The dining table is the biggest thing in the room and the last thing anyone wants to think about. It sits there on moving morning with six chairs tucked in, a glass cabinet full of plates behind it, and a tablecloth that still smells of Sunday rice. Pack this room badly and you can lose a chair leg, a glass shelf and half a dinner set before lunch.
Here is the order that works, from the smallest things to the biggest.
Start with the cabinet contents
The china cabinet is where most breakages happen, so empty it before anyone lifts it.
- Take out the glass shelves first and wrap each one in newspaper, then a blanket. Stand them upright, never flat under a box.
- Wrap plates one by one in paper, then stack them on their edge in a box, not flat. Edges take pressure better than faces.
- Put cups and glasses in with paper tucked inside each one. Label the box "glass, this side up".
- Pack cutlery in its tray, wrap the whole tray and tape it.
- Keep the good dinner set, serving bowls and any family pieces in a separate box that you carry or place last on the truck.
Do not fill a box of plates to the top. A small box that you can lift comfortably is safer than a big one nobody can carry down the stairs.
Take the table apart where you can
Many dining tables come apart with a screwdriver or an Allen key. Remove the legs, put every screw and bolt in one labelled bag and tape the bag to the underside of the tabletop. Our guide on taking furniture apart before a move covers the method step by step.
Leave solid wooden tables alone if the legs are glued or fixed. Instead, wrap the whole table in thick blankets and tape the blankets with masking tape, not packing tape. Packing tape can lift varnish.
Glass tops and heavy marble
A glass top is the item to think about most. Lift it with two people, one at each end, and carry it on its edge. Wrap it in a blanket, add a layer of cardboard on both sides and tape the corners. It travels standing on its edge against a wall of the truck, never flat with other things on it.
Marble or stone tops are heavy enough to be a risk in a stairwell. Use at least two strong helpers, wrap the edges and carry with straight backs. Our guide on how to move heavy wooden furniture and pianos safely has more on lifting.
Chairs: wrap, nest and tie
Chairs rub against everything. Turn them upside down in pairs, seat to seat, with a blanket or foam between. Tie each pair with soft rope or a strip of cloth. Cushioned seats should be covered in plastic so they stay clean.
Wooden chairs with carved backs need extra care. Wrap the carving in a layer of cloth before tying. If a chair has a loose leg, fix it now rather than finding out when it is loaded.
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Tablecloths, runners and the small things
Fold tablecloths and place mats in a bag. Candles, vases and artificial flowers are best carried in a box with crumpled paper. Do not use plastic bags for ceramics: they offer no protection at all.
Write the room name and the contents on every box, on at least two sides. If you want a system, labelling and numbering boxes is worth reading.
Load the dining room in the right order
On the truck, the table top and the cabinet usually go in first against the cab wall, with the cabinet doors tied shut. Chairs go in around the table. Boxes of plates go on top, light ones last. Glass shelves travel upright between blankets in a spot nobody will lean on.
Put the dining room items in the same part of the truck. When the truck arrives at the new home, you offload that section into one room and the unpacking stays tidy.
How to do this on Sphere
Open the Sphere app and choose a truck or a pickup van, depending on the size of the whole house. Add the pickup and drop-off and describe the dining room in the load: "1 six-seater dining table with glass top, 6 chairs, 1 china cabinet, 8 boxes of plates and glasses". Say that glass and a cabinet are on board and which floor you are on. Propose a price, and nearby verified drivers will accept or send counter-offers. Agree loading and offloading help with the driver before you accept an offer.
See also house moving in Lagos and van hire in Lagos.
Frequently asked questions
Should I empty the china cabinet before it is lifted?
Yes. Empty it and take out the glass shelves. A cabinet full of plates is heavier and more likely to shift.
How do I pack plates so they do not break?
Wrap each one in paper and stack them on their edges in a small box. Pad the gaps with paper and tape the box shut.
Can a dining table travel with its legs on?
It can if the legs are fixed and the table is wrapped well. Removing the legs saves space and avoids damage to door frames.
How should I carry a glass tabletop?
On its edge with two people, wrapped in a blanket and cardboard. It travels standing, never flat.
Where should the dining chairs go on the truck?
Around the table or against the side, tied in pairs. Keep them away from sharp corners and the tailgate.
Request your move
Request a truck or van on Sphere
Choose your vehicle, propose your price, and verified drivers in Lagos, Abuja and Ibadan accept or send a counter-offer.
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