How To Pack Artwork For Moving

Since artwork can have different sizes and shapes, you need to get suitable moving boxes for them. For your paintings and framed artwork, you can use flat picture and mirror boxes or other specially designed cases for fragile items to avoid accidental damage. If you have large and heavy items, you may need wooden crates. You can also use China cartons for small items, as there are two layers of cardboard to ensure protection. After you get different types of boxes, pay attention to protective materials and extra padding and how secure each of the fragile pieces is within the box. So make sure you have enough packing supplies.

Before putting your items in the boxes, you should protect each individual artwork well. Use plastic wrap to create another layer of protection and eliminate the risk of scratches and damage due to friction during transportation. If you have a photo frame or other artwork that needs to be protected on the front side, apply packing paper or foam before using plastic wrap. You can also cut out a piece of cardboard the same size as the framed item and place it on top.

In addition to plastic wrap, you can apply layers of bubble wrap. When wrapping your artwork, do it in both horizontal and vertical dimensions. Then secure the wrap with tape. Another tip is to attach cardboard corner protectors, which are great for picture frames and fragile corners of your artwork, to avoid damage. Also, remember to fill extra spaces in the box with additional cushioning (e.g. crumpled packing paper) and place a layer of bubble wrap or another protective material on the bottom of the box.

After you’ve packed your item, try to shake a box a little bit to check if your artwork is placed securely inside the box. Add extra padding if you notice that the item is bumping or shifting. Once everything feels okay, securely seal the box with the tape. You can also put the box on the packing station or floor and cover it with pallet wrap for additional protection.

Take a marker and label all the boxes with “Fragile” to ensure the movers will carry and load those boxes with extra care. This is especially true for boxes containing artwork with a glass frame. You can also create colour codes for different rooms to make it easier to unpack once you arrive at a new location.

Artwork can be different, and while framed paintings require careful handling when moving, sculptures require much more care during packing and transporting, as they are more complex and detailed fragile items. The first you need to do is to cover the sculpture in cling wrap. Then pay attention to all the little nooks and crannies. Use bubble wrap to cover each of the vulnerable details. Once done, apply additional layers of wrap over the whole sculpture. After you complete these steps, your sculpture can be shaped like a sphere, so you can box it up and fill the space inside the box with padding.