If you're planning to pack up your home for a move, and you need to keep your things in storage for the short term, you may be trying to learn all you can about how to pack different things around your home. Don't forget about your lamps. Table lamps are small, but they're fragile. Some are complex and have many parts. Here are some tips for packing and storing table lamps, floor lamps, and hanging lamps.

Buy Proper Packing Boxes

You'll probably need at least two boxes for each lamp. One is to house the base, and the other is for the shade. Depending on the size of the lamp, you might want a book box or a dish barrel since these have the most sturdy construction. You may even want cells to put in the boxes to house individual crystals or light bulbs.

If you're moving a big chandelier, you may want to buy a specialized chandelier moving box that allows you to hang the lamp inside the box. This box has cells at the bottom to hold the bulbs from the lamp that should be removed for storage.

You'll also need packing paper for wrapping and to wad up to fill empty spaces. Foam peanuts are also good for filling the box as padding and to keep the lamp from shifting.

Take The Lamp Apart

It's good to take the lamp apart as much as you can. Take each lamp apart one at a time so you don't lose track of which parts go with what lamp. Place the small parts, such as those that attach the shade to the lamp, in a small plastic bag and tape the bag to the inside of the box.

Wrap And Pad The Lamp

Wrap the lamp base in packing paper or newspaper before placing it in a box that's been lined with peanuts or paper. Pad all sides of the box to protect the lamp. When the lamp is in the box, put crumpled paper all around it to fill empty space and hold the lamp steady.

Follow the same procedure for the lampshade, except only use packing paper since newspapers may smudge the shade. Once the lamp is in the box, seal the box with packing tape, making sure the seams are secure so the box won't fail and the lamp fall out.

Stack Lamp Boxes Carefully

When you're ready to move your lamps to the storage unit, take care to stack them safely. You may want to stack them on shelves in storage so you don't have to stack more than two. If a tall stack of lamps topples over, the lamp bases might break, so keep stacks small and put heavy items on the bottom. Also, make sure the boxes align perfectly. A box that has too much stuffing might not close flat and that can make the stack unstable.

For more information on packing and storage, contact a local storage company.

Share