your bed frame. Place any screws and small parts into a labelled plastic bag, and adhere the bag to the frame. Then, wrap all of the components in moving blankets or other protective packing materials such as bubble wrap. Secure the blankets or bubble wrap in place with packing type.
It's important to use plenty of protective packaging on frames—any dents experienced in transit could render your frame unsafe or uusable. Bed frames are also heavy, and adequate cushioning will also protect your other belongings if your bed frame shifts in transit.
Packing your mattress
With your bed frame packed, you'll have enough floor space to manage your mattress.
The best thing you can do to protect your mattress is to pack it in a mattress bag. Bagging your mattress will protect it from dust, dirt, moisture and other outside contaminants. Special size mattress bags are available to fit twin, full, queen, king and oversize mattresses. Secure the bag in place and prevent air pockets and condensation by taping the bag around two or three times.
For extra protection, you can also box your mattress. Mattress boxes are worth the investment if your mattress is being shipped long distance, or will be subjected to rough conditions in transit. Some moving companies will require you to box your mattress—if you're unsure, speak to your moving partner before moving day so you can acquire the necessary supplies and avoid any last minute charges.
The final step is to seal the bag or box with high quality packing tape. Label the bag or box with the room it belongs in, as well as the destination address.
Packing your headboard
Similar to your bed frame, start by disassembling your headboard as much as possible. Place any screws or small removable parts in a plastic bag, and affix the bag to your headboard.
When you're packing your headboard, be sure to use packing materials that offer surface protection without risk of damage.
Moving blankets can be abrasive and may harm the surface of your headboard, so for maximum surface protection, you may wish to use polyethylene or polypropylene, flexible foams, or bubble wrap. If you are only concerned about surface protection, small bubbles or flexible foam that's 1/16-inch01/8-inch thick will work well. If you are looking for extra cushioning, use a large diameter bubble or flexible foam ¼-inch thick or greater.
If you have an upholstered headboard, poke a few holes in any plastic protective layers to encourage airflow and prevent mold from growing.
Packing dressers, night tables, and other furniture
Additional bedroom set items that are heavy and irregularly shaped, such as night tables, dressers, or wardrobes, should be wrapped with a combination of moving blankets and protective packaging.
As always, start by disassembling as much as you can. This includes removing knobs or drawer pulls, as well as any removable shelves or drawers. Place any removable parts in a sealed and labeled plastic bag. Attach the bag to the furniture, or pack them into a standard-sized moving box for shipment. If you leave your drawers inside your dresser, make sure they and any other moving parts are secured with tape that will not leave an adhesive residue, such as painter's tape.
| BEDROOM PACKING TIP: If any removable parts are subject to damage or surface marring, or may cause damage to other belongings (such as heavy knobs), wrap them individually in bubble material or foam. |
Once you've emptied and disassembled your furniture, wrap it in moving blankets, ensuring that all corners and surfaces of the piece are covered. Secure the blankets in place using high-quality packing tape.
Shipping a Bedroom Set: Conclusion
Your bedroom furniture represents a big investment, but in the rush and anxiety of moving, many people are simply too preoccupied to make sure every detail is covered when it comes to properly packing their bedroom set. Some residential shipping & delivery companies offer packing services so you can rest assured that your furniture is packed securely for transit.
About the author: Stephanie Rosenlund is the Director of Strategic Solutions at TSI, the long distance move and shipment provider for thousands of businesses, families, and individuals every year. Stephanie knows all the tips and tricks to make your move or shipment simple and specializes in freight shipping and interstate relocations. In her free time, she loves exploring the world with her husband and two kids.
