Generally, you should not leave furniture tightly wrapped in plastic for long-term storage, especially when the plastic is directly against wood, leather, or upholstered surfaces. Plastic can trap moisture and condensation, potentially contributing to mold, mildew, odors, discoloration, or damage to certain finishes.
For long-term storage, breathable materials such as moving blankets, furniture pads, clean cotton sheets, or breathable furniture covers are usually better choices.
What's the Best Way to Wrap Furniture for Storage?
Make sure furniture is completely clean and dry before covering it. Then choose the protective material based on the type of furniture you're storing.
| Furniture Type |
Best Storage Protection |
| Wood furniture |
Moving blankets or furniture pads; avoid plastic directly against finished wood |
| Leather furniture |
Breathable furniture cover or clean cotton sheet; avoid sealing directly in plastic |
| Upholstered sofa |
Breathable furniture cover, clean sheet, or furniture pad |
| Metal furniture |
Moving blanket or furniture pad; keep the item dry |
| Glass surfaces |
Packing paper or protective padding followed by a moving blanket |
Plastic stretch wrap can still be useful for securing moving blankets or furniture pads during transportation. If you use it, place the breathable protective material against the furniture first and wrap the plastic around the outside rather than directly against sensitive surfaces.
How Should You Wrap a Sofa for Storage?
Clean and completely dry the sofa before storing it. Remove detachable cushions when practical and protect the sofa with a breathable furniture cover, clean sheet, or furniture pad.
Avoid tightly sealing the entire sofa in plastic for long-term storage. If you use plastic wrap temporarily during transportation, remove it before long-term storage or make sure the furniture is covered in a way that does not trap moisture against the upholstery.
For long-term storage, a climate-controlled storage unit can provide additional protection against large changes in temperature and humidity.
Can You Shrink-Wrap Furniture for Storage?
Shrink or stretch wrap can be useful for keeping protective padding in place during a move, but it should generally not be used as the only covering for long-term furniture storage .
For wood, leather, and upholstered furniture, place a breathable layer such as a moving blanket, furniture pad, or clean sheet against the furniture first. If needed, use stretch wrap around the outside to help secure the covering.