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Sideboard
How to pack a sideboard
Without suitable packaging, even if the courier is careful, transport can cause damage to your sideboard. This page outlines the steps to protect a sideboard before transport.
Why packaging is essential
An object that’s not well protected can arrive scratched, damaged, or broken, even if the carrier is as careful as possible.
With Cocolis, your items travel with individuals or professionals on journeys they're already making. They are handled during loading, in transit, and unloading—each a moment where good packaging makes all the difference.
An object can arrive scratched, broken, or incomplete. These situations are rare but avoidable and almost never happen when an item is properly packed from the start.
Prepare your sideboard before packing
Check that the doors and drawers are working properly. If the sideboard, credenza or display cabinet has a marble, glass or ceramic top, remove it and pack it separately as a fragile item. For a glass-fronted sideboard or display cabinet with glass panels, treat each pane as you would a mirror: bubble wrap, sturdy cardboard and transport vertically.
This is also a good moment to gather your materials and plan the right protection for each part. Good packaging preparation happens before you start, not as you go along.
Steps to pack a sideboard
Before you start packing, identify everything that can be removed: doors, drawers, shelves, and the top if it is detachable. The more parts you disassemble, the easier the transport and the less likely the sideboard, credenza or display cabinet is to get damaged. Place all fittings and screws in a small bag attached to the main piece.
- Completely empty the sideboard, credenza or display cabinet before transport. Remove any crockery, decorative objects and anything inside the unit.
- Remove the doors if they are detachable and pack them separately with cardboard held in place by tape. If the doors are not removable, secure them with tape placed over cardboard.
- Take out the internal shelves and drawers. Group all the fittings and screws in a bag attached to the whole.
- Protect all external surfaces of the sideboard with cardboard held by tape, paying special attention to the upper corners and feet.
- For a solid wood sideboard, a vintage one or a Scandinavian-style credenza, take extra care with lacquered or waxed surfaces which can scratch easily.
Good habits to know
The essential points to avoid problems during transport
Adapt packaging to the item
Packaging isn’t universal. Take into account the fragility, weight, and shape of your sideboard to choose the right protection – the main thing is that the item is well protected during transport.
Don’t seal the packaging too soon
Leave your sideboard visible when the courier arrives. They must be able to check its condition before taking charge and take photos with and without protection. Seal the packaging only afterwards.
Take photos before shipping
Photograph your item before and after packing. In case of a problem, these photos are your only evidence of its initial condition.
Inform about special requirements
Some items have specific requirements: must be kept upright, particular handling direction, extra fragility. Clearly inform the courier about these before departure.
Never stick tape on surfaces
Brown tape can leave marks or damage finishes. Never stick it directly to an item – always use an intermediate layer.
Frequent mistakes & things to watch out for
Some mistakes happen regularly and explain most damage on arrival.
The glass sections of a sideboard or display cabinet are often overlooked when packing because they seem integrated into the structure. However, they are particularly vulnerable to knocks and vibration. Treat each glass panel individually with a layer of bubble wrap and a cardboard reinforcement, even if the rest of the item seems well protected.
Transporting sideboard with Cocolis
Simpler, more human transport
With Cocolis, your item doesn't go through a warehouse, isn't passed from hand to hand and doesn't endure multiple re-loadings. It's delivered directly from point A to point B, in a single trip, by an individual or professional already making the journey.
In reality, it’s often someone like your neighbour or cousin making the trip for their own reasons who takes special care of what they're carrying. It's not a courier under pressure to deliver dozens of parcels a day. This difference means a lot in how your item is handled.
Fewer handlings also means less risk. But your item will still be loaded and unloaded, and a sudden brake can happen: correct packing is still essential to protect sensitive areas at these key moments.
Practically, packing doesn't need to be designed to withstand a whole logistics chain. It just needs to provide effective protection for a single journey—which is achievable by everyone.
Frequently asked questions
Other packing guides
For further advice, you can review packing guides for different types of item.
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