Moving Your Leather Furniture

Leather furniture is elegant, durable, and expensive. It brings a natural warmth to just about any room. However, it does need some care to stay nice. And, if you are moving soon and plan to bring your leather furniture to the new residence, you will need to take some specific steps to protect it. It takes a bit more effort than a fabric couch. The good news is that if you plan accordingly, your leather furniture will arrive intact and without any damage.

Wrap Your Leather Furniture Well

You will want to take extra care with your leather furniture to avoid tears, scuffs, and scratches. Wrap your leather sofa and chairs with furniture blankets. Make sure that every bit is covered, and tape the blankets to securely hold them in place. However, make sure the tape does not touch any part of the leather. The tape may damage the leather or take the color off. In addition, if your leather furniture has wooden or leather-covered legs, make sure to wrap those as well.

After wrapping your sofa and chairs in furniture blankets, you may want to wrap them in shrink wrap as well. This is an added layer of protection and is appropriate for very expensive furniture. Shrink wrap will hold the blankets in place better than tape alone. Do not wrap your furniture solely with shrink wrap. Always use furniture blankets first and cover the blankets with shrink wrap. If you apply shrink wrap directly to the leather, it may stick. It can get worse if you store your furniture for any amount of time. Any moisture will be trapped under the shrink wrap and may cause mildew to grow in damp environments.

Moving Your Leather Furniture

If your piece of furniture is large, like an oversized sofa or couch, plan your path ahead of time. Take special note of corners in the home and the size of the furniture piece to ensure it can fit through doorways and around corners. Keep in mind the furniture blankets will make the piece bulkier so you want to make sure you have enough space to move it out.

Many leather furniture pieces tend to be oversized and overstuffed, which can make them quite heavy. Do not attempt to move these types of pieces by yourself. Either hire professionals or get extra help from family or friends. This is a great option that will save your back and a lot of stress.

Storing Your Leather Furniture

Leather is a natural material that will react differently to various temperatures and humidity. In severely dry, hot climates the leather can crack and fade. On the other hand, humid climates can cause moisture buildup around your furniture. Moisture will encourage mold and mildew growth on your leather furniture so again, it’s crucial to ensure your leather furniture is stored properly. Consider dry, climate-controlled storage units.  It’s also a good idea to try to elevate your furniture off the ground. Placing furniture on crates or wood pallets can help in case there are any spills or flooding around your unit. Also, make sure you do not store anything on top of your leather furniture. The weight over time can cause the leather to stretch out or create indentations.