Here’s How to Pack Paintings for Moving The Right Way

Every move is a big event for a family. Most often, the reason for moving is a good one, so there is general joy about moving to a new house, neighborhood, or city.

However, those who have experience with moving know that it is challenging and demanding. A spontaneous approach to moving will turn into large-scale stress, and the results will be bad.

Moving requires a strategy, a detailed plan that includes everything, down to the smallest detail. Furniture, white goods, carpets, books, and large items that are not breakable are the easiest to transport. Problems are hidden in small things, artworks, and fragile decorative objects.

They require a specific approach to packaging, protection, and marking so that they arrive at the right destination in one piece, undamaged.

Anyone for whom artworks and details have significance and sentimental value, and perhaps even market value, knows how important it is to pack and safely transport this type of thing properly.

Preparing Your Paintings for Moving

The assumption is that your family photos, paintings, drawings, and complete artworks were displayed in visible places. They are a sign of personality, spirit, family relationships, and tastes.

Due to exposure, the first step in preparing for moving artwork is cleaning. All dirt, cobwebs, dust, and fingerprints should be thoroughly removed and erased. Some paintings may have richly carved and embossed frames.

Allow enough time for this; don't rush. Thoroughly clean and erase all glass surfaces and frames.

Regardless of all care and precaution, transport paintings can sometimes take an undesirable course. That is why it is necessary to photograph and mark each artwork separately. Along with the photo, it is good to describe the type, material, size, and characteristic details in case of insurance purposes.

The next step is to measure each image or item to ensure adequate packaging. Certain things are packed in specialized boxes of different sizes. Carefully measure the dimensions of your artwork to avoid trouble.

Gathering Packing Materials

When you have cleaned and prepared all the items that require special treatment, it is time to get the basic packing material.

You can find information about art shipping boxes and other accessories online and in "do-it-yourself" stores. We recommend you visit one of the galleries because there you will find the most useful and concrete advice. If anyone knows how to package artworks to perfection, it is people employed in galleries and museums.

They will instruct you that you need a separate box for painting for each painting. Along with that elementary thing, corner protectors, bubble wrap, packing tape, and glassing paper are mandatory. Do not try to improvise the packaging with some inadequate boxes and materials; you are taking unnecessary risks. Each artwork requires sturdy boxes, preventing even the smallest possible damage.

Bubble wrap is necessary for paintings because it amortizes the possible fall or rough handling by those who will be responsible for loading and transporting them.

There is a wide variety of art shipping boxes, in all sizes and shapes, available nowadays. Analyze each of your items and select the appropriate box.

They can generally be found in stores that sell packaging materials. Also, places that professionally frame pictures and photos have all the necessary packaging for transport.

How to Wrap Paintings for Moving?

We have come to the most important part: packing each artwork. There are several stages to follow during packing, which are described step-by-step.

You have studied how to wrap painting for moving in theory, and now you need to show your skill in practice.

First, you need to put glassine paper over the canvas. Glassine paper is a special smooth paper that is resistant to water, air, and grease. It is also high-density and opaque.

Next, wrap the image in bubble wrap to ensure that no part is exposed to damage. Be sure to check that everything is covered.

Place the corner protectors, which are mandatory for fine art packing.

If you are packing framed art with glass, the approach is slightly different. To begin, stick a special strip of artist's tape over the glass. It should be glued in the shape of an X, but it is even better if you add a horizontal and a vertical one to protect the glass better.

Then, wrap the artwork for shipping in two layers of bubble wrap. You can put a corrugated board over it, which is flexible and protects well. Add insulation foam where you think it is necessary. Corner protectors are mandatory in this case as well.

Finally, use a box of the appropriate size and fill the gaps, preferably with "Packing peanuts." Styrofoam protects and cushions very well.

Packing Paintings for Transport

If you have a collection of artworks and wall art, you need to find out the best way to pack wall art for moving. Maybe you own some originals that are important to you, but they are also expensive. Packaging them in the safest way possible is in your best interest.

So, how do you pack pictures to move? Similar to artworks.

• clean them in detail because any impurity can cause damage during transport
• measure the dimensions
• the picture has glass, stick artistic tape as an X. That way, the movement of the glass will be minimal.

Wrap it in bubble wrap, and add corrugated board over it. Never use newspapers for packing or filling the gaps. They contain substances that can damage the image. Use exclusively special brown paper to protect pictures.

• put in a sturdy box, and fill every gap with crumpled brown paper for packaging. Mark the box with a clear and large FRAGILE and put your mark or number so you know what's inside when unpacking.
• seal the box with packing tape. Once packed and secured, do not open the picture until the moment of final unpacking.

You have followed all the instructions and now know how to pack pictures for moving. You have done everything you can and hope that your precious pictures will arrive in top form at their destination.

Transporting Paintings Safely

There comes a moment that is disturbing for every perfectionist and art lover. Your favorite objects are taken by someone else and taken away, and you cannot control them.

Relax, at least a little. We are professionals who deal with transporting paintings and have experience.

We ensure that we mark our boxes with "Fragile" in large letters in several places, but we also take the extra step to remind everyone that careful handling is essential. Moving art requires expert attention, and we emphasize the need for extreme caution at every step of the process.

While searching for a good moving company, prioritize the use of air conditioning in transport vehicles. The climatic conditions along the route are crucial, as extreme temperatures and fluctuations can severely affect canvas art. Therefore, it is essential to maintain moderate air conditioning and control humidity, as moisture and condensation are detrimental to artwork.

We also ensure our movers are well-informed about the loading order. Large and heavy items, such as furniture, bookcases, and appliances, are loaded first. Smaller and more fragile items follow, carefully stabilized to prevent damage during transit. This meticulous approach helps protect all items and ensures their safe arrival.

Special Consideration for Large or Valuable Artworks

It is particularly challenging when valuable artwork or large pictures need to be secured to the maximum extent and packaged in the best possible way.

When we know how to pack large pictures for moving, the principle is similar with smaller artworks. You need to use bubble wrap and tape everything well. A corrugated board is placed over it, and then it is packed in large boxes, filled in the gaps, and marked with the conspicuous inscription Fragile in several places.

What can be a different approach is packing large pieces of art in special wooden boxes, which museums use. It is a more expensive variant but safer.

When packing canvas paintings for moving, you should be the most careful and not skip even the smallest detail. Even if the picture has greater artistic and market value, the approach to packaging requires expertise.

First, the picture is wrapped with acid-free paper. This special, alkaline paper does not absorb moisture and does not interact with the color in the image. Photos and other artworks can be stored in it for a long time. There is no danger that the acid-free paper will turn yellow or fall apart. It was made specifically for such a purpose.

The picture is then wrapped with bubble wrap and corrugated board. Instead of bubble wrap, you can also use insulating material, which is spongy and soft. When it comes to the final packaging in a box, it would be advisable to buy a wooden box. This is how museums transport their valuable paintings to exhibitions all over the world. It is also the best way to pack pictures for moving, although more expensive, especially if you have several such canvas pictures.

Another approach, also done by museum workers, is to take the canvas out of the frame, roll it up, and pack it in a specialized wooden socket. Such transport is safe, but it requires a later effort to put it back into the frame. It is often a risk, and injuries are possible, especially if you are not a trained professional. Many museologists advocate the principle of "stay flat," i.e., transporting the picture in the frame.

There is also a homemade version, but it must be used with the utmost care: wrap the packed picture in a soft blanket and transport it that way.

And finally, if you have the means, hire museum workers or gallerists who will professionally pack your valuable pictures properly.

Unpacking and Setting Up Your Art

You have finally arrived at your new home, and the unpacking begins. Don't forget a few rules:

• unpack room by room
• furniture and big things first
• artworks are unpacked last

It is best to put all decorative, fragile, and sensitive things in a separate, unoccupied room and leave them for the end.

When it's your turn for the artwork, don't stare. Unpack everything carefully and slowly. Allow time to consider where you will place what. For the best effect, the family and maybe even a gallerist should analyze decisions about hanging pictures on the walls.

Once you drill holes in the walls and place large pictures, you will not move them again. Therefore, make it easy and without haste.

Conclusion

If you have mastered all these packing and unpacking methods, you have become an expert in the moving field.  You learned something new and made an effort to listen and apply the advice of professionals. You understood that sometimes slower means better.

Now is the time to call our professional packers and make sure everything arrives in your new place 100% safe.

FAQs About How to Pack Paintings for Moving

Here are the most frequently asked questions with the answers!

How should I clean my paintings before packing them for a move?

Clean your paintings by removing all dirt, cobwebs, dust, and fingerprints thoroughly. Pay special attention to glass surfaces and frames.

What materials do I need to pack paintings for moving?

You need art shipping boxes, corner protectors, bubble wrap, packing tape, and glassine paper to safely pack paintings for moving.

How do I protect a painting with a glass frame during a move?

Stick artist's tape in an X shape over the glass, wrap it in bubble wrap, add corrugated board, and place it in a sturdy box filled with packing peanuts.

Can I use regular boxes and newspapers to pack my artwork?

No, it is recommended to use specialized art shipping boxes and packing materials to ensure your artwork is well-protected during the move.

What should I do if I have valuable or large artworks?

Consider using wooden crates for packing and transport, or hire professionals who specialize in moving valuable and large artworks.