Chandeliers are a beautiful and unique addition to your new home, but getting them there can be a real challenge. How do you pack and move a decoration with such a distinctive shape and delicate form? The good news is that you can pack and move your chandelier like the experts in just five steps:
- Disconnect and remove chandelier.
- Disassemble chandelier.
- Wrap chandelier and its parts with protective materials.
- Place in a prepped wooden or cardboard box – preferably made to size.
- Transport your chandelier with great care.
1. Disconnect and Remove Chandelier
If your chandelier is electric, you will need to disconnect it from the mains with the help of a friend. For this first step, we’d recommend that you hire an electrician. Unless you are 100% confident, it is much safer to hire an expert – this will save you time and prevent possible injuries or long-term damage to your electrics. If you do decide to do it yourself, make sure you refer to your manufacturer’s instructions and turn the power off before you do anything else.
Once the chandelier is disconnected, you will be able to bring it down to a flat and stable surface to begin the packing and removals process.
If you have a grand chandelier that is a large or unusual shape like this, an electrician (or your removals team) will also be more qualified to bring it down without causing damage — both to the chandelier and themselves.
2. Disassemble Chandelier
Once your chandelier is down, use a screwdriver to disassemble the chandelier. You should remove all parts that will go back on with ease, like the lampshade, light bulbs, candle cups, arms and chains. You can wrap and label all of the parts you disconnect in packing paper, but crystals and glass — or otherwise delicate parts — will need another layer of bubble wrap to prevent them being crushed or smashed.
Some of these parts will also have nuts, bolts, screws and wires attached that you don’t want to lose. Make sure that you label and pack these small parts in secure Ziploc bags or boxes – you will thank yourself later for this.
If you are unsure if you can reconnect a part, don’t remove it. It is best to protect it while it is attached, than not be able to get it back on at all.
3. Wrap Chandelier with Protective Materials
Wrap the remainder of the chandelier in newspaper or brown paper one section at a time and secure it with painters tape. Once all areas are covered, repeat this process with bubble wrap – you might have to cut down your bubble wrap to size to fit it around some of the more awkward sections of your piece.
As above, if there are glass or otherwise delicate sections of your chandelier, make sure these are given extra care — i.e. extra bubble wrap and protective paper layers! It is more than worth taking the time to do this.
4. Prepare and Place in Wooden or Cardboard Box
Next it is time to pack. At Falconer Removals, we’d source a strong wooden or cardboard box made to size for your chandelier to fit in.
Before you transfer the chandelier and its parts into the box, we’d recommend another thin layer of newspaper and bubble wrap or foam in the bottom of the box. You can then place the chandelier in the box, followed by the parts at the top, separated with another layer of bubble wrap or foam.
No need to spend on expensive packing materials. A solid cardboard box and some old newspaper will do the trick.
Once the chandelier is in place, fill the box with packing materials as you would with all other delicate furniture. Due to their small and mouldable shape, foam packing peanuts are a great option here. If you haven’t got packing peanuts, use crumbled newspaper, crushed packing paper or other soft materials to fill gaps and create more protective layers.
Before you seal the box up, add yet another layer of bubble wrap or foam on top, just below where the box closes. To test if your chandelier is secure, you can very very gently shake or tilt the box to see if you can hear or feel significant movement. If you can, return to the previous step and fill with more protective materials.
5. Transport with Great Care
This goes without saying but it still bears repeating: transport the chandelier with great care. Although it is secure in the box at this point, you should keep it up high in your van or car so it doesn’t get crushed below the weight of your other belongings.
Our Final Advice
When in doubt, hire a removals team. At Falconers we use meticulous moving techniques, passed down and perfected through generations for over 132 years, to ensure your chandelier – and all other items – are moved and kept in perfect condition. If you don’t feel confident, we’d recommend that you hire an experienced removals team like us.
To find out more about our removals and storage services, check out our website or contact Nathan.
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Written by Holly, for Falconer Removals.
