Shipping Furniture from Colombo to Chicago via Ocean Freight

Transporting household furniture and decorative items necessitates multi-step packing. You should Disassemble removable legs, shelves, and hardware, then protect each component separately. Use Corner protectors on table tops, cabinets, and glass decorative items, then place items in reinforced boxes with snug internal cushioning. Finally, Label all packages as “Fragile” and indicate the top orientation.

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

For moisture-sensitive furnishings and decorative items, shippers should use poly sheeting around each boxed or crated item, then add silica gel inside the packaging. In ocean containers, Avoid pallets directly against steel walls; instead, Leave a small air gap and use humidity absorbers hung from lashing points. Choose Dry, indoor loading areas so decorative item boxes are not exposed to rain during loading.

International shipments of high-value furnishings and home accessories typically need a full commercial invoice, packing list, and tariff codes for each product type. You 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, confirm if any Trademark documentation or COO documents are required by the destination country.

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

When shipping Furniture & Home Décor via ocean freight, it's important to ensure that items are properly packed and secured to prevent damage during transit. Fragile items should be cushioned adequately, while larger furniture pieces may require disassembly for efficient packing. Additionally, using moisture-resistant materials is advisable due to potential humidity during the ocean journey.

Required documentation includes a commercial invoice, packing list, and bill of lading. It's also essential to provide a detailed description of the items, including their value and country of origin, for customs clearance. Compliance with U.S. import regulations, including any necessary permits for specific items, is critical to ensure smooth entry into the United States.

DNA offers international freight forwarding by ocean, air, and land, along with customs brokerage, warehouse support, and access to our AI-powered SAMMIE visibility platform.

DNA stands out through smarter tech, faster answers, and people who care, combining our AI-powered SAMMIE platform with real humans who know your freight and act as a trusted partner.

Users can download shipment-level data, invoices, event histories, and landed costs in Excel or PDF format, structured for finance audits, operations tracking, customer service updates, and performance analysis.