Prevent Wall Marks while Moving Furniture

  • 2-4 hours
  • Beginner
  • 25-75

Moving is always a hassle and often when you remove furniture pieces, you're left with unsightly wall marks.

Large furniture pieces, mattresses and even small boxes can, and usually do, leave wall marks. Whether you are moving yourself or you intend to hire a professional mover to do the job, there are ways to protect your walls from the scuff marks that are so common during the moving process.

Wrap With Plastic

Large sofas, over-stuffed chairs, ottomans, tables and the legs of these pieces should be wrapped in a heavy moving plastic or shrink wrap. Be sure to wrap the overall piece of furniture, as well as the legs a few times to cover completely. Secure with a heavy packing tape or duct tape.

Pad Mattresses

Moving mattresses can be clumsy and most of the time, they slam into walls. If you wrap the mattress in a heavy blanket or comforter, it should alleviate the problem. Most movers have large blankets that are just for this purpose, so be sure to ask them when they arrive to make the move. Old quilts or car covers can also be used to pad mattresses.

Wrap Walls

It is important that you try to cover high traffic areas like hallway walls with big bed sheets or large comforters or bedspreads. To keep them in place and from falling to the ground and wrapping around movers' shoes, use wall tacks to hold them into place or heavy duct tape. Covering walls with something soft should prevent boxes from scratching or leaving marks on the walls.

Brown Paper

Cover walls and major corners of walls where items are going to be moved continuously such as walls adjoining the stairway with simple brown wrapping paper. Again, tape or tack the paper down to keep it from coming off walls. You can also use old brown grocery bags that are cluttering cupboards, too, in order to save on the cost of buying paper.

TVs and Electronics

Protect and wrap large flat-screen TVs in newspaper and bath towels first. Then, cover again with blankets or comforters to preserve the screen and your walls. Other electronics should also be covered in a soft fabric so they do not get damaged or rattle if boxes are bumped. Walls are prevented from scuffing thanks to the softness of fabrics.

Use Bubble Wrap

Bubble wrap from gifts, packages or mail is also a good way of protecting electronics and other large items that could scuff walls and leave marks. Wrap items tightly and tie with string or heavy packaging tape. Bubble wrap serves as a good insulation material thanks to its raised "bubbles" that supply a cushion.

Carpet Samples

Tack square carpet samples that are available at carpet and home improvement stores to wall corners and baseboards to help prevent furniture from rubbing against walls while moving furniture.

If All Else Fails

If all else fails and these tips do not work, touching up wall marks and scuffs with paint can be done easily with a paintbrush and paint.