How to Prepare Furniture for a Move: Wardrobes, Beds, Sofas and More

By Sokhov Transport & Removals · 20 October 2026 · 5 min read

Furniture is often the part of a move that takes the longest and is most likely to get damaged. A little preparation before the van arrives makes it quicker to load, safer to carry and easier to put back together.

Measure before you move

Check that large pieces will fit through doorways, up stairs and round tight corners, both at the old home and the new one. Measure the furniture and the openings. If something won't fit, tell your mover in advance, since many pieces can be taken apart.

Wardrobes and chests of drawers

• Empty them completely. Drawers full of clothes make furniture heavy and put stress on the joints.
• Remove drawers and carry them separately, or secure them with stretch wrap rather than tape stuck to the wood.
• Take doors off or wrap them closed, and remove any glass shelves or mirrors.
• Large wardrobes often come apart. Keep all screws, cam locks and fittings in a labelled bag taped to the furniture.

Beds and mattresses

• Take the bed frame apart and keep the bolts, slats and fittings together in one labelled bag.
• Put the mattress in a protective cover. Keep it flat or on its edge and don't fold it.
• Strip the bedding and pack it separately so you can make the bed first thing at the new home.

Sofas and armchairs

• Remove loose cushions and legs where they come off, and keep fittings in a bag.
• Cover sofas in a protective wrap or blankets to keep them clean and stop fabric catching.
• Check the width of the sofa against doors and stairs, and think about which way it will need to turn.

Tables, glass and mirrors

• Unscrew table legs if you can and keep the screws with the table.
• Wrap glass tops and mirrors in bubble wrap or blankets, mark them as fragile and carry them upright.
• Remove ornaments and anything loose from shelves and surfaces before furniture is moved.

Appliances

• Empty and defrost your fridge-freezer at least a day before and dry it out so it doesn't leak.
• Drain the washing machine and secure the drum with its transit bolts if you still have them.
• Disconnect gas, electrical and plumbing connections beforehand. Movers can't normally do this, so use a qualified person if you're unsure.
• Coil cables and tape them to the appliance, and keep manuals and small parts together.

Protect what you're moving

Blankets, stretch wrap and corner protectors stop scratches and dents during loading and transit. Wrap furniture before it leaves the room, so the walls and doorframes are protected as well.

Tell your mover about anything awkward

Very heavy, very fragile or oddly shaped items, such as solid wood furniture, glass cabinets, pianos or garden furniture, are easy to plan for when your mover knows about them in advance. Mention them when you ask for a quote, along with stairs, lifts and parking.

We can dismantle and reassemble beds, wardrobes and flat-pack furniture where it's agreed in the booking. Send us the details and we'll plan the job around them.