Shipping Furniture & Home Décor from Antwerp to Atlanta via Ocean Freight

Transporting furniture sets and decorative items demands multi-step packing. Shippers should Disassemble removable legs, shelves, and hardware, then cushion each component separately. Use foam corners on table tops, cabinets, and glass decorative items, then place items in custom crates with secure internal cushioning. Finally, conspicuously label all packages as “Glass – Do Not Stack” and indicate the top orientation.

Large or heavy glass wall decor are usually safer with freight services than standard parcel, because freight permits palletization and vertical handling. For small, well-padded home decor items under parcel size limits, shippers can use parcel carriers, but You should add reinforced packaging and insure for full value. Oversized glass furnishings are best crated and shipped on pallets to reduce conveyor and drop risks.

For moisture-sensitive furnishings and home accessories, shippers should use plastic liners around each boxed or crated item, then add silica gel inside the packaging. In ocean containers, do not allow pallets directly against steel walls; instead, Leave a small air gap and use dry packs hung from lashing points. Choose sheltered loading bays so decorative item boxes are not exposed to rain during loading.

International shipments of high-value furnishings and decorative items typically need a detailed invoice, packing list, and tariff codes for each product type. Shippers should clearly describe items (for example, “wooden furniture,” “glass mirrors,” “metal wall decor”) and state materials to avoid customs delays. For designer or branded Furnishings, verify if any IP documentation or COO documents are required by the destination country.

Standard carrier liability for household furniture and decorative items is usually based on weight, which often understates the actual value of designer pieces, wall decor, or premium home furnishings. Most brokers recommend purchasing Separate cargo insurance for high-value or fragile shipments, and confirming that the policy includes breakage and moisture damage. This better ensures you can be compensated for the full replacement cost if items are damaged in transit.

When shipping Furniture & Home Décor via ocean freight, it is essential to ensure that items are properly packaged to prevent damage during transit. Furniture should be disassembled if possible, and protective materials such as bubble wrap and foam should be used. Additionally, securing items in the shipping container is crucial to avoid movement during transport.

The documentation required includes a commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, and any necessary certificates for specific items. It is also important to comply with U.S. customs regulations, which may require additional documentation regarding the materials used in the furniture and home décor items.

DNA supports omnichannel retail, technology and electronics, automotive parts and machinery, manufacturing and heavy equipment, healthcare and medical, and hospitality and FF&E.

DNA Supply Chain combines global freight forwarding services with the SAMMIE AI platform to provide live map tracking, predictive ETAs, exception alerts, and centralized shipment documents so you have total shipment control on one powerful platform.

DNA’s ocean freight solutions uses deep carrier relationships and the SAMMIE platform to move FCL and LCL containers smarter, with fewer surprises, clearer ETAs, and proactive risk flagging before issues develop.