How to Expertly Pack Art When Moving?

Moving can be a challenging process, especially when it comes to transporting delicate and valuable items like artwork. Knowing how to pack art for moving is crucial to ensure it arrives safely at your new home.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through expert tips and techniques for packing various types of artwork, from paintings and sculptures to framed pieces. 

By following these steps, you can protect your art from damage and enjoy peace of mind during your move.

Why is Proper Art Packing Important?

Proper art packing is crucial for several reasons. Artwork is often fragile and valuable, requiring special care to prevent damage during a move. 

Here are key reasons why you should invest time and effort into packing your art properly:

1. Prevent Physical Damage: 

Artwork can easily get scratched, torn, or broken if not packed correctly. Using the right materials and techniques helps protect your art from physical harm.

2. Protect Against Environmental Damage: 

Art can be sensitive to changes in temperature, humidity, and light. Proper packing can shield your pieces from these environmental factors during transit.

3. Ensure Safe Transportation: 

Moving involves a lot of handling and movement. Properly packed art is less likely to shift inside the moving truck, reducing the risk of damage.

4. Maintain Value:

Whether for personal enjoyment or investment, maintaining the condition of your art is essential for preserving its value. 

So, proper packaging during the move is crucial and instead of packing yourself, you should hire professional movers.

Essential Supplies for Packing Art

To pack your artwork safely, you need to gather the right supplies. Having the appropriate materials will help protect your art pieces from harm during the relocation. 

Here are the essential supplies you will need for packing your artwork:

Sturdy Moving Boxes: Use high-quality, durable boxes that can support the weight and size of your artwork.

Bubble Wrap: Provides cushioning and protection for delicate surfaces.

Packing Paper: Ideal for wrapping and filling gaps within boxes to prevent movement.

Corner Protectors: It helps safeguard the corners of framed artwork and paintings.

Packing Tape: Strong, reliable tape to secure your packages.

Glassine Paper: Acid-free paper that protects the surface of your artwork from dust and moisture.

Foam Sheets: Adds extra padding and protection for sculptures and larger pieces.

Plastic Wrap: Keeps materials in place and offers an additional layer of protection.

Marker for Labeling: Essential for labeling moving boxes with “Fragile” and other important information.

By preparing these supplies in advance, you can ensure a smooth and efficient packing process for your valuable artwork.

How to Pack Paintings for Moving?

Packing paintings requires careful attention to detail to prevent damage, so why not ask the professionals?

Below is the step-by-step process suggested by movers in Marietta and you can follow these steps to ensure your paintings are safely packed for the move.

Step 1: Clean and Prepare the Painting   

• Clean the artwork: Ensure your painting is free from dust and dirt by gently wiping it with a clean, dry cloth.
• Remove from the wall: Carefully take the painting down from the wall, ensuring not to damage the frame or the canvas.

Step 2: Protect the Painting

• Use glassine paper: Place a sheet of glassine paper over the surface of the painting to protect it from dust and moisture.
• Add corner protectors: Attach corner protectors to each corner of the painting to prevent damage during handling.

Step 3: Wrap the Painting

• Wrap in bubble wrap: Cover the painting with bubble wrap, ensuring all sides are protected. Secure the bubble wrap with packing tape.
• Double-wrap for extra protection: If the painting is particularly valuable or fragile, consider adding a second layer of bubble wrap.

Step 4: Box the Painting

• Choose the right box: Select a box that is slightly larger than the painting to allow for padding.
• Add cushioning: Place foam sheets or crumpled packing paper at the bottom of the box.
• Insert the painting: Carefully place the wrapped painting inside the box.
• Fill gaps: Fill any empty spaces with packing paper or foam sheets to prevent the painting from shifting.
• Seal the box: Tape the box securely and label it as “Fragile.”

By following these steps, you can ensure that your paintings are well-protected and ready for the move. Properly labeling moving boxes with “Fragile” and “This Side Up” will also help during unpacking.

How to Pack Sculptures for Moving?

Sculptures, due to their irregular shapes and delicate features, require special attention when packing. 

Here’s how to ensure your sculptures are packed securely for the move-

Step 1: Assess the Sculpture

• Examine the sculpture: Determine the size, shape, and material of the sculpture to decide the best packing method.
• Disassemble if possible: If the sculpture can be safely disassembled, do so to make packing easier and safer.

Step 2: Protect the Sculpture

• Wrap in plastic wrap: Cover the entire sculpture with plastic wrap to protect the surface from scratches and dirt.
• Add foam padding: Use foam sheets to add a layer of padding around the sculpture, focusing on fragile parts like protruding elements and delicate details.

Step 3: Box the Sculpture

• Choose a sturdy box: Select a box that is strong enough to support the weight of the sculpture. Double-walled boxes are a good option for added strength.
• Add cushioning: Place foam sheets or crumpled packing paper at the bottom of the box to create a cushioning layer.
• Insert the sculpture: Carefully place the wrapped sculpture in the center of the box.
• Fill gaps: Fill any empty spaces with packing paper or foam sheets to prevent the sculpture from moving around inside the box.
• Double-box for extra protection: For very delicate or valuable sculptures, consider placing the packed box inside a larger box with additional cushioning in between.
• Seal the box: Tape the box securely and label it as “Fragile.”

By following these steps, you can ensure that your sculptures are protected and secure during the move.

Packing Framed Artwork

Framed artwork, including photographs and prints, requires careful handling to prevent damage to both the frame and the artwork itself. Follow these steps to pack framed artwork securely.

Step 1: Prepare the Frame

• Clean the glass: If the artwork is framed with glass, clean it thoroughly to remove any dust and fingerprints.
• Use glassine paper: Place a sheet of glassine paper over the glass to protect it from dust, moisture, and scratches.

Step 2: Wrap the Frame

• Add corner protectors: Attach corner protectors to each corner of the frame to safeguard against damage during handling.
• Wrap in bubble wrap: Cover the entire frame with bubble wrap, ensuring all sides are protected. Secure the bubble wrap with packing tape.

Step 3: Box the Frame

• Choose the right box: Select a box slightly larger than the frame to allow for padding.
• Add cushioning: Place foam sheets or crumpled packing paper at the bottom of the box.
• Insert the frame: Carefully place the wrapped frame inside the box.
• Fill gaps: Fill any empty spaces with packing paper or foam sheets to prevent the frame from shifting.
• Seal the box: Tape the box securely and label it as “Fragile.”

By taking these steps, you can ensure that your framed artwork is protected and ready for the move. If you’re also moving other items like moving home office or a moving piano by yourself, make sure to use similar packing techniques.

Professional Art Packing Services

If the idea of packing your artwork feels overwhelming, or if you have particularly valuable or fragile pieces, consider hiring professional art packing services. These experts have the knowledge, experience, and materials needed to pack and transport your artwork safely. 

Here are some benefits of using professional art packing services:

• Custom Packaging Solutions: Professionals can create custom packaging tailored to the specific needs of each piece of art, ensuring optimal protection.
• Specialized Materials: They use high-quality, specialized materials designed for art packing, such as acid-free paper, museum-grade bubble wrap, and reinforced boxes.
• Expert Handling: Experienced packers know how to handle delicate and valuable items, reducing the risk of damage during the packing process.
• Time-Saving: Hiring professionals saves you time and effort, allowing you to focus on other aspects of your move.
• Insurance Coverage: Many professional art packing services offer insurance coverage for added peace of mind, ensuring that any potential damage is covered.
• Coordination with a Moving Company: Many professional art packing services work closely with your moving company to ensure that your artwork is transported safely and efficiently.

By opting for professional art packing services, you can ensure that your artwork is packed and transported with the highest level of care and expertise. This can be particularly helpful when you’re also considering other moving aspects, like the overall moving cost.

DIY Art Packing for Moving

If you prefer to pack your artwork yourself, following a do-it-yourself (DIY) approach can be cost-effective and rewarding. 

Here are some additional tips to ensure your art is packed correctly and safely:

• Use Quality Materials: Invest in high-quality packing supplies, such as sturdy boxes, bubble wrap, packing paper, and foam sheets. Using the best materials available will help protect your artwork during the move.
• Double-Box Fragile Items: For particularly delicate or valuable pieces, consider double-boxing. This involves placing the wrapped artwork in one box and then placing that box inside a larger box with additional padding in between.
• Label Everything: Clearly label each box with its contents.
• Pack Like Items Together: If possible, pack similar items together to ensure they are stored and transported in the same way. For example, pack all framed artwork in one box and sculptures in another.
• Keep an Inventory: Maintain a detailed inventory of all your packed artwork. This will help you keep track of your items and make unpacking easier.
• Transport Smaller Pieces Yourself: If you have smaller, extremely valuable, or sentimental pieces, consider transporting them yourself in your vehicle to ensure they receive extra care.

By following these DIY tips, you can effectively pack your artwork and ensure it arrives safely at your new home. 

Table: Packing Checklist for Different Types of Art

To help you stay organized and ensure you have everything you need, here is a packing checklist for different types of art:

Type of Art	Preparation	Wrapping Material	Box Type	Additional Tips
Paintings	Clean, use glassine paper	Bubble wrap	Sturdy moving box	Use corner protectors
Sculptures	Disassemble if possible	Plastic wrap, foam	Sturdy box	Fill gaps with packing paper
Framed Artwork	Clean glass, use glassine paper	Bubble wrap	Sturdy moving box	Use corner protectors

Use this checklist to ensure you have all the necessary supplies and steps covered for each type of artwork you need to pack. 

Tips for Moving Art Collection

Moving an art collection involves more than just packing each piece properly. Here are some additional tips to ensure your entire art collection is moved safely:

• Inventory Your Collection: Keep a detailed inventory of all your art pieces, including descriptions, dimensions, and photographs. This will help you keep track of everything and assist with insurance claims if needed.
• Insure Your Artwork: Ensure that your art is adequately insured for the move. Check with your current insurance provider or seek additional coverage specific to moving.
• Handle with Care: Always handle artwork with clean hands and avoid touching the surface. Wear gloves if necessary to prevent oils from your skin from damaging the artwork.
• Consider Climate Control: If you are moving long distances or in extreme weather conditions, consider using climate-controlled transport to protect your art from temperature and humidity changes.
• Communicate with Movers: If you are hiring professional movers, communicate clearly with them about the importance and value of your art collection. Provide specific instructions for handling and packing.
• Plan for Unpacking: Once you arrive at your new home, plan for the unpacking process. Have a designated area where you can carefully unpack and inspect each piece of art before displaying it.

By following these tips, you can ensure that your entire art collection is moved safely and remains in excellent condition. 

Conclusion

Packing and moving artwork requires careful planning and attention to detail. Whether you’re dealing with paintings, sculptures, or framed pieces, using the right materials and techniques is essential to protect your valuable art. By following the expert tips outlined in this guide, you can ensure that your art arrives safely at your new home.

If you find the packing process overwhelming, consider hiring professional art packing services for added peace of mind. Whether you choose to go the DIY route or opt for professional help, the key is to handle your artwork with care and take the necessary precautions to prevent damage.

With proper preparation and execution, you can successfully move your art collection and enjoy your cherished pieces in your new space.