How To Move Furniture (2023 Guide)

Moving furniture is challenging—especially when you’re moving to a new home rather than simply rearranging a room. From maneuvering heavy pieces of furniture around tight corners to keeping delicate items intact, the process requires skill and planning. In this article, we’ll guide you through how to move furniture efficiently. Whether you’re planning a DIY move or hiring movers, following these tips will ensure your beloved pieces arrive safely.

Before moving furniture, take time to prepare. Follow the steps below for a hassle-free experience on moving day.

Assess the Room and Furniture

Start by determining the type and weight of each piece of furniture you’ll need to move. This will give you a better idea of the effort required to move it. Next, measure doorways, hallways, and staircases to identify the best exit and entry points. Make a note of any tight corners or obstacles, and consider whether any pieces can or should be disassembled before moving them.

Additionally, it’s helpful to take pictures or sketch the layout of your new home to help you visualize where each piece of furniture will go.

Obtain the Proper Equipment

To ensure a safe and efficient furniture-moving process, gather the necessary equipment. Here’s a quick list of what you might need:

• Dollies or hand trucks
• Lifting straps
• Furniture sliders
• Furniture pads
• Moving blankets
• Plastic wrap
• Bubble wrap
• Packing tape
• Resealable plastic bags

Dollies and hand trucks provide excellent support when moving heavy items. Lifting straps and furniture sliders can also make the job easier. You can use labeled plastic bags to keep small pieces and hardware together. Furniture pads, moving blankets, plastic wrap, bubble wrap, and packing tape can help protect furniture and secure fragile pieces.

Clear a Path

Before you start moving furniture, eliminate as many obstacles as possible. Clear a path to the door by removing any clutter, rugs, or small objects that might get in the way. Secure loose cords or cables that could pose a tripping hazard. If necessary, use floor runners, cardboard, or furniture sliders to protect hardwood floors.

Moving large furniture efficiently is possible with the right techniques. Below are a few valuable tips to help you navigate the challenge of moving your heftiest pieces.

Disassemble When Possible

Before attempting to move large furniture items, disassemble them into smaller, more manageable parts. Remove detachable legs, knobs, shelves, or other components to reduce the weight and bulkiness of the furniture. This will make navigating them through narrow doorways and tight spaces easier.

Use Proper Lifting Techniques

When lifting heavy furniture up, prioritize your safety to avoid injuries. Bend your knees—not your back—and use your leg muscles to lift. Maintain a straight posture, engage your core, and keep the furniture close to your body.

Protect Your Furniture

Use moving blankets or furniture pads to wrap and secure the furniture’s edges and surfaces. This prevents scratches, dents, and other damage during the moving process. Protect your walls, door frames, and floors from bumps or marks with corner protectors, padding, or cardboard.

Acquire the Right Equipment

Consider renting a dolly or hand truck for faster, easier trips between your home and the moving truck. Place furniture sliders under the legs or corners of large furniture to reduce friction and enable a smooth sliding motion. Use lifting straps or shoulder dollies to help evenly distribute the weight of heavy furniture. 

Enlist Help

Even with lifting straps and a dolly, moving large furniture is not a one-person job. Recruit a team of family members or friends to help you. Assign specific roles, such as guiding, lifting, or spotting, to make the process safer and quicker. 

Alternatively, free up some space in your moving budget and let professionals handle the heavy lifting. Although enlisting professional help will increase your overall moving costs, it will also save you time and effort and may provide peace of mind.

Small or fragile pieces of furniture, such as a glass coffee table or antique desk, require a delicate touch. Here are a few tips for moving these items with care.

Wrap and Protect

Use bubble wrap, foam padding, or blankets to protect delicate surfaces, corners, and edges. Secure the wrapping with tape or stretch wrap to keep it in place during the move.

Label and Handle With Care

Label boxes that contain small or fragile furniture to ensure they receive special care during the moving process. Communicate with your movers or helpers about the delicate nature of these items, and be extra careful when lifting and carrying them.

Choose Your Boxes Carefully

Select sturdy and appropriately sized boxes or containers. Look for heavy-duty boxes with reinforced corners and double-walled construction, or reinforce the corners yourself with packing tape.

Separate and Cushion

If possible, pack items separately to reduce the chances of them bumping into each other. Otherwise, place soft padding or cushioning between each item to create a protective barrier. Fill any empty spaces in the boxes with packing peanuts, crumpled paper, or towels to prevent shifting.

Consider Hand-Carrying

For especially valuable or highly fragile items, consider hand-carrying them. Keeping these items with you on moving day will give you more control over their safety. Some moving companies may refuse to move especially high-value or irreplaceable pieces, or they may charge extra to move antiques.

Moving furniture is challenging, but with the right strategies and precautions, you can ensure a safe and successful transition to your new home. By creating a plan, assessing your space and furniture, gathering the necessary equipment, and preparing your space, you will lay the foundation for a smooth experience.

Whether you’re dealing with large or small furniture, remember to use proper lifting techniques, enlist help when needed, and take extra care with fragile items. You might also consider hiring local or long-distance movers to handle the heavy lifting.

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