Shipping Mirrors from Lagos to Baltimore via Ocean Freight

Moving household furniture and decorative items necessitates careful preparation. You should take apart 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 Double-walled cartons with Tight internal cushioning. Finally, Label all packages as “Glass – Do Not Stack” and indicate the top orientation.

Large or heavy framed decorative items are usually more appropriate for freight services than standard parcel, because freight permits palletization and stable handling. For small, well-padded decorative items under parcel size limits, You can use parcel carriers, but shippers 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 household furniture and decorative items, shippers should use poly sheeting around each boxed or crated item, then add moisture absorbers inside the packaging. In ocean containers, Avoid pallets directly against steel walls; instead, maintain 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 household furniture and home accessories typically need a full commercial invoice, packing list, and customs classification 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 home decor, verify if any IP documentation or COO documents are required by the destination country.

Standard carrier liability for furnishings and home accessories is usually based on weight, which often understates the actual value of designer pieces, artistic decorative items, or premium home decoration items. We recommend purchasing all-risk coverage 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.

Furniture and home décor items must be properly packed and secured to prevent damage during ocean transport. It is essential to use durable materials for packaging, such as wooden crates or reinforced boxes, and to ensure that items are cushioned to absorb shocks. Additionally, items may need to be disassembled for easier handling and to maximize space in the shipping container.

Required documentation includes a commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, and any necessary certificates of origin or compliance with U.S. regulations. It is also important to check for any specific import permits or declarations required for particular types of furniture or home décor items, as regulations may vary based on materials used.

Our approach reduces customs delays and risk through in-house brokerage, a digital-first customs process with automation, SAMMIE’s ability to flag potential delays before they happen, and continuous communication from your Client Success Officer.

The ETAs we provide are AI-powered and based on real data, congestion, and vessel telemetry, whereas other forwarders often rely on static estimates copied from carrier schedules.

Users say SAMMIE’s data as extremely accurate and reliable, especially compared to the inaccurate or outdated data they used before adopting the platform.