Updated Nov 4, 2022
Updated Nov 4, 2022
Artwork brings life, personality, and beauty to a home. Whether you’re a serious art collector or enjoy adding beauty to your home where you can, you must pack artwork carefully to protect it during a move. Fortunately, there are some great boxes designed to protect your art during a move and some packing tips you can follow to preserve your artwork during the move.
Below, you’ll find our complete guide to packing artwork for moving so that you can rest easy knowing your artwork will make it to your new home unscathed.
Start by deciding what kind of boxes and packing supplies you’ll need to move your artwork. There are three primary types of artwork boxes available:
In addition to artwork boxes, you’ll need to gather the following packing materials:
If you’re packing framed artwork covered by glass, you’ll need to prioritize protecting the glass. Take the following steps when packing framed art with glass:
If your artwork is unframed, you can still follow these steps. However, we recommend placing the unframed artwork between sturdy pieces of cardboard to keep it from bending. In addition, you’ll want to wrap the corners of the artwork in bubble wrap or use cardboard corner protectors to keep the artwork’s corners intact and give it extra protection.
Another option for packing framed artwork is bubble pouches. Bubble pouches will cost more than boxes, but they are heavy-duty and lightweight, making them great for transporting delicate pieces. These pouches can also be saved and reused in the future.
Packing posters is much easier than packing a frame.
Simply purchase a cardboard tube at any shipping store. Open the cardboard tube and roll up the poster gently. Place the poster inside the cardboard tube, sealing both ends carefully. Then, label it appropriately for shipping or moving.
If you have non-framed artwork, such as sculptures, you’ll need to take special care to pack these pieces for your long-distance move. Unlike framed artwork, sculptures can come in many strange and cumbersome shapes, so you’ll need to adjust your packing method for each piece.
The best packing materials for sculptures include:
The first thing to consider when packing a sculpture is where the weak points of the sculpture are, which are usually thin protrusions like arms or legs. The torso or thicker part of the sculpture is usually much sturdier, although you’ll still want to protect it.
Take the following steps to protect your sculpture during a move:
After you’ve wrapped your sculptures, use the following tips to pack them securely in moving boxes:
If you have large, sturdy sculptures, you may be able to use large bubble wrap rolls or moving blankets as a simpler alternative.
Loading your artwork in the moving truck correctly is just as important as packing your artwork inside the boxes.
When moving day comes around, follow these steps to load all fragile boxes:
Moving day can be stressful, but properly preparing your artwork can reduce stress. Choosing the right packing materials can make a huge difference in how easy it is to pack your artwork and if it’s protected enough during the moving process.
Don’t forget to mark all boxes containing artwork as fragile so that you, your family, and the movers know to handle it with care.
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