How to Move Large & Heavy Furniture by Yourself

Moving furniture from one place to another in your home or office is not an easy task, but it’s not wise to hire a professional or outside help for this small household task. You can easily do it at home with the help of a proper strategy and some helpful small tools.

Important Cautions Before Moving Heavy Furniture by Yourself From One Place to Another

• Keep all the tools used in moving furniture in front of you.
• Enlist the help of your friends or family members who are healthy and can be helpful in this task.
• Remove all obstacles from the path where the furniture will be carried.
• Separate easily detachable parts (Drawers, pillows, shelves, sofa covers) from furniture before moving.
• Avoid placing large furniture through narrow passages.
• Arrange the relevant tools for furniture movement.

Moving heavy furniture from one place to another is a difficult task that requires a little skill, common sense, and the help of two to three people.

Follow the Steps Below to Move Heavy Furniture by Yourself From One Place to Another.

1. Use Furniture Sliders

What They Are:

Most furniture sliders are made of small pieces of wood or plastic and small pieces that act as legs for heavy furniture and hold the furniture in place.

How They Work:

When you start moving furniture from one place to another, their job is to reduce the friction between the furniture and the floor so that you can easily slide heavy furniture instead of carrying it on your shoulders.

How to Use:

1. Tilt one side of heavy furniture downwards so you can gauge the weight of the furniture.
2. Place the sliders in sequence under each leg of the furniture.
3. Start gently pushing the furniture on the floor in the direction you want to move it.
4. The slider’s feature is that it helps to move smoothly on a straight wooden floor or tiles.
5. If you have to drag a piece of furniture across a carpeted floor, use plastic sliders.

2. Use Moving Straps (Lifting Straps)

What They Are:

Adjustable straps can be placed around the shoulders or arms to help distribute the weight of heavy furniture before lifting it.

How It Works:

Putting such straps around the waist helps in moving heavy furniture in a straight line. Attach one part of it to the furniture and place the other part around your waist or arm. When you slowly lift the furniture upwards, you won’t feel the weight as much.

How to Use:

1. Wrap one section of the strap securely under the furniture.
2. Wrap the other side of the strap around a strong part of your body, such as your arm or waist.
3. Start carrying furniture from the waist, using your legs as leverage.
4. The place to which you want to go should be clear, meaning the path should be straight and clean.
5. If the furniture is worn out or very old, then do not use this method, as there may be a risk of breakage.

Availability of the strap:

Such straps that tighten around the waist are readily available in the market, even for single-lifters such as small bookcases or small wardrobes.

3. Disassemble Furniture (If Possible)

What it is:

Remove easily detachable parts of heavy furniture, such as legs, cushions, shelves, drawers, small doors, large cabinets, etc.

How to do it:

• Always store small pieces of furniture in a safe place to prevent them from getting lost.
• Use a proper screwdriver to loosen screws on furniture instead of trying to unscrew it by hand or using an unrelated tool, which can damage it.
• Always keep items, large or small, that are separated from furniture neatly in a bag or safe place.

What would be the benefit of this?

1. The excess weight of heavy furniture will be converted into less weight.
2. You will find it easier to lift heavy furniture when its weight becomes lighter.
3. The advantage of breaking down furniture into smaller pieces may not be that you can easily move it up or down narrow spaces, such as small doorways, stairs, etc.
4. This will prevent the outer parts of the furniture, such as the legs, from breaking apart

Pro Tip:

Before breaking down furniture into smaller pieces, please take pictures of all the individual pieces of furniture so that when you start putting them together, you know which piece will fit where.

4. Use a Furniture Dolly or Hand Truck

What it is:

A dolly is a small, lightweight tool with wheels for moving heavy objects from one place to another.

A hand truck is also a small moving tool that has handles to hold and two or one wheels at the bottom, on which furniture can be placed and easily moved from one place to another.

How to do it:

1. Bring the dolly to the furniture.
2. Place the furniture on this dolly or hand truck to balance the weight.
3. Only place as much furniture as can fit on the dolly or truck, and do not try to load it, as this may damage the furniture.
4. After placing the furniture on it, start moving the dolly or hand truck towards where the furniture is to be moved.

How It Works:

• Dollies and hand trucks come with wheels that make moving furniture easier.
• If your house is perfectly straight and the paths are easy, then a hand truck and dolly will help you a lot.

5. Use Blankets, Rugs, or Towels

Before moving heavy furniture from one place to another, use a soft, thick material such as a towel, sheet, or cloth underneath it to make it easier to slide.

How and Why Does It Work?

1. Place a towel or thick cloth under the entire piece of furniture
2. Start pulling the towel or thick cloth in the direction you want to move the furniture.
3. This method takes less power and less labour.
4. Reduces damage by protecting furniture and floors from excessive friction

6. Create a Rolling Path Using Cardboard or Plywood

A tool that helps slide or roll heavy furniture to move it easily from one place to another. This is a labour-saving and less labour-intensive method that helps in moving furniture from one place to another.

How And Why Does It Work?

1. Plywood sheets or thick cardboard can be used for this task.
2. You bend these thick cardboard and plywood seats into a circle.
3. Place these small, circular tools under the furniture on the side you want to take nature to.
4. It makes moving furniture easier and works better on smooth floors, requiring less force.

7. Use Proper Lifting Techniques

This method of moving heavy furniture from one place to another involves you having a partner or yourself do the entire job.

How and Why Does It Work?

If you are doing this work alone, follow this procedure:

1. Bend down on your knees towards the furniture.
2. Close yourself to the furniture and make the first attempt to lift it.
3. Gather the strength of your legs, lift the furniture upwards and move forward.
4. If you are involving a partner, hold one piece of furniture and ask your friend to hold the other piece.
5. While lifting furniture, both partners should point their direction towards each other.

8. Shifting Heavy Furniture With The Help of a Ramp

Moving heavy items from one place to another is much easier with the help of a ramp. You, too, must try this method for shifting your furniture.

How and Why Does It Work?

1. Place wooden or metal ramps under furniture
2. Place the entire piece of furniture on top of it, distributing the weight evenly.
3. Start moving the furniture to your desired location, but don’t let the furniture lose its balance.
4. There is no engine, etc., on the ramp; you are driving it yourself, so don’t drive too fast.

9. Use a Hydraulic Lift If You Don’t Have a Ramp

Using a hydraulic lift to shift heavy items, such as furniture, from one place to another makes the job much easier.

How and Why Does It Work?

1. Place the hydraulic table next to the furniture.
2. Then, adjust the hydraulic table and place the furniture on it with equal balance.
3. The advantage of a hydraulic table is that it helps in handling maximum weight.
4. Place furniture on top of it and gently push it towards your desired location.