How to Move Antique Furniture Without Damaging It

Why Antique Furniture Needs Special Care

If you've ever picked up an antique item, you might notice that it doesn't feel as solid as a new chair. That's because materials tend to get brittle over the years as they're exposed to humidity, heat, and general wear and tear. The connective materials — glue, stitches, nails, and staples — can also break down.

This means that antique furniture is more vulnerable to damage. Special handling is required to protect the fragile materials, delicate joints, and aged finishes. You might also need to take extra care with antiques that have their original hardware or intricate details, such as carvings or inlays.

The right preparation, packing, and handling techniques can help reduce these common risks to antique furniture:

• Scratches and dents
• Moisture damage
• Structural failure
• Separated components
• Broken joints
• Finish discoloration

Should You Hire Professional Movers for Antiques?

It might be worth hiring movers for high-value antique furniture — usually, anything that's worth over $1,000 per item or $100 per pound. Professionals know how to pack and transport your items safely, so they'll arrive intact. Plus, it's often easier to get insurance coverage when the pros are involved.

You might also hire movers if you can't feasibly move the antiques on your own. Even with two people, it can be pretty awkward and difficult to move a solid wood armoire or an antique piano. Movers will bring straps and special equipment to prevent injuries and protect your pieces.

It's also a good idea to hire movers when you're moving antique furniture long-distance. When the pieces are on a truck for multiple days, they're at risk of damage due to temperature shifts, humidity, and vibrations. Movers are better equipped to protect fragile furniture by providing a controlled environment.

Here's what to look for in a moving company:

• Experience with antiques and specialty pieces
• Access to climate-controlled vehicles (if necessary)
• Willingness to transport delicate, high-value items
• Robust insurance and liability coverage
• References or reviews that mention antique or specialty moves

Not sure where to start? HireAHelper can help you find vetted movers in your area who can move fragile antiques.

How To Prepare Antiques for a Move

When it comes to moving antiques, the right type of preparation can prevent damage and increase your chances of successful insurance claims. Before you start packing, make sure to buy the right packing materials, document your items, and get an appraisal and insurance.

1. Get the Best Packing Materials for Antique Furniture

The best packing materials for antique furniture help protect delicate pieces from getting damaged in transit. Essential moving supplies include:

• Acid-free or glassine paper: This specialty paper won't damage or discolor original finishes.
• Moving blankets and furniture pads: Use moving blankets to wrap furniture and prevent scratches.
• Bubble wrap: Bubble wrap cushions delicate pieces, protecting them from the vibrations in a moving truck.
• Foam padding or corner protectors: These pieces prevent dings to corners and edges.
• Stretch wrap: Shrink wrap keeps drawers shut, secures moving blankets, and protects loose components.
• Custom wooden crates: Unlike boxes, crates can be custom-built to be perfectly sized for your furniture, which protects pieces from moisture and scratches and prevents excess movement.
• Plastic zip bags: Use labeled bags to keep hardware in one place.

2. Take Inventory and Document Condition

Even when you know how to move antique furniture without damaging it, accidents can happen. By documenting the inventory and condition of each piece before the move, you'll have the proof you need for insurance claims.

To prepare for the worst, follow these steps to inventory and document your antiques before a move:

• Create an inventory. Make an inventory sheet of all your antique pieces.
• Describe items. For each item, describe the item, the current condition, and any existing damage. Look for common issues such as loose joints, missing hardware, or damaged veneers.
• Take photos and videos. Take photos and videos of each item to show the condition and damaged areas. Include wide shots and detail photos, focusing on hardware, joints, and finishes.

3. Get an Appraisal and Check Insurance

You should always hire an appraiser to determine the value of your antique furniture, and use this information to update your current insurance policy. While you're at it, check to see if your renters or homeowners policy covers antiques in transit. Many policies don't, so you'll probably need to buy moving insurance.

Start with your moving company, as many carriers include basic valuation protection and offer higher-tier coverage. You'll need to pay extra, but you'll get a higher payout if something goes wrong during the move.

For high-value pieces, it may also be worth investing in additional insurance from a third-party provider. Moving insurance often provides broader coverage than valuation protection, which is helpful if the moving truck catches on fire or your antiques suffer water damage.

No matter what type of coverage you choose, make sure to keep your appraisal documents and photos out of the moving truck and in a safe place.

How To Wrap and Pack Antique Furniture

When it comes to packing antiques for moving, there are no hard-and-fast rules. The right packing method depends on the type of item.

Wood Furniture: Tables, Dressers, Desks

Antique wood furniture may be sturdy, but the surface is vulnerable to scratches and discoloration. Here's how to pack wood items such as desks, tables, and chairs:

• Wipe down the interior and exterior surfaces with a clean microfiber cloth. Avoid cleaning products that might react with the finish.
• Remove drawers, legs, and other loose components, if safe and possible to do so.
• Put hardware in a labeled plastic bag.
• Install corner and edge protectors.
• Wrap the item and individual components in acid-free paper.
• Add a layer of bubble wrap if necessary, but make sure to apply it over the paper; it should never touch the wood.
• Wrap the item in moving blankets.
• Secure the moving blankets with stretch wrap. Don't put it directly on the surface, as it can trap moisture and damage the finish.

Mirrors, Glass, and Delicate Elements

Glass items are particularly prone to damage in a move, so they require special packing. Follow these steps to keep your glass plates, mirrors, and furniture items safe:

• Use painter's tape to create an X across each flat glass surface. This helps keep the fragments together if the glass breaks or cracks in transit.
• Wrap the item in glassine paper.
• Add a layer of bubble wrap over the glassine paper for extra cushioning.
• Pack the item in a custom wooden crate or a mirror box.
• Fill the gaps in the box with packing paper; this is particularly important for odd-shaped mirrors.
• Place large "FRAGILE" labels on the top and two sides of the box.
• Label the top of the box so you can keep it upright in transit.

Clocks, Pianos, and Oversized Pieces

DIY moving isn't always an option for your furniture. If a piece is particularly large, delicate, or awkwardly shaped, it might not be possible to handle it safely, even if you have help. This might include things like grandfather clocks, pianos, heavy armoires, and tall china cabinets.

With that in mind, here's how to prepare to move common oversized antique pieces:

• Grandfather clock: Remove the pendulum and weights, wrap the interior parts in acid-free paper, and secure with zip ties. Then wrap the entire piece in bubble wrap, followed by moving blankets. You can then secure everything with stretch wrap, but make sure it doesn’t touch the clock’s surface.
• Piano: First, remove the legs, lyre, and pedals. Then wrap the piano in moving blankets, and secure the lid with stretch wrap.
• Armoires and china cabinets: Remove the doors and shelves, if possible, and make sure to tape an X on the glass panels with painter's tape. Wrap the piece in moving blankets, and secure them with stretch wrap.

Not sure if you can handle it? When in doubt, it's often better to hire a professional. HireAHelper can help connect you with professional movers who are experienced with antiques. You can compare quotes, read reviews, and book quickly and easily on our platform.

How To Safely Handle and Transport Antiques

Once your antiques are packed, you'll need to load them carefully on a moving truck. But before you start lifting, make sure to measure doorways, hallways, and corners so you know your furniture will fit. Also, be sure to clear a path to the truck that’s free of tripping hazards.

It's also a good idea to use a furniture dolly or stair-climbing dolly, since sliding the piece across the floor can put stress on already-delicate joints. Get a friend to help, and lift the pieces from the strongest point. This might be the base of a heavy cabinet or the reinforced points on a piano frame. Don't grab delicate legs or hardware pieces.

Before you load the piece into a moving truck, pad the floor with moving blankets. Place the item down gently, and use straps to secure it to the truck's anchor points. Tighten the straps just enough to keep them steady without putting undue stress on the frame.

Common Mistakes That Damage Antique Furniture

Now that you know what's involved in moving antique furniture, you can probably guess how easy it is to make a mistake. But knowing the pitfalls ahead of time can help you navigate them. Avoid these common errors:

• Forgetting to document the condition: Without careful documentation, it can be difficult to prove that damage happened during the move.
• Not buying additional insurance: Homeowners insurance and basic valuation protection may not offer enough coverage. Moving insurance can help you get reimbursed if something goes wrong.
• Letting plastic touch antique furniture: Never use stretch wrap or bubble wrap directly on the surface of furniture. It can damage the surface, leave residue, or trap moisture. Instead, wrap it in acid-free paper or glassine paper first.
• Using newspaper for wrapping: The ink and acid in the paper can damage the finish of your furniture and leave permanent marks.
• Dragging furniture instead of lifting: The joints on antique furniture can be delicate, so it's always better to lift it.
• Failing to disassemble furniture: Remove any parts you can to reduce weight and stress. The fewer components there are to move, the lower the risk of damage.
• Stacking heavy items on antiques: Excess weight can damage the fragile furniture.

Why Trust HireAHelper

If you're feeling overwhelmed at the prospect of learning how to move antique furniture without damaging it, HireAHelper can help you find local movers to take care of the process for you. Our marketplace connects you with vetted moving labor, so you can compare your options and make an informed decision. Many movers on the HireAHelper platform are often able to handle specialty items, making the choice a lot easier.

To help you book with peace of mind, our marketplace displays reviews from real customers. That way, you can learn about other people's experiences and find movers with antique-handling experience.