When moving to a new home, ensuring the safe transport of your belongings is paramount, particularly when it comes to fragile items like picture frames. Picture frames not only hold financial value but often sentimental value as well, making their safe relocation a priority. Here’s a comprehensive guide on how to pack your picture frames for moving, ensuring they arrive at your new home in perfect condition.
Selecting the Right Materials:
The first step in packing picture frames is choosing the right materials. You will need sturdy boxes, ideally ones that are slightly larger than your frames. Specialty picture boxes can be ideal as they are designed specifically for frames and art. Additionally, gather packing paper, bubble wrap, packing tape, and a marker for labelling. The same principles apply to glass-fronted items, so our guide to packing mirrors for moving is well worth reading alongside this one. The same principles apply to other delicate belongings, so it is worth reading our guide on packing fragile items for a move before you start boxing things up.
Preparing the Frames:
Before wrapping your frames, ensure they are clean and dry. Remove any dust or debris as these can scratch the glass during transportation. If the frame has a glass cover, consider taping the glass with painter’s tape. Place a large X across the glass with the tape; this will prevent the glass from shattering in case it breaks. If the glass does break, the tape will hold the pieces together, protecting the artwork or photo from damage. If you also need to move oversized glass artwork, our advice on transporting a large mirror safely covers the same layered-wrapping techniques in more detail.
Wrapping Techniques:
Lay out a piece of bubble wrap on a flat surface and place the frame glass side down onto the bubble wrap. Ensure the bubble wrap extends beyond the edges of the frame. Wrap the bubble wrap around the frame securely and tape it so that it stays in place. For additional protection, wrap a layer of packing paper around the bubble-wrapped frame and secure it with tape. For a broader overview of protecting delicate items in transit, our advice on packing breakables for moving covers the key materials and methods.
For added security, especially with larger or more valuable frames, consider double wrapping with bubble wrap. Also, filling empty spaces in the box with crumpled packing paper or additional bubble wrap can prevent movement and absorb shocks during transit. For other ornate and fragile decorative pieces, our guide on packing a chandelier for moving walks through how to protect delicate fittings during transit.
Packing the Frames:
When placing the wrapped frames into the moving box, position them vertically, as this reduces the pressure on the frames and minimises the risk of damage. Ensure that each frame is snugly fitted and does not move around in the box. If there is extra space, fill it with more crumpled packing paper or bubble wrap. If you have an oversized frame and no suitable box, the same approach used for packing a mirror without a box can work equally well here.
For multiple frames in one box, wrap each one individually and place cardboard dividers between them to prevent any contact. This is particularly important if the frames are not the same size or if their edges are ornate and could potentially damage each other. Once your frames are wrapped and boxed, you may also find our guide on how to pack furniture for moving helpful for protecting the larger pieces in the same room.
Labelling and Final Checks:
After sealing the box, label it clearly with the contents and destination room, and mark it as ‘Fragile’ on multiple sides to ensure careful handling. Before moving day, give the box a gentle shake to check for any movement. If you hear objects shifting, open the box and add more padding as necessary. Once your frames are wrapped and boxed, our guidance on organising moving boxes will help you stack and label everything efficiently on moving day.
Choosing a Reliable Removal and/or Storage Provider:
For those looking for extra assurance, hiring a professional removal and storage provider can make a significant difference. These experts have the experience and resources to handle fragile items and can offer tailored services, from providing high-quality packing materials to offering insurance for valuable goods. To get the most protection out of every carton, our tips on packing moving boxes correctly explain how to layer, fill gaps, and seal boxes so nothing shifts in transit.
In conclusion, packing picture frames for a move requires careful planning and execution. By following these steps and considering professional help, you can ensure your picture frames—and the memories they hold—arrive safely at your new home. For a full room-by-room approach, our guide to packing household items for moving covers everything from shelves and ornaments to bulkier furniture pieces.
