Pieces of art, antiques, and certain valuable items are not only fragile but also irreplaceable. There are several major risks involved in moving them, such as improper packing or mishandling. That’s why we’ve created this guide, full of essential tips to help you safely protect your art, antiques and other treasured items while you move.
How to Pack Artwork and Framed Mirrors for Moving
All paintings, framed photographs, sculptures and even mirrors should be carefully prepared before moving. With the right protection in place, you can reduce the chances of scratches, moisture, bumps or even structural damage while moving. Here, we’ll show you how to pack artwork and framed mirrors when moving.
Choosing the Right Box for Framed Art and Mirrors
Do you want to know how to pack framed art for moving? The first step is to choose packaging that fits each piece perfectly. In this regard, telescoping boxes or picture boxes can be ideal. They allow you to adjust their dimensions and provide greater stability during transport, helping to minimize problems.
Basically, picture boxes for moving are designed specifically for paintings, mirrors, and framed prints. Do you still have the manufacturer’s original packaging? That’s the best option, because it’s designed specifically to protect the item from impacts during the move. However, this isn’t always possible.
We recommend hiring packing services in Minnesota when dealing with very delicate items. If you explain this situation to the movers, they’ll take even greater precautions when handling them.
Materials You Need Before You Start Packing Art
There are several packing materials for artwork that help prevent all kinds of scratches, moisture, and structural damage to art pieces. Here are some items that will come in handy:
- Glassine paper, which protects the surface of paintings and photographs.
- Enough bubble wrap to wrap each piece in at least two layers.
- Foam or cardboard corner protectors to safeguard the corners.
- Moving blankets to provide full cushioning, especially for paintings.
Want to know how to wrap a painting for moving? The trick used by the best movers is to place plastic directly on the surface of a painting, without an intermediate protective layer. This prevents moisture buildup, which can affect the original quality of the artwork.
How to Position Art and Mirrors in the Moving Truck
Even the highest-quality packaging can be ineffective if the items aren’t arranged properly inside the truck. But for that, you need to know how to load art into a moving truck safely.
The simplest rule is to keep all art pieces in an upright position. Never lay them completely flat. This reduces pressure and prevents any kind of damage. We also recommend placing them face-to-face against the back of another piece to prevent hardware from causing scratches.
Be sure to always place them away from heavy furniture. While it’s not common, if the pieces shift during transit, it could ruin your artwork.
Moving Antique Furniture Without Causing Damage
Antiques also have their own unique considerations when it comes to moving them. They’re not like any other piece of furniture you have at home. Because they have historical, artisanal, or even sentimental value, any damage can be irreversible, and there’s usually no way to find a replacement. Let’s take a look at how to move antique furniture without causing even the slightest damage.
Document and Insure Antiques Before the Move
Before you start moving, you should always take photos of each item from different angles. Ideally, include close-up shots of the details. This allows you to document any pre-existing marks or wear and tear.
The same applies if you have insurance coverage, since insuring antiques during a move is a small investment compared to the potential cost of replacing one-of-a-kind pieces.
Remember that documenting your valuables before moving makes it easier to file a claim in the event of an incident. It’s the least you can do for an antique that holds significant value to you.
How to Wrap and Crate Antique Furniture
Do you want to know how to pack antique furniture for a move? The process is simple:
- First, place a layer of bubble wrap over the entire surface.
- Next, add moving blankets for extra protection.
- Finally, place the item in a sturdy box or wooden frame (if the item is valuable).
Remember that crating techniques for transporting antiques offer protection against bumps, vibrations, and unexpected movements that you shouldn’t overlook. This is especially true if you’re looking for long-distance movers in Minnesota, where distances are much greater.
Safe Lifting and Handling of Heavy Antique Pieces
Moving heavy antique furniture safely isn’t as easy as it seems. You need strength, coordination, and even the right equipment. Never try to do it alone. We recommend at least two people.
Whenever possible, we suggest using furniture dollies. Also, try to avoid dragging the pieces across wooden or ceramic floors to prevent wear and tear.
Do you need to navigate stairs or narrow hallways? Try to assess the situation beforehand to determine if it’s possible to move the furniture. In such cases, we recommend constant communication among those involved in the move to prevent accidents.
Packing Small Valuables, Collectibles, and Heirlooms
If you want them to arrive in perfect condition, you should never overlook the need for special packaging for collections, family heirlooms, porcelain, watches, jewelry, and old photographs. Here’s what you need to keep in mind.
Use the Right Box Size for Small Fragile Items
The secret to packing collectibles for moving starts with choosing the right-sized boxes. This is something you shouldn’t take lightly. The best boxes for fragile items are those that limit internal movement. In other words, they’re the same size as the items they’re meant to protect.
Before placing any items inside, add foam or bubble wrap to the bottom to create a cushioned surface. This also helps keep them from shifting.
Wrap Each Item Individually — No Exceptions
Learning how to wrap collectibles for moving prevents objects from colliding with each other during transport, even when they appear to be sturdy. For this reason, without exception, each piece must be individually protected using tissue paper, foam, or bubble wrap.
Doing so prevents objects from coming into contact with one another during transport, which is the main risk factor for scratches, cracks, or chips caused by the vehicle’s vibrations and movements.
Don’t have enough materials to pack each item individually, or would you rather avoid the stress and time involved? You might want to contact moving contractors in Minnesota to have them do it for you.
Label Fragile Boxes Properly and Keep Them Separate
Correctly labeling fragile boxes for moving helps to immediately identify which ones require more careful handling. This will be extremely helpful for movers that need to take extra care with these valuable items. Let’s see how it can be done:
| Label example | Importance |
| FRAGILE | This means the box contains fragile items. |
| This side up ↑ | This indicates the orientation to prevent the contents from spilling. |
| Handle with care | Optional, but reminds those handling the shipment to avoid bumps. |
| Glass / Artwork | Quickly identifies the type of contents so they can be handled appropriately. |
If you’re wondering how to transport valuables safely, it’s generally best to carry jewelry, important documents, and other extremely valuable items with you during your trip.
Special Considerations for Long-Distance Moves With Valuables
The longer the distance of the move, the greater the likelihood of exposure to bumps, vibrations, and environmental changes.
Why Long-Distance Moves Increase the Risk for Fragile Items
These factors increase the risk of damage to fragile items during long-distance moves:
- Longer travel times, with more movement.
- Multiple handling operations, including temporary storage.
- Shipping antiques long distance in Minnesota can expose materials such as wood, canvas, leather, or metal to changes in temperature and humidity.
The best way to protect your most valuable belongings is to plan everything in advance.
What to Look for in a Specialty Moving Company for Valuables
The best specialty movers for art and antiques in Minneapolis are those that can demonstrate verifiable experience handling delicate items. To do this, it’s a good idea to check their website or customer reviews on platforms like Google.
It’s also advisable to verify their licenses and insurance. When you work with a specialized company, you can enjoy complete peace of mind throughout the process.
Storage Options When Your Valuables Need a Temporary Home
Especially if your move involves transporting a lot of items, you won’t always be able to take everything to your new home. Sometimes, temporary storage is part of the process. Here’s what that usually entails.
When You Might Need Storage During a Move
We recommend antique storage services in Minnesota for situations involving staggered moves, renovations, or delays in home delivery.
It’s a great resource because climate-controlled art storage helps protect paintings, wooden furniture, and metal objects from humidity, heat, and sudden temperature changes. In other words, it’s one of the best places to preserve their original condition.
How to Store Art, Antiques, and Collectibles Safely
Knowing how to store antiques safely is quite simple:
- Keep the boxes upright.
- Avoid placing weight on top of them.
- Use visible, descriptive labels.
If you need storage during your move, St. Paul storage services are ideal for taking care of your belongings until your final destination is ready.
Trust an Experienced Minnesota Moving Company With Your Art and Antiques
While you can move on your own, sometimes professional help can be a much safer investment.
When Professional Help Makes More Sense Than DIY
Want to know when to hire movers for your valuables? Consider doing so when…
- You’re moving works of art or antiques.
- Your belongings have high monetary or sentimental value.
- You need specialized equipment and materials.
If you’re looking for complete peace of mind, it’s a worthwhile investment.
Frequently Asked Questions About Moving Art, Antiques, and Valuables
Below, we explain everything you need to know about packing, transporting, and storing valuables.
What is the best way to protect works of art during a move?
We recommend using materials such as Glassine paper, bubble wrap, corner protectors, and moving blankets. These are very useful for protecting delicate items, such as works of art. Also, place these items away from heavy objects and keep them in an upright position.
When should you hire a specialized moving company for a move involving fragile items?
Whenever you want to avoid the stress of something breaking, getting scratched, or stained. In other words, when you have works of art, antiques, heavy furniture, or belongings with high monetary or sentimental value. The specialists will help you with the entire process.
Should I hire professionals to move antiques?
It depends on the value and fragility of each piece. If you’re moving antique furniture, collections, or items that are difficult to replace, hiring professionals with experience handling these types of items can significantly reduce the risk of damage. We recommend it.
How should I prepare small, valuable items before a move?
Make sure small items, such as jewelry, collections, or family heirlooms, can be wrapped individually. It’s also advisable to clearly label these packages and keep the most valuable items under your personal supervision.
Do I need special storage for artwork and antiques?
Sometimes, yes. Some pieces can be affected by changes in temperature or humidity, especially during long-distance moves. Climate-controlled storage units offer better conditions for protecting materials such as wood, canvas, and metal.
What Minnesota Moving Company Offers for Specialty Items
At Minnesota Moving Company, we know that every work of art, antique, or collectible deserves special care.
Over the years, we’ve helped hundreds of customers in Minneapolis, St. Paul, and surrounding Minnesota communities. Here’s what some of them have to say:
| Larry and Viktor did a fantastic job! Easy to work with, careful with my things, respectful and considerate. Highly recommended! | A Great Experience. Larry was quick, careful with the furnature, took care to protect the house and no “damage” anywhere. I would use him again. | Crew arrived on time and were very efficient. They were friendly and very easy to work with. Highly recommend this moving company. Priced extremely reasonable as well! |
| Kim Kirscht ★★★★★ | Dale Gustafson ★★★★★ | Stacy Stratmann ★★★★★ |
If you’re looking for fragile item movers in Minneapolis, we can help you. Contact us now!
