# How to move furniture without damage
1st Choice Packaging · Updated 3 November 2026

Most furniture damage on moving day is scratches, dents in corners and knocks against door frames. Wrapping each piece in a padded blanket and protecting the corners stops nearly all of it.

## What you'll need

- [transit blanket](https://1stchoicepackaging.co.uk/moving-blanket/) for most pieces, and [transit blanket, large](https://1stchoicepackaging.co.uk/large-moving-blanket/) for sofas, wardrobes and big tables
- [cardboard edge protectors](https://1stchoicepackaging.co.uk/cardboard-edge-protectors/) for long edges and under straps
- [foam corner protectors, small](https://1stchoicepackaging.co.uk/foam-corner-protectors/) for picture frames and thin panels, and [foam corner protectors, large](https://1stchoicepackaging.co.uk/large-foam-corner-protectors/) for table tops and cabinets
- [brown packing tape](https://1stchoicepackaging.co.uk/packing-tape/), and sandwich bags for screws

## Step by step

- **Empty it.** Take everything out of drawers, cupboards and wardrobes. Furniture is designed to stand still full, not to be carried full.

- **Take apart what you can.** Table legs, bed frames, shelves and mirrors on dressers. Bag the screws and tape the bag to the piece it came from.

- **Protect the corners** with foam corners. Table tops and the corners of cabinets take the most knocks.

- **Wrap it in a blanket.** Cover the whole piece, then tape around the blanket, never onto the furniture itself, as tape can pull off polish and veneer.

- **Add edge protectors** along long edges, especially where straps will go in the van.

**Packing tip:** Lock or tape drawers and doors shut over the blanket so they can't swing open while you carry the piece.

## Loading the van

- Heaviest furniture goes in first, against the front wall of the van.
- Stand sofas and mattresses on their side along the walls to save space.
- Keep blankets between pieces so nothing rubs, and strap everything so it can't shift on corners.
- Boxes go on top and in the gaps: heavy, small boxes low down, light ones on top.

Our [furniture protection pack](https://1stchoicepackaging.co.uk/furniture-protection-kit/) gives you a transit blanket, carpet film and 40 edge protectors in one go. To protect the floors as you carry things out, see [how to protect floors and carpets](https://1stchoicepackaging.co.uk/guides/protect-floors-and-carpets-when-moving/).

## Questions

**How do I protect furniture when moving?**
Empty it, take it apart where you can, protect the corners, wrap it in a padded transit blanket and tape around the blanket rather than onto the furniture.

**Should I tape furniture drawers shut?**
Tape over a blanket, not directly onto the wood, as tape can damage polish and veneer.

**How many moving blankets do I need?**
As a rough guide, one or two per large piece of furniture. A large blanket covers a sofa or a big table.

## Shop for this
[Transit blanket £4.95](https://1stchoicepackaging.co.uk/moving-blanket/) [Transit blanket, large £6.95](https://1stchoicepackaging.co.uk/large-moving-blanket/) [Cardboard edge protectors £17.95](https://1stchoicepackaging.co.uk/cardboard-edge-protectors/) [Furniture protection pack £34.95](https://1stchoicepackaging.co.uk/furniture-protection-kit/)
[Work out how many boxes](https://1stchoicepackaging.co.uk/box-calculator/)

## More moving guides
Guide

### [How to label moving boxes](https://1stchoicepackaging.co.uk/guides/how-to-label-moving-boxes/)
A simple labelling system (room, contents, number, priority) and the "open first" box.

Guide

### [How many moving boxes do I need?](https://1stchoicepackaging.co.uk/guides/how-many-boxes-do-i-need/)
Box counts by home size and by room, and what pushes the number up or down.

Guide

### [Moving house checklist](https://1stchoicepackaging.co.uk/guides/moving-house-checklist/)
A week-by-week UK moving checklist, including who to tell about your new address.

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Source: https://1stchoicepackaging.co.uk/guides/how-to-move-furniture-without-damage/ · 1st Choice Packaging, 75 Tollerford Road, Poole, Dorset, BH17 9BW · hello@1stchoicepackaging.co.uk