Wrapping a rocking chair means padding the rockers, arms and back with a blanket and bubble wrap, then securing the layers with stretch wrap instead of tape, which can pull off the finish. Outdoor rockers going into winter storage need a breathable weatherproof cover rather than plastic, so damp air doesn’t get sealed in against the wood or metal.
The exact approach shifts slightly depending on the job at hand, a house move, a spell in the loft, or a garden chair sitting out through a UK winter, so it’s worth walking through each one separately.
Why It’s Worth Doing Properly
A rocking chair is one of the easier pieces of furniture to damage in transit. The rockers sit lowest to the ground and take the first knock, the arms and headrest catch on doorframes, and anything left outside is at the mercy of rain, frost and UV. Skip proper protection and you’re likely to end up with:
- Dents or scuffs along the rockers and legs.
- A cracked or faded finish from sun and damp exposure.
- Loosened joints after being jostled in a van or attic.
- Mould on cushions or textilene seats sealed in while still damp.
Ten minutes of preparation avoids most of this, and it’s a lot less hassle than sanding, re-varnishing or replacing a rocker afterwards.
What You’ll Need
- Moving blankets, old duvets or thick towels.
- Bubble wrap.
- Stretch wrap (pallet wrap) or shrink wrap.
- Packing tape.
- Cardboard sheets or corner guards for the rockers.
- A soft cloth and mild cleaner.
- A permanent marker and sealable bags for loose screws.
- A weatherproof, breathable outdoor furniture cover (garden chairs only).
If cushions or a headrest pillow are removable, take them off and cover them separately in plastic sheeting so they stay dry.
Step 1: Start Clean and Bone Dry
Never enclose a rocking chair while it’s dusty or damp. Sealed-in dirt causes fine scratches, and sealed-in moisture leads to mould or watermarks by the time you unpack it weeks later. A lightly damp cloth handles most wood and metal frames; fabric or textilene seats do better with a quick vacuum first. A bit of Cleaning a Rocking Chair beforehand makes the whole job easier.
Step 2: Take Off What You Can
Many rockers, especially garden and glider styles, have a removable headrest, armrests or footstool. Separating these first means each piece gets even padding, and nothing sticks out to snap off mid-move.
- Remove cushions, pillows and any detachable footrest
- Unscrew the arms or headrest if your manual allows it
- Bag every screw and washer, label it, and tape the bag to the main frame, not the wood or fabric itself
If the chair doesn’t come apart safely, that’s fine, just protect it as one unit.
Step 3: Protect the Weak Points First
Before covering the whole chair, focus on the areas that take the most damage:
- Rockers: The lowest point and the first thing to hit the floor or the van wall. Tape cardboard or foam along the underside, taping to the cardboard rather than the wood.
- Arms and headrest: Fold a blanket around each, or add a few extra layers of bubble wrap, since they stick out furthest.
- Carved detail or spindles: These chip more easily than flat panels, so give them an extra bubble wrap layer.
Step 4: Cover the Whole Chair
- Drape a blanket or old duvet over the seat, back and arms.
- Tuck the bottom corner up between the rockers to shield the underside, an area that’s easy to overlook but picks up scratches when the chair is tilted or dragged.
- Layer bubble wrap over the blanket, bubble-side facing in.
- Secure it with stretch wrap, working from the base upward and overlapping each pass slightly. Stretch wrap clings to itself rather than the chair, so there’s no sticky residue or lifted finish afterwards.
- Add packing tape to the outer stretch wrap only, never directly on wood, leather or upholstery.
This method suits wooden nursery rockers, indoor lounge rockers and most chairs being moved or boxed up for storage.
Protecting a Garden Rocking Chair Over Winter
An outdoor rocker usually needs a different approach, since the goal is often weatherproofing rather than a house move.
- Dry it out completely first: Enclosing a wet chair in plastic locks moisture against a metal frame and speeds up rust or rot.
- Skip stretch wrap for long-term outdoor storage: Plastic film doesn’t breathe, so condensation builds up beneath it over an autumn or winter. A proper weatherproof, breathable furniture cover is the better option.
- Pad the joints and rockers the same way as above if the chair’s being moved, then fit the cover and cinch the drawstring or straps at the base.
- Raise it off the ground where you can, on a pallet or paving slab, so the rockers aren’t standing in water underneath the cover.
- Bring soft furnishings indoors: Even a breathable cover won’t stop textiline or fabric seats turning musty over a wet season.
If the chair’s staying out on display all winter rather than going into storage, a fitted Outsunny-style outdoor cover will do a better long-term job than a tight plastic layer.
Mistakes That Undo All That Effort
- Tape straight onto wood, leather or fabric: It lifts finish and leaves marks when removed.
- Packing while still damp: Mould can set in within days inside a sealed layer.
- Ignoring the underside of the rockers: It touches the floor or ground most and needs padding too.
- Cling film instead of proper stretch or shrink wrap: Not strong enough to hold everything together over a longer move.
- Airtight plastic on outdoor chairs over winter: Traps condensation against the frame instead of keeping weather out.
After You Unpack It
Once the chair’s back in place, a couple of habits keep it in shape. If it’s spent a season outside, it’s worth checking the finish for fading or scratches and touching it up with fresh Exterior Wood Paint where needed. And if it’s going back onto a wooden or laminate floor indoors, a bit of Floor Protection Under the Rocker stops the rocking motion marking the boards over time.
Ready for a New Rocking Chair?
If yours didn’t survive the move, or it’s simply time for an upgrade, browse the full range of garden, wooden and weatherproof rockers below.
For a wider selection of outdoor rocking chairs and garden furniture, visit Outsunny.
FAQs
1. Can I use plastic sheeting for long-term storage?
For a house move or a few weeks in storage, plastic sheeting works fine. For anything longer, especially outdoors, switch to a breathable furniture cover instead, since sealed plastic traps condensation against wood or metal and can lead to mould or rust over time.
2. Should cushions come off before packing?
Yes, where possible. Fabric holds onto moisture far more than a solid wood or metal frame, so taking cushions off and covering them separately in their own plastic sheeting lowers the risk of mildew and keeps them from staining the rest of the chair.
3. How do I protect a wooden rocking chair without damaging the finish?
Start with a soft blanket directly against the wood, then a layer of bubble wrap, then stretch wrap on the outside to hold it together. Keep any tape on the stretch wrap layer only, never in direct contact with the painted or varnished surface.
4. Is bubble wrap enough by itself?
For carrying a chair a short distance across a room, it might just about do. For a full house move or courier shipping, pair it with a blanket underneath and stretch wrap on top, since bubble wrap alone won’t stop knocks and scuffs.