Whether you’re preparing for a local or long-distance move, you need to pack your belongings securely. Artwork, pictures, and paintings are often fragile and require special wrapping to prevent damage while in storage or transit. Use the following guide to learn more about how to protect your wall hangings before moving.

Your Guide to Packing Artwork Before a Move

What materials should you use?

Whether you need to pack paintings or portraits, there are several materials and supplies you should purchase. Packing tape, bubble wrap, packing paper, painter’s tape, and large sections of clean cardboard are essentials for most artwork.

You should already have a majority of these items for the moving process. If you want additional protection, you can get some picture boxes for your most valuable paintings.

How can you keep the glass secure?

If your artwork has glass coverings, protect them so they don’t shatter and injure you or your movers. Use painter’s tape to cover the glass with a large “X” from corner to corner, which will reinforce the glass and keep it intact if it breaks. For extra cushioning, cut a piece of cardboard to size and attach it to the glass with packing tape.

How should you secure your paintings?

Cover your artwork with plastic wrap and use cardboard corners to protect the edges. Put each piece of art into a picture box and line the bottom with newspaper for insulation. Pad any excess space with bubble wrap before sealing it with packing tape and labeling it. 

How should you label the boxes?

Using a permanent marker and legible handwriting, mark each piece of packaged artwork with the words “fragile” and “handle with care.” Your movers will know to be gentle while loading them in and out of the truck. 

You can write what piece of artwork it is so you don’t have to unbox it to find out. You could even write what room it belongs in so you can put it there directly from the moving truck.

Keep your belongings safe and protected during relocation with help from the movers at Nebraskaland Moving. They offer local and interstate moving to clients throughout Lincoln, NE. Call (402) 466-8169 to ask for relocation assistance and set up packing services. Visit the website to browse through helpful moving tips and checklists.