Often times, the living room is one of the largest spaces in our home. A room that is comprised of bulky and heavy furniture, decorative, fragile items, and expensive electronic equipment. That’s why packing and moving the living room is particularly difficult. Follow our packing and moving the living room guide for your upcoming move.
- When you begin to plan your relocation process, you will consciously make a decision early on in the process on whether or not you will hire professional movers. Packing and moving the living room is a tricky task to attempt all on your own. While professional movers offer a peace of mind, hiring the right movers for the job is most important. Not all companies are the same, therefore choose wisely and ask the right questions. If you own a piano, make sure you hire movers that are experienced and equipped to move your piano properly.
- As with any move, sorting items to keep, sell or donate, should be one of the first, initial steps in your relocation process. Make sure to diligently sort through your living room items and choose whichever ones will not make the trip to your new home. This will save you lots of time in your new home, when it’s time to unpack and organize. Once you have established the items you are taking, you can begin to pack up your living room and prepare the furniture for moving. Begin by packing smaller, fragile items first then move on to your bulky furniture.
- When preparing your lamps for the move, begin by removing the light bulb. Either discard it properly in the trash or wrap separately in newsprint, before placing in a box. Remove the base, and harp and wrap separately in newsprint. Place them in the same box as the bulb and fill space with either crushed paper of packing pebbles. Remove the lampshade and wrap in protective paper or bubble wrap before placing in a box, packed with crushed paper or packing pebbles to avoid friction during the transport. Never wrap lampshades in newsprint, as the ink will soil the shade.
- When preparing your electronics for the move, packing in the original boxes will provide the best protection. Begin by unplugging all wires. Tie them together with zip ties or rubber bands to avoid any wires from becoming tangled during the move. For any complex set ups, first take a picture prior to disconnecting the wires, for a quicker installation at your new home. If you have any large TVs, let your moving professional know, as they may need to be crated. Speakers should be wrapped in bubble wrap before placing in box.
- When preparing your couch for the move, remove all the cushions and pillows and pack them separately in a box. Don’t forget to label the box accordingly to avoid losing track of it during the move. Avoid using bags as they can easily rip, potentially damaging the items inside. If applicable, remove the legs and pack them separately as well. Using thick moving blanket and shrink-wrap, carefully wrap the couch to protect the upholstery. Measure the doorway clearance beforehand to safely get your couch through the necessary doors and onto the moving truck.
- When preparing your table for the move, remove all the legs and pack them separately in a moving blanket. Secure any drawers if necessary before wrapping the tabletop in moving blanket. If yours is a glass table, it must be taken apart first. Carefully unscrew the top and wrap the legs in moving blankets. Wrap the top with packing paper and secure with moving tape, making sure the adhesive never comes in contact with the glass. After wrapping in paper, cover the tabletop with bubble wrap, before placing it in a specialty box, called the telescopic box. You can purchase this box from your movers or a supply store, make sure to first measure the dimensions of your table for an accurate fit. Make sure to label the box “FRAGILE“.
- When preparing your cabinet for the move, first, remove or secure all of the drawers. If your cabinet has glass doors it is a good idea to remove them. Remove the screws that attach the hinges and carefully remove the glass doors. Wrap the glass doors in packing paper, follow with bubble wrap before placing in a specialty box. Wrap the entire cabinet in moving blankets to keep the delicate finish protected throughout the move.
- When preparing your piano for the move, begin by hiring specialty movers that are experienced with handling and moving a piano. If you are moving yourself, learn how to move a piano to avoid injury to yourself and damage to your home.
- When preparing your carpet or area rug for the move, it is a good idea to first clean them. Roll up your carpet or rug (avoid folding, as the fold marks will stay and the fibers will weaken at the fold points). Secure it tightly with twine, then wrap in plastic wrap and secure with moving tape.