How to move furniture: 5 helpful tips

24 May 2023


If you are getting ready to move, you may be asking yourself what is the best way to get your furniture transitioned. Moving clothing or small objects is much less difficult than dealing with large, bulky pieces. Without proper precautions, upholstery can be spoiled, glass furniture can be destroyed and wooden furniture can be scratched. Being equipped with the right tools and being aware of a few different techniques can make the move simpler and safer. It is important to plan how to move your furniture to make sure it is safe during transit. We prepared some tips on moving furniture and  that will make your move much easier! 

Disassemble the Furniture

How to move furniture easily? If at all possible, set aside time to disassemble your fixtures altogether. Doing this can help to move furniture easily, prevent injury while relocating, and aid in packing your moving vehicle. Keep in mind that this process will take some time, so plan ahead. Examples of items to consider tearing apart include: removing legs and tabletops of all tables, taking bed frames apart (along with the head and footboard), removing knobs and other detachable parts from chests of drawers and desks, and disassembling cushions and legs of sofas and armchairs.

When taking furniture apart, it is important to take measures to ensure that small items such as screws and hardware do not get lost in the process. Attaching a labeled plastic bag to the pieces will help store these items securely and prevent them from being misplaced. 

Choose the Proper Packing Supplies and wrap the furniture

In addition to cardboard boxes, packing tape, and bubble wrap, there are some other essential furniture moving supplies worth considering. You can usually find these at your local hardware store or online, and some moving companies even offer rentals. Prepare in advance by making sure you have the following supplies: moving blankets, bubble wrap, covers for sofas and mattresses, plastic stretch wrap, corrugated cardboard sheets, and furniture pads.

Before packing, take the time to thoroughly clean and dust all your furniture. Dust and leftover debris can scratch your furniture during the moving process. Besides, cleaning the furniture before you move also means you won’t bring any unnecessary grime into your new home. It is essential to take plenty of time when packing furniture for a move to make sure it is secured. Bubble wrap is the optimal choice to safeguard fragile items such as glass tabletops, lamps and pottery. Plastic wrap is most appropriate for cushioned pieces, such as sofas and mattresses. Instead of bubble wrap and plastic wrap, use various types of protection such as a moving blanket or furniture pads on wooden furniture to prevent surface damage. To protect fragile objects, newspaper, towels, and other soft materials such as sheets should be used when you are packing them. In this way, you will be able to maximize the efficiency of your packing supplies and fit more items into fewer boxes.

Prepare your apartment for furniture moving

It's almost time to relocate your furniture, so you should get a plan together before moving day. It is essential to have a plan when moving furniture, as this will help reduce the time and energy needed. 

Clear and measure doorways and hallways

A few days before your move, tidy up any pathways leading to the entrance. Open the doors wide and use a door stop to keep them that way throughout the relocation. This will help with transferring out your furniture easily and keep it from causing damage by striking objects as it is carried out.

Next, measure your doorways and hallways. While some pieces can be taken apart, sofas, cupboards, and wardrobes are still sizable fixtures. Use a tape measure to check the size of furniture pieces and the width of any doorways and corridors used during transportation. Plan whether it will be necessary to remove the door frame or wall base ornaments to get the furniture through more safely and effectively.

Get a proper moving equipment

Moving small pieces of furniture does not require tools and equipment but heavier items such as chairs, couches, cupboards, and drawers, may need special gear to move safely. You might want to look into renting a dolly or hand truck to make relocating these items easier. Other useful moving items include straps and a skid board. Placing gliders, towels, or a piece of cardboard under the furniture can help protect your floor from possible scratches.

Tips to use when moving a furniture

Attempting a move by yourself is a challenging task full of surprises. Try to plan ahead all details to make this process easier. Here are a few more important things to consider when getting ready for your move: 

  1. Don’t move heavy furniture by yourself.
    Yes, it sounds obvious, but we have to remind you of that essential point. Even if you are in an amazing fit and the gym is your second home, don’t do it, because you can easily harm yourself. Consider hiring labor-only movers to help you move heavy pieces.
    Move4U company is a perfect choice if you are looking for experienced movers in Chicago. Your heavy furniture moving task will be accomplished speedily and without difficulty with their cost-effective hourly rates, fast service, and skilled movers.
  2. Slide heavy furniture instead of lifting it. 
    Even if you move a small piece of furniture, it’s better to slide it across the room. Only professional movers know how to lift things in the right way, so if you don’t move often there is a big chance to end up with a bad back. But if you still have to lift some items, use the power of your legs instead of arms and shoulders. This approach will keep your back relatively straight.
  3. Use towels, cardboards and sliders.
    Slip something underneath your furniture’s legs and it will make the furniture slide smoothly across the room. Don’t lift the piece to do this, instead, rock your piece forward or backwards slightly to slide the material underneath the legs. Cardboards are good for the carpet and towels or dish rags – for bare floors.
    By the way, if you don’t have any sliders, try using Frisbees.
  4. Load heavy furniture into the truck first.
    It’s a good idea to place the heaviest furniture on the moving truck first
    – it will help you to distribute the weight evenly to make the truck easier to drive. Also, consider that heavy items should be placed against the wall. Then you will have enough space for other stuff and you will have access to all of them.
  5. Get moving insurance.
    Moving insurance is a policy that covers your personal belongings during a move. When it comes time to decide should you purchase moving insurance or not, you may have some doubts. But, as you know, accidents happen. Moving insurance will protect your belongings during a move and reimbursement if your movers lose or damage any items. Look at different valuation coverage and moving insurance to protect your belongings. 


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