How to Move Heavy Furniture: A Step-By-Step Guide
Picture this, it’s moving day, and you have packed away most of the things in your home, but now you have to contend with your heavy dresser or your dense, gorgeous antique desk. Moving these pieces of furniture can be challenging and feel like a mammoth task that cannot be accomplished.
Furniture is one of the hardest things to move when relocating to another house. Sometimes, the furniture may even be a safety hazard if the piece of furniture is stuck in place and cannot be moved away from potential dangers such as a fire or another emergency exit.
Fortunately, there are hassle-free and preferably injury-free ways of relocating with your heavy pieces in tow. Here is a step-by-step guide on moving any piece of heavy furniture quickly.
Moving Heavy Furniture: Preparations
Heavy furniture can be challenging to move, but the challenge can be finessed and simplified. With the proper preparation and moving strategies, you can easily tackle even the most prominent pieces. This guide will walk you through moving large furniture without breaking your back and house.
Wear Proper Clothes
If you’re moving heavy objects in your home, there is one piece of clothing you should leave in the closet: high heels. You should also avoid wearing flip-flops, as they can slip and cause you to lose your balance. Instead, wear proper shoes that provide you with the necessary support. If you wear too loose or tight clothes, they can get stuck on the furniture and complicate things.
Protect Your Furniture and the Surrounding
Before moving heavy furniture, take a moment to protect your floors. You don’t want the wheels on the table to scratch your hardwood floors, nor do you want to chip your ceramic tiles. You can use furniture pads to protect your floors from the wheels. Or you can protect your furniture with bubble wrap or wrap plastic to reduce scratches on your table.
Stretch Yourself Beforehand
Lifting heavy objects is a full-body workout, and your muscles need to be ready. If you don’t warm up ahead, you are prone to injuries like muscle strain and back pain. Your body can lift as much weight as possible if you build the appropriate strength.
Valuable Tools to Move Heavy Items
Various tools on the market can make moving heavy furniture much more superficial, no matter your strength or fitness level. With these tools, you can move without spending a ton of dollars and you won’t need to call your friends and family for assistance moving the furnishings.
Lifting Straps
Lifting or moving straps is an efficient way to move furniture that would otherwise be too difficult to move by hand. They work by attaching to the table on either end and wrapping around the user’s waist. The moving straps distribute the weight of the furniture across the user’s body, making it much easier to lift.
Moving Dolly
Moving dolly can be very helpful if you are moving a smaller piece of furniture that is too heavy to lift. A dolly is a small cart that attaches to the bottom of your furniture and allows you to roll it from one place to another easily. They are handy for large furniture like tables, sofas, and beds.
Moving Blankets
Sometimes, furniture may have a few dents or scratches from moving it around too much. Moving blankets help keep your furniture brand new as they provide a protective layer that prevents it from getting dirty or damaged during a move. You need to slide the blanket underneath the furniture simply, and it can avoid carpet damage or tiles scratches.
Wheelbarrow
A wheelbarrow is excellent for moving large pieces of furniture too bulky to fit in the back of your car. Additionally, they are helpful when walking a furniture piece down a flight of stairs.
Cushioning
Having a bit of cushioning on hand is always a good idea. You can put it under the furniture you are moving to prevent scratches, or you can put it under your hands while moving heavy pieces of furniture to prevent them from getting injured.
Work Gloves
Carrying furniture can be tough on your hands, and the last thing you want is to end up with bruises or calluses. But with suitable work gloves, you can be gentle on your hands while still putting in the work. Work gloves are structured to guard your hands against the elements and provide a better grip. Additionally, gloves guard your hands against scrapes and cuts.
Furniture Sliders
Furniture sliders are an excellent investment if you regularly move heavy furniture. They can help you quickly move large furniture pieces, like tables and couches, without straining yourself. They also wholly protect the floor from getting damaged while moving the furniture.
Steps on How to Move Heavy Furniture
Step 1: Assess the Situation
Before you move any furniture, you first need to assess the situation. Perhaps the piece of furniture needs to be lighter to lift or too large to fit through the door. If the table is broken or too challenging to repair, you may need to find a replacement piece. Before you move anything, you should understand what its current limitations are. Having this knowledge will allow you to plan the move accordingly and prevent you from hurting yourself.
There are a host of things you must contemplate when assessing the situation. You will want to know the weight of the furniture, where it needs to be moved upstairs, and if any obstacles may be in the way of its journey. Moreover, think of the human resources you have for the move, and having extra hands can make the job much easier and quicker.
Step 2: Gather Your Equipment
Moving heavy furniture can be difficult, so you need the right equipment. Thus, you will need to invest in a few tools and equipment to make lifting and moving furniture easier.
The tools you need to acquire and use will depend on the furniture you want to relocate. For example, if you want to move a refrigerator, you would like to use a four-wheeled square platform underneath the fridge, and this will safeguard your floors and help you move the refrigerator more manageably.
Step 3: Break Furniture Down Into Its Most Minor Parts
Before moving heavy furniture, try to break the pieces down into their most minor parts. For example, if you are moving a table, you can try to take the legs off the table and move them separately. You can also try taking the tabletop off the frame, although this might be more time-consuming. Another idea is to detach the drawer and storage unit and lift them with one hand while holding the piece of furniture with the other to avoid straining yourself unnecessarily.
Step 4: Follow Proper Lifting Techniques
When moving heavy furniture, it is crucial to lift it with proper techniques. You want to avoid ending up hurting yourself and prevent injury. Here are a few tips to keep in mind when lifting furniture that is too heavy to lift with one hand:
- Bend your knees: It can be tempting to bend the knees when lifting lighter pieces of furniture, but you should also make a habit of bending the knees when lifting heavy furniture. It can reduce the strain on your back and help you lift furniture quickly and efficiently without causing yourself pain or injury.
- Lift with your legs: The most critical rule when lifting furniture is to always lift with your legs. Doing this will alleviate strain from your back and help you lift heavy furniture easily. You can use your legs to lift furniture in several different ways. If the piece is short, you can use a squat-type movement to lift it. You can use a single-leg bridge to lift it if it is long.
- Use a two-hand grip: You should always use two hands when lifting heavy furniture. Using two hands will help you balance the furniture more efficiently and reduce the risk of injury. A two-hand grip should involve the thumbs pointed down the furniture and the fingers facing you. Doing this will give you a firm grip and reduce the risk of dropping the furniture accidentally.
Always try to use large muscle groups when lifting rather than small ones. Doing this will keep you away from the ED. Second, always exercise caution when lifting a heavy object. Make sure you’re using proper form while avoiding trying to be superman or Wonderwoman. If you’re unsure, always ask for help.
Step 5: Find the Best Route
If you’re moving furniture, you must ensure you’re doing it in the right direction. You can do this by looking at the furniture and finding the path of least resistance. Once you’ve found the right direction, you need to make sure you’re moving the furniture in a straight line.
Important Bonus Pointers on How to Move Hefty Furniture.
So how can you make sure the move-in process is smooth and pain-free? Incorporate these essential tips on how to move heavy furniture beforehand.
How to Move Heavy Furniture downstairs
Moving heavy furniture downstairs can seem daunting, but with some planning and help from friends or family, it can be surprisingly easy! The key is to take your time and be careful not to damage any walls or floors.
Before you start, it’s a good idea to clear a path from the furniture to the staircase. Clearing a path will make it easier to navigate the furnishings and avoid any potential accidents. Once the way is clear, you can start to move the furniture. Attempt to wrangle a couple of buddies to help you carry the pieces. The extra hands will make it significantly safer.
When you’re ready to move the furniture, take your time and be careful. Slowly lower the furniture each step, using your body weight to control it. Use furniture sliders or a dolly to help move the furniture. And once you’ve finally reached the bottom, take a well-deserved break!
How to Move Heavy Furniture Upstairs
If you’re moving heavy furniture upstairs, the process can be a bit daunting, but these pointers will be helpful:
First, create a makeshift ramp. Doing this will help reduce the amount of lifting you’ll need. To create the ramp, you can use various materials, like plywood or cardboard. Just make sure it’s sufficiently sturdy enough to bear the weight of the furniture.
Once the ramp is in place, start moving the furniture slowly and carefully. If you have a buddy with you, implore them to steady the piece as you move it. And take your time! Speed is not the goal here and avoiding risk and damaging your home furniture is the goal. Once you get the piece of furniture to the second floor, it’s time to start positioning it in the room.
How to Protect Your Floors When Moving Heavy Objects
If you’re planning on moving heavy furniture, there are a few things you can do to protect your carpets or floors. You can place plywood boards underneath the furniture and using the boards will help distribute the weight and prevent the furniture from leaving marks on the floor.
You can also use furniture sliders to make the moving process easier. These sliders will create a great non-slip surface that will cause minimal issues sliding the furniture around. Finally, be sure to lift the furniture instead of dragging it. Following these tips can protect your carpets or floors when moving heavy furniture and avoid a damaged carpet.
How to Move a Floppy Mattress
Moving a floppy mattress by yourself can be a daunting task. Here are a few tips to help you: First, take measurements. You’ll need to know the dimensions of your mattress and the doorways and tight corners you’ll need to navigate. Knowing the measurements will help you figure out the best way to move your mattress.
You’ll need moving blankets to protect your mattress and some heavy-duty straps or rope to keep it in place. You may also want to enlist the help of a friend or family member. Then, it’s time to start moving! Lift your mattress carefully and place it on the moving blankets. Then, slowly begin to inch it towards the door.
How to Move L-Shape Couch
Moving a heavy L-shape couch mattress alone can seem daunting if you need a team of professional movers at your disposal. But don’t worry – you can get the job done with some planning and elbow grease!
Here’s what you need to do:
- First, clear a path from the room where the couch is currently located to the door frame. Doing this may require moving other furniture out of the way.
- Once you have a clear path, it’s time to start lifting. Get a good grip on the mattress and lift it slowly and steadily. If you can, get someone to help you with this part.
- Once the mattress is out of the room, tilt it on its side and slide it through the door frame. Again, take your time and be careful not to damage any doorways.
- Finally, once you have the mattress in the desired location, lower it, and voila! You’ve successfully moved a heavy couch mattress by yourself.
Hire a Professional Movers Company
Hiring a professional mover can make the moving process a lot easier. Plus, you don’t have to worry about heavy lifting; they can move heavy furniture safely and efficiently. They will also be able to handle any unexpected challenges that may come up during the move.
If you’re planning on hiring a professional mover, be sure to do your research to find a reputable company with a good track record. And if you happen to be in Australia, Sydney Move has your back! We are ready to move any heavy items safely without a scratch.
Wrapping up
Moving heavy furniture is only sometimes a walk in the park, and it can be challenging, especially if it is large or heavy. Luckily, there are a few different steps you can take to make the process easier.