Shipping Furnishings from Melbourne to Detroit via Ocean Freight

Transporting furniture sets and home accessories demands multi-step packing. You should take apart removable legs, shelves, and hardware, then protect each component separately. Use edge guards on table tops, cabinets, and glass decorative items, then place items in custom crates with secure internal cushioning. Finally, clearly mark all packages as “Fragile” and indicate the Upright orientation.

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

For moisture-sensitive furnishings and home accessories, exporters should use plastic liners around each boxed or crated item, then add silica gel inside the packaging. In ocean containers, Avoid pallets directly against steel walls; instead, maintain a small air gap and use humidity absorbers hung from lashing points. Choose covered docks so decorative item boxes are not exposed to rain during loading.

International shipments of high-value furnishings and decorative items typically call for a detailed 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 home decor, confirm if any brand 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 is lower than the actual value of designer pieces, wall decor, or premium home furnishings. We recommend purchasing all-risk coverage for high-value or fragile shipments, and confirming that the policy protects against breakage and moisture damage. This helps guarantee you can be compensated for the full replacement cost if items are damaged in transit.

Furniture and home décor items should be carefully packed to prevent damage during transit. Items should be disassembled when possible, and cushioning materials like foam or bubble wrap should be used to protect surfaces. Additionally, items may need to be treated for pests to comply with both Australian and U.S. regulations.

Shipping Furniture & Home Décor from Melbourne to Detroit requires compliance with U.S. Customs and Border Protection regulations, including proper documentation such as a bill of lading, commercial invoice, and any necessary certificates of origin or phytosanitary certificates. Items must also adhere to the U.S. regulations regarding the import of wood products and other materials.

You’re invited to take the DNA “One Test Run Challenge” with a single shipment so we can demonstrate our visibility, reliability, and partnership-focused approach.

DNA Supply Chain offers ocean freight (FCL and LCL), air freight, ground transportation (domestic and cross-border trucking), customs brokerage, and warehousing & distribution, all supported by our SAMMIE visibility platform and dedicated Client Success Officers.

DNA provides secure, strategically located warehousing for scalable storage and just-in-time fulfillment, with real-time inventory control and integrated distribution powered by SAMMIE’s insight and our responsive Client Success Officers.