Using a portable moving and storage container (also called a moving container or a storage container) is a great option for long-distance moves for many reasons. First, they provide one solution for both moving and storage. You can easily store your container if needed at a secure facility or keep it in your driveway, which means you can take your time loading and unloading your furniture.
Portable containers also offer more control over how your items get loaded, because you can do the loading yourself, which — trust us — can mean the difference between your favorite side table and your favorite side table with a big chip in it. Compared to the full-service moving industry, PODS has 10 times fewer damage claims, according to the AMSA (American Moving & Storage Association). We don’t know about you, but that certainly makes us feel more at ease!
Insider Tip: If you’re moving just a few pieces of furniture long-distance, the PODS 8-foot container* is an ideal size!
*PODS is constantly upgrading its container fleet and container sizes may vary slightly from one model to another. Suggested container sizes are for guidance only. Larger items and how efficiently containers are loaded can significantly impact the size and quantity of containers you’ll need.
Hybrid Moving — Portable Moving Containers With Hired Packing & Loading Help
To add just a bit more on portable containers, you also have the freedom to hire professional packers and loaders to do the hard work for you — and the easy stuff, if you prefer! PODS can connect you with highly rated, moving-labor companies in your area who are experienced specialists when it comes to PODS containers (and they definitely know how to move furniture across country). They’re very friendly, too!
Now that you’ve selected your moving method, here’s a quick common-sense pro tip before we get into the nitty-gritty of packing: Maybe this goes without saying, but before you haul a piece of furniture, say, all the way across the country, make sure it fits first! This is especially true when downsizing to a smaller living space. Measure that chaise lounge before loading it (Hint: your new 600-square-foot apartment may not have quite enough space).
So you’ve decided to put those packing skills you’ve spent hours carefully cultivating over the years to good use (or is that just us?). If you’ve opted for the DIY version of moving your furniture long-distance, we have some pointers you’ll want to keep in mind.
Visualize not just the piece of furniture but what space the piece will occupy in your moving truck, container, or otherwise — and get creative.
Time to put those well-earned Tetris skills to use. Before you pack anything, picture all the pieces you have to move — the couches, tables, chairs, bookcases, etc. Then look at the negative space within each of these. The key to making furniture secure for travel is to make it as compact as possible. We mean filled. Dense. What can be packed within the bookcase to fill the negative space? Visualize not just the piece of furniture but what space the piece will occupy in your moving truck, container, or otherwise — and get creative.
We also always recommend evenly distributing the weight when you pack a moving container. Oh, you’ll also want blankets and plastic wrap. Lots.
Be sure you have a plastic mattress slipcover to keep both the mattress and box spring safe. Your mattress is also basically a big wall; use it strategically to box in other items you’re moving.
Another one of the big items you’ll probably have to wrangle with, a bed frame can be as simple as one flat, smooth piece or as intricate as Victorian-style woodwork. Either way, a great place to put this is between your mattress and box spring. Keep it snug.
Main Tables (as opposed to side tables)
If it’s an option, take the legs off your tables and wrap each one individually. Wrap the accompanying chairs together, stacking them if possible, and use bungee cords to keep everything together and secured.
Grab some masking tape and make a big “X” across the face of each mirror. Avoid duct tape here — your mirrors won’t like it. Actually, this is a great idea for any glass surfaces to help minimize the impact of constant vibrations in the moving process. Your mirrors and glass won’t break as easily. We also recommend packing mirrors and picture frames inside moving boxes specially designed for them.
Remove the cushions and use them as packing material to secure other pieces. Remember the negative space? That exercise will come in handy here, especially when you plastic wrap the couch with softer items inside — like stuffed animals, linens, and clothes. Nothing too big or heavy — just enough to take advantage of the space. Stand it on its end if you can, picking a nice corner. Just make sure it’s blocked in and won’t topple over during the move.
Dressers/Chest o’ Drawers
Before even trying to move these out of your house and into a moving container, know that: 1) It’s a lot easier to get them to the container when the drawers are removed first, and 2) Corners can cause as much damage as they can receive. Pay special attention to the corners and finished areas, covering them completely with blankets (did we mention blankets are your best friend?).
Here Is Movers CalgaryPro Tip: Fill the drawers with not-too-heavy items once inside the container, and you’re all set.
A man and woman are both lifting a green armchair. They are in a living room with another matching sofa piece and several moving boxes.
Your smaller furniture pieces will help you secure bigger pieces when you move. That said, they deserve some love, too.
Recliners can be unwieldy but generally fare well when properly secured. It’s the smaller chairs that will fly around in a moving truck if you take a curb too quickly! Save yourself the headache: Stack, wrap, and bungee these down.
Like chairs, these usually have skinny legs and can fit in between larger items where there’s space. Side tables vary in size and shape, so use your best judgment. Watch out for pointy things like drawer handles and corners in case they rub against another piece of furniture. You may be able to load a side table by yourself depending on the size, but if it’s older (and especially wooden), take care not to handle it in such a way that a piece comes off!
For glass tops, it’s a good idea to put a masking tape X over it (like your mirrors). Bubble cushioning roll will be your best friend here, too. Any drawers? See the dresser strategy. Use at least two people if you can. You got this.
CAN MOVERS MOVE FURNITURE WITH STUFF IN IT?
Yes! Making the most of space is what we’re all about. That giant armoire you’ve been carting around for a decade is a beautiful piece of furniture — and now it’s even more valuable as a giant packing box. Stuff it full of blankets, pillows, towels, and other linens, and then wind some bubble-wrap around it to keep the door closed. The same goes for smaller dressers, end tables, and other cabinet-type pieces with drawers and doors. Stuff them full of non-fragile items for a super-efficient hack. You’ll save money on boxes and you’ll have extra room in your storage container.
WHAT TO DO WITH OLD FURNITURE WHEN MOVING ACROSS THE COUNTRY?
If you’re downsizing before your big move, this answer is for you. A move is a great opportunity to offload items that you’ve grown out of or just don’t think are worth carting across the country — because let’s face it: That thrift-store couch from college that cost $50 is going to run a smidge more when you add up the price tag for movers, a truck, and insurance. It adds up.
A yard sale is a fantastic idea for getting rid of the big stuff — and the little stuff, for that matter — so you can travel light. It’s also a non-stressful way to say goodbye to your neighbors before you hit the road. But if you’ve still got a ton of furniture and tchotchkes left over post-sale, donating your belongings is the way to go. Check out your local Goodwill, Salvation Army, or Habitat for Humanity; in many cities, they’ll come to your home and pick up your things at no charge.
Wouldn’t it be great if every time you moved you had professional help to get the job done quickly and easily? While it may be the ideal, it’s likely that there will come a time when you find yourself moving without any assistance from the pros—and that includes having to move heavy furniture by yourself.
Now, keep in mind that moving heavy furniture by yourself doesn’t mean you are actually completely on your own—just that you don’t have professional movers helping you out. One person isn’t going to be able to carry a couch up or down stairs, or load up a moving truck with the entire contents of their home, heavy items included. But the differences between having help from a moving company and doing a DIY move with your partner, friends, or family are pretty stark, and you’re going to want to have a plan in place for when it comes time to move heavy furniture out of your old home and in to your new one.
For our purposes, let’s assume that you’re not a body builder or otherwise expertly fit for hauling heavy loads (if you were, you probably wouldn’t be here reading this), and let’s get in to the nitty-gritty of how to move heavy furniture without the pros by your side.
When it comes to moving heavy furniture, the goal is to be as efficient as possible. Take an inventory of every heavy item that needs to get on to the moving truck and then figure out what needs to be loaded when, and where. In general, heavy items go toward the back of the truck bed and around the sides to help balance the load and keep all of your belongings safe. That means you’ll likely be doing the heavy lifting right in the beginning, and then filling in gaps with lighter boxes and smaller items of furniture.
Prioritize the order that you’ll tackle each piece of furniture, noting again that the biggest and heaviest items go on first. Although creating a plan of attack may seem like just one more step in an endless to do list, it will save you the time and effort it would take later on to rearrange all that heavy furniture on the truck.
