How to pack vases for moving

Elegant and beautiful, vases are among the items that bring the most cheer to a home – a vase of fresh flowers brightens up the room and imparts a sense of vitality and joy to the space. Besides, it adds character and artistic appeal to the house and gives it a welcoming and homely feeling.

It is, therefore, natural that when moving house, you’ll want to take your vases along and use them to create a charming and inviting atmosphere in your new residence, making it feel more like home and less like an unknown, impersonal place.

Moving vases, however, is not a simple task – they’re extremely delicate and fragile and, thus, quite vulnerable to damage. To ensure their safety, you need to provide them with maximum protection and handle them with utmost care. As might be expected, proper packing is your first step in achieving this goal.

Here is how to pack vases for moving so they stay safe and sound during the relocation.

Gather the necessary packing supplies

You can’t start packing vases for moving without having appropriate packing supplies, of course. And you need the right materials for the job – used moving boxes and old newspapers won’t do.

To ensure optimal protection for your treasured flower holders, you’re going to need:

1) Strong moving boxes in excellent condition – Get hold of strong, small to medium-sized cardboard boxes that will provide a sturdy protective cover for your vases and will easily absorb shocks during transportation.

• If you have a large number of small vases, consider investing in dish boxes – they are made of sturdier cardboard, have thicker walls, and usually come with dividers. These specialty boxes not only provide the best possible protection to fragile items during a move, but also make the packing process much safer and easier;
• If you’re moving tall vases, you may need to purchase tall boxes, designed specifically for packing elongated items such as vases and lamps. Make sure the boxes are about one-third larger than the vases to accommodate the needed extra padding.

2) Soft packing paper – Purchase quality packing paper that is soft and smooth enough not to scratch the delicate surface of your vases. Packing paper will provide the first layer of protection to all your glass items, so be sure to buy a lot of it. It is a good idea to purchase some tissue paper as well.

3) Bubble wrap – Get as much bubble wrap as you can – the bubbly materials is your best friend when packing for moving. It is especially useful for breakables such as glasses and vases. (See also: How to pack glasses for moving)

4) Packing tape – Buy quality packing tape, so you can reinforce and seal the moving boxes without worrying that they might burst open during the move. The adhesive strip will also help keep the wrapping materials in place.

5) Cushioning materials – newspapers, towels, packing peanuts, foam sheets, and other padding and protective materials.

6) Permanent markers

Once you’ve gathered everything necessary, you can finally get to work.

Prepare the packing boxes

Your first task is to make the packing containers as safe as possible for your vases:

• Reinforce the boxes – Double-tape the bottom flaps of each cardboard box you intend to use for packing vases. Then tape all the edges of the box and secure the bottom flaps along the inside seam. This will ensure that the cartons won’t break under the weight of the vase(s);
• Provide plenty of padding inside the moving containers – Cover the bottom of each packing box with crumpled paper to create a protective layer for your vases. The padding will absorb any shocks and vibrations during transit, reducing the risk of damage to your vases. Styrofoam peanuts, bubble wrap, foam sheets, and old towels will also do the trick, but crushed newspaper is your cheapest and easiest option.

When the boxes are ready, it’s time to turn your attention to the vases.

Prepare the vases

Before you start packing your flower holders, you need to take some precautionary measures:

1. Arrange all your vases on a large, flat, stable surface (such as your dining room table or kitchen countertop) and carefully inspect each and every piece – any cracked, chipped, permanently stained, or otherwise damaged vases are not worth moving to your new home and should be recycled instead (unless they have great sentimental value, of course);
2. Sort out your vases – group them by type (glass vases, crystal vases, porcelain vases, etc.), size (small vases, large vases, tall vases, unusually shaped vases), and value (expensive vases, treasured souvenirs, family heirlooms, antiques);
3. Make sure the vases are completely clean and dry – Glass vases and crystal vases are extremely delicate and can be easily scratched or stained by dust or dirt remaining in them during the moving process. Therefore, it’s advisable to thoroughly clean your vases (use water and a soft cloth) and dry them well before wrapping them for moving;
4. Fill the inside of the vases with crushed paper (or tissue paper) for extra support during the move.

At this point, all the necessary preparations are completed and you can safely and efficiently perform your packing task. So, how to pack a vase for moving?

How to wrap vases for moving

To better protect your delicate vases during the move, you need to carefully wrap them in packing paper and bubble wrap before putting them in the moving boxes:

• Lay a soft blanket or a large towel on a flat, stable surface (like a table or a countertop);
• Spread several sheets of soft packing paper on the cushioned surface;
• Put a vase kitty-corner onto the stack of paper;
• Roll the vase starting from the corner, tucking paper into the vase’s opening as you go;
• When you reach the end of the paper sheets, fold over the ends at the bottom of the vase (if necessary, use some packing tape to keep the bundle together);
• Next, lay out a large piece of bubble wrap on your working surface – make sure the bubble side is facing down (this will make the packing process easier and will provide better protection to the vase, as the bubbles will absorb any shocks during transit);
• Place the paper-wrapped vase on the bubble wrap and carefully roll it across the protective material until it is completely covered;
• Tape all around the vase to hold the wrapping tightly in place.

Do the same with all your vases – wrap each one individually in protective coverings and handle the pieces with great care and diligence. Pay special attention to glass vases, crystal vases, and other highly delicate items – they need the best protection possible, so it’s of paramount importance that you know how to pack glass vases for moving the right way (and all your other flower holders will benefit from the extra care as well – better safe than sorry).

How to pack vases for shipping

Once your vases are safely wrapped, they’re ready to go into the moving boxes:

1) Place the wrapped vases in the previously prepared moving boxes (on top of the crumpled paper) upright, with their bases facing downwards.

• When packing larger or heavier vases, put only one vase in a moving container of appropriate size;
• When packing smaller, inexpensive vases, you can put several of them together in a box, but make sure you add sufficient cushioning among them, so that they’re completely immobile and well insulated from one another. It’s best to use a specialized dish pack with dividers – set each vase in a separate cell and put some cushioning around it.

2) Fill any empty spaces in the boxes with cushioning materials (crumpled paper, packing peanuts, soft cloths, etc.) to prevent the vases from shifting during transit – you want your delicate items to be snug and secure throughout the move.

3) Add a final layer of bubble wrap on top of the vase(s) and close the boxes.

4) Lift each carton and shake it gently – if you can feel or hear the vase(s) moving inside, open the box, add more padding, and repeat the test.

5) When you’re certain that there’s no movement inside the boxes, seal them tightly and secure the cartons with plenty of packing tape.

6) Label the boxes with their contents and destination room. Write THIS SIDE UP, HANDLE WITH CARE, and any other handling instructions you might have with a permanent marker in big, bold letters. It is a good idea to also add “FRAGILE” stickers to all sides of moving containers.

Bonus tip: How to pack crystal vases for moving?

Crystal vases are wrapped the same way as glass vases – in plenty of soft packing paper and bubble wrap. Yet, it is recommendable to have them packed in custom crates instead of in regular moving boxes – the crates are much sturdier and fit the shape of the vases much better, providing superior protection to the fine crystal items. The same applies to all unusually shaped vases, antique vases, and any other vases with high monetary or sentimental value as well.

Now that you know the best way to pack a vase for moving, you should have no problem keeping your delicate items safe and sound during the relocation. Good luck with your move and be sure to enjoy the charm and beauty your flower vases will bring to your new home!