Dining rooms are usually one of the hardest rooms to pack when you’re moving because they’re full of chunky furniture.
Whether you have a large family dining table or a treasured china cabinet passed down to you, it’s important to pack and move your dining room furniture correctly.
If you’re moving in Boulder and struggling to figure out how to pack your dining room set, here’s a step-by-step guide.
If you want more tips from professional movers, here are 15 moving hacks we bet you haven’t thought of yet.
How to Pack a Dining Room Table for Moving
It’s much easier to move a dining table without the legs. So, start by unbolting each table leg – keep all the hardware together in a labeled ziplock bag. We advise our clients to tape the bag of screws and bolts to the underside of the table so it can’t go missing.
Wrap each of the legs in bubble wrap to avoid bumps and scrapes and put these to one side.
If your dining table has a leaf, remove this and wrap it in shrink wrap or a blanket to avoid scratches. If your table has drop sides, put these down and then wrap the table in a moving blanket or bubble wrap.
Make sure all the surfaces are completely covered and safe ready to be loaded into a moving van.
Never stick packing tape to the surface of your table – it will leave residue and could peel the varnish or paint off your table.
What about glass top tables?
Glass tops need to be wrapped in several layers of bubble wrap or at least two moving blankets to avoid cracks or chips.
For added protection, place a layer of cardboard (flattened moving boxes work well) on top of the glass before wrapping it to give added protection.
How to Move a Dining Room Table
It’s always a little confusing knowing how to move a dining room table, especially if you’re moving for the first time.
Never lay a disassembled dining table flat on the moving truck. Not only does this take up way more space but it also leaves it more prone to damage.
Instead, load the tabletop against the wall of the moving truck and secure it in place with bungee cords. Make sure the legs are stored in a way that stops them from rolling during transport.
If you have a glass top, try to sandwich this between two mattresses if you can. If this isn’t possible, secure it to the wall of the truck with bungee cords, making sure there is a layer of padding between the wall and the glass.
How to Wrap Dining Chairs for Moving
There isn’t much that can be done to get around the awkward shape of dining chairs.
You can either wrap the entire chair in a moving blanket and secure it with packing tape, or you can wrap the legs and back in bubble wrap and then wrap the upholstered part of the seat.
The level of wrapping will depend on the material and age of your chairs. If you have metal chairs, they’re far less likely to get damaged than antique oak ones.
How to move dining chairs
Always lift your chairs by the seat, not the back. Lifting by the back can cause damage and you’re more likely to drop them this way.
On the moving van, stack your chairs in pairs (laying one seat down on top of the first one). Secure them together with bungee cords to stop them from sliding off during the move.
How to Pack a Buffet Table or Sideboard
Whether you have a buffet table, sideboard, or credenza, make sure it’s completely empty before you move it.
If you have silverware, you can secure this in rubber bands and leave it in its tray for transport. Lay it in a moving box along with any other items in your sideboard.
Plates and flatware should be packed upright in corrugated cardboard boxes with enough packing paper to prevent any movement.
Make sure all boxes with your tableware are labeled “fragile items” so you know to take extra care when handling them.
When it comes to the sideboard, remove the drawers and pack them separately or remove the hardware and secure it inside the drawer. You’ll then need to use stretch wrap to secure the drawers so they don’t fall out during transport.
Wrap the entire piece in furniture blankets to avoid scratches or bumps when in the moving truck.
How to move a sideboard or buffet table
These pieces are usually pretty heavy, so never try to lift them alone. With help, lift the sideboard onto sliders or a moving dolly to easily transport it to the moving van.
If the piece is heavy enough, it will usually stay in place in the moving truck. Load this in as one of the first items and use other boxes to make sure it’s secure.
How to Pack a China Cabinet
China cabinets can usually be taken apart to make them easier to transport. You’ll need at least two people to remove the hutch from the base – make sure to place the hutch directly onto a moving blanket to avoid damage.
Secure all doors with zip ties or cords if you can, and then use several moving blankets or wrap to secure the furniture in pieces.
Tape cardboard to any glass areas to avoid these breaking and to give added protection.
How to move a china cabinet
Depending on how you’re able to take your cabinet apart, you may be able to move it alone. However, it’s always best to have help and use sliders or a dolly to avoid injury.
You’ll need a loading ramp to get it into the truck, and it will need to be secured with bungee cords to stop it from falling over during the move.
If all of this seems like a lot of work, you can always use professional moving services like ours to take care of packing and moving your dining room for you.
Moving House for the First Time?
The best way to approach packing up a dining room is with patients and a little perseverance. It takes time to shrink wrap up tables, chairs, and furniture pieces, but it’s well worth the time to make sure your furniture is safe and arrives at your new home damage-free.
Looking for more tips from our movers on packing ready for your move? Here are our favorite packing tips and tricks to make the entire process stress-free.
