Shipping Furniture from Melbourne to Seattle via Ocean Freight

Moving household furniture and decorative items demands multi-step packing. You should knock down removable legs, shelves, and hardware, then Wrap each component separately. Use foam corners on table tops, cabinets, and wall decor panels, then place items in custom crates with Tight internal cushioning. Finally, Label all packages as “Fragile” and indicate the this side up orientation.

Large or heavy framed decorative items are usually more appropriate for freight services than standard parcel, because freight permits palletization and vertical handling. For small, well-padded home decor items under parcel size limits, You can use parcel carriers, but exporters should add Extra cushioning 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 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, create a small air gap and use Container desiccants hung from lashing points. Choose sheltered loading bays so home decor cartons are not exposed to rain during loading.

International shipments of high-value household furniture and home accessories typically need 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 decorative items, Check if any IP documentation or origin statements 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, wall decor, or premium home furnishings. We recommend purchasing supplemental freight insurance for high-value or fragile shipments, and confirming that the policy Covers breakage and moisture damage. This better ensures you can claim the full replacement cost if items are damaged in transit.

Required documentation typically includes a bill of lading, commercial invoice, packing list, and any necessary import permits or certificates for the United States, particularly for items that may be subject to specific regulations such as wood products.

Yes, items such as wooden furniture may need to comply with the regulations set by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), which may require treatment certificates to prevent pest introduction.

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

Our advantage comes from 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.

Clients are able to export 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.