How To Pack Pictures and Mirrors to Prepare for Your Move

When packing boxes for your household move, some require more care than others. This is especially true for fragile items, such as pictures and mirrors. You can’t pack these as quickly as you would clothing, books, or linens. When packing delicate items, the following tips can help ensure your pictures and mirrors arrive safely at your new home.

Get Proper Supplies

The first thing to do is to get the right packing supplies to ensure you pack your pictures and mirrors correctly so they don’t arrive shattered at your new place. Incorrect packing damages these items and can lead to injury from sharp glass pieces.

You’ll need heavy-duty or specialized boxes, packing paper, bubble wrap, painter's tape, and packing tape. Take measurements before you purchase boxes so you know the size is accurate. Get slightly larger boxes. This way, you have enough room for padding to protect glass or delicate canvas.

Wrap and Box Items Carefully

For more oversized items, lay your picture or mirror flat on the ground and slip a foam corner protector on each corner before inserting these items into a box.

• Place a sheet of packing paper twice the size of the frame under the picture or mirror.

• Take painter's tape and create an “X” over the mirrors to keep the glass in place if it breaks.

• Wrap the item in bubble wrap or another sheet of packing paper to ensure it's adequately cushioned.

• Tape the bubble wrap or paper securely together so it doesn’t come apart.

• Fill the bottom of the box with peanuts or extra packing paper to keep the frame in place.

• Gently slide the picture or mirror into the box.

• Add extra paper to fill in any excess space to keep your item secure.

• Tape the box closed and use enough packing tape so the box doesn’t come apart in transit.

Repeat these steps with additional items once you have your first item boxed. You can bundle smaller items together, but ensure you wrap them individually so they don’t bump together and break. Ideally, place each item vertically into the box, not flat.

Clearly Label Each Box

Take a black Sharpie marker and label each box “FRAGILE” in numerous places. Alternatively, you can purchase special packing tape marked “fragile” to save time on this step.

Using a marker, write on it exactly what’s in the box and the room in which it should go at your new home. This way, you know precisely what item is in each box as you unpack them at the other end of your move.

Load Boxes Carefully

If you’re doing a DIY move, you’ll need to be extra careful about loading these boxes onto your moving vehicle. Load them vertically to help protect them.

If you’re using a professional mover, your labeling will alert them to handle those packages with extra care. Feel free to point out the boxes containing delicate items if you feel better about it.

Hire Professional Packers

Properly packing pictures and mirrors can take time and effort. Hire a professional moving company to handle this task to reduce the chance of breakage significantly. Many moving companies offer packing services and will get the job done right.

Do you need a free quote? Contact us today to learn more about our services or to schedule your upcoming move.