One of the most important parts of the moving process is making sure that you get everything from “point A” to “point B” safely and correctly. The vast majority of us have art within our homes. This article will explain how to move framed art, whether it be a print, painting, or photo. Let’s dig into the specifics.
Table of contents
General Rules When Moving Wall Art
- Use the correct supplies
- Art specific supplies
- General moving supplies
- Don’t package just anywhere
- Flat surfaces work best
- Wrap with care
- Label your pieces/boxes
- “Fragile”
- The location of your old home
- Location in new home
- Don’t place other items on canvases or boxes
- Hire a professional
What You Need to Move Wall Art
- Boxes of varying sizes
- Painter’s tape
- Packing tape
- Newspaper or brown packing paper
- Bubble wrap
- Marker
How to Pack
Pick Appropriately Sized Boxes
Once you have removed all the framed artwork from the walls of your home sort it by size- small, medium, or large and whether or not it is framed. After sorting and categorizing by size, you want to find a box that is adequately sized in preparation for your move.
Pieces that are small or medium in size can be padded and packaged together, while large artwork should be separately boxed.
Wrap with Care
To ensure that your art does not get destroyed in the move it is important to understand how to wrap it properly.
The First Wrap
If the artwork has glass covering it or is framed you should mark the glass with an “X” using painter’s tape. This way, if it does manage to break, it won’t completely shatter.
If the artwork does not have a glass cover you should wrap it with some type of plastic wrap. You can use the same plastic wrap found in your kitchen.
Something you may also want to look into depending on the size and type of art are corner covers.
The Second Wrap
Once you have successfully wrapped your art, it is time to wrap it again.
You will want to find a flat surface to begin wrapping your art in paper and bubble wrap. Similar to wrapping a gift you want to make sure the size of the paper you are working with is around double the size of the frame. Placing the piece either face or glass down wrap the art as you would wrap a gift securing it with tape along the way.
Then repeat this process with bubble wrap for extra protection and padding.
Putting it in the Box
Just because your art is all wrapped up does not mean it is ready to be sealed in a box and moved. Before you seal the box, simply close it and move it around to make sure that the art inside doesn’t shift.
For framed art consider using sleek boxes that closely resemble the size and shape of the frame.
If it does manage to shift fill the box with some type of packing material. This can be things like crumpled-up newspapers, hand towels, or some form of box insert.
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Sealing the Box
After everything is nice and secure inside the box it is time to seal it up. Carefully seal the edges of the box with packaging tape and make sure to label it with the contents.
When marking the box make sure you label two sides with not only the contents but also where it belongs, which way is up, as well as the keyword “fragile.”
Loading Up the Truck
It’s finally time to pack everything up! Here are some key points on how to move (framed) art into the truck.
Ensure that when moving your art it is placed on its side within the truck. If it is placed flat it may be more intended to shatter or rip.
If able also look to wedge them between objects that will not move around in the truck during the move, this will help prevent the artwork from falling over.
Happy moving and curating my friends!
Hi! I am Mackenzie Jones! I am currently a junior in college majoring in biology, psychology, and neuroscience. In my free time I enjoy writing, trying new local restaurants/cafes, and spending as much time outside as possible.
