Have you ever found yourself trying to fit a bulky couch through a narrow door or moving heavy furniture upstairs? These tasks are often left to professional movers, but there are times you might tackle them alone. Whether it’s moving day and you’re on a tight budget, or you’re simply rearranging furniture to refresh your space, DIY moves require proper lifting techniques.
To ensure both you and your furniture stay in one piece, we’ve gathered the most important tips, tools, and techniques to help you move heavy objects without bruises or dents (though you may get a full-body workout!).
13 Tips for Moving Heavy Furniture
As you’ll see, proper lifting techniques are key to avoiding injury when moving heavy pieces. Here are 13 things to keep in mind when lifting and hauling large items and bulky furniture that we’ve picked up over the years while moving and rearranging large items.
Tip #1: Carefully Assess the Task at Hand Before You Start Lifting
You would not be the first person on Earth to overestimate your strength or get a couch stuck in a door frame. But in order to avoid it, take a minute to assess the task in front of you.
- Note the size of the item and how far you have to carry, push, or pull it.
- Do you have the strength to do this on your own without hurting yourself? Is there a friend, neighbor, local college kid, etc., you can enlist to help?
- What’s your plan if you find out during the move that it’s too heavy or won’t fit?
- Is anyone around to help (or call for help) if you do get hurt or put others in danger?
Moving is frustrating and exhausting, but you’re only going to make it worse by overestimating your strength early on. Don’t be hasty. Take a minute to make a plan.
Tip #2: Maintain a Stable Base
Maintaining a stable base means setting your body up in a way that minimizes strain on your back muscles. To maintain control and balance, here’s what to keep in mind:
- Keep your feet shoulder-width apart. Whether you’re stepping forward, backward, or sideways, this stance provides stability.
- As you move, adjust your steps to be small and deliberate. Rushing with large, hasty steps can throw off your balance and lead to slips or strains.
- Keep your core engaged because those are the muscles that support your spine and avoid twisting. This also helps to distribute the load evenly and maintain balance.
It’s also crucial to take breaks as needed. If you’re fatigued early on, you could lose the ability to maintain a safe lifting and moving position as the day goes on.
Tip #3: Use Proper Back Posture
Proper posture is vital to avoid injuries when moving heavy items, so consider these suggestions to keep it safe:
- Keep your back (and, therefore, your spine) straight to distribute the load evenly. Avoid bending or arching your back.
- Make sure your shoulders stay aligned with your back, not hunched or rolled forward.
- Keep your neck in a neutral position by looking straight ahead, not down.
- Always lift with your legs by bending at the knees, not your waist.
These moving techniques can help avoid putting strain on your back.
Tip #4: Push Instead of Pulling When Moving Furniture by Yourself
When moving heavy objects by yourself, it’s generally safer and more effective to push rather than pull. Pushing allows you to use your whole body weight and leg strength, reducing the strain on your back and shoulders.
- When pushing, face the direction you’re moving, allowing for better navigation and obstacle avoidance.
- Stand close to the furniture with your feet shoulder-width apart.
- Bend your knees slightly and lean into the furniture. Use your legs to initiate the movement.
Pushing can be better for your body, but it doesn’t work in every case. Avoid pushing when moving heavy furniture downstairs, for example.
Tip #5: Measure the Furniture and the Space
Before moving any heavy objects, measure both the item and the space you’ll navigate through. You certainly don’t want to haul a heavy sofa or a king-sized box spring up the stairs and then find out you don’t have enough space to get it through the door.
- Measure the height, width, and depth of the furniture. If it’s irregularly shaped, note the longest and widest points.
- Measure the width and height of all doorways, hallways, and any tight spaces the large furniture needs to pass through.
- With measurements in hand, determine if the furniture can pass through straight or if you’ll need to tilt or rotate it at certain points.
- Note any fixed obstacles like built-in fixtures or radiators that might affect your path or can be removed.
In some cases, you may need to remove doors from their hinges, disassemble a heavy piece, or take off any removable parts to make them smaller and more manageable.
Tip #6: Prepare the Furniture
Carrying and lifting heavy furniture on the stairs is not only challenging but dangerous. To make this process less challenging and dangerous:
- Empty the piece of furniture to make it lighter and prevent its contents from falling out while moving it upstairs or downstairs (i.e. emptying the drawers in a dresser)
- Disassemble the item and remove any shelves to make it lighter.
- Wrap the furniture in a thick blanket or bubble wrap for extra padding around the corners and edges to reduce scratches and minimize damage to walls and hardwood floors.
- Wrap plastic around the item to keep the cushioning and protective materials in place.
If you find yourself hauling home a heavy item that you picked up at the last minute (such as at an estate sale), old blankets can be used instead of packing supplies.
Tip #7: Use a Hand Truck to Move Heavy Furniture By Yourself
Product available through Amazon
Before you make any assumptions, a hand truck is different than a dolly (though these terms may be used interchangeably).
A hand truck is an L-shaped two-wheeled cart with a small platform (or toe plate) at the bottom. You slide the toe plate under an item, tilt the truck back, and then roll the item to its destination. Often, hand trucks will be [incorrectly] labeled as “dollies” when, in fact, a dolly has four wheels instead of two.
To use a hand truck:
- Place the heaviest items at the bottom.
- For a single piece of tall furniture, ensure it’s securely leaning against the truck’s frame.
- If available, use straps to secure the furniture to the hand truck to prevent tipping during movement.
- Move at a steady pace and use caution on slopes and inclines.
- Do not pull a hand truck behind you because it can easily tip.
A sturdy hand truck generally costs between $100 and $300 and can often be rented from a moving supply store or hardware store.
Tip #8: Use a Shoulder Dolly
Product available through Amazon
A shoulder dolly is a set of lifting straps designed to distribute the weight of heavy items more evenly and reduce the strain on your back, especially when transporting items up and down stairs. A shoulder dolly requires two people, so you’ll need to use the buddy system for this one.
To use it properly:
- Before placing the straps under the item, ensure they’re adjusted to both your and your partner’s heights and the size of the object.
- Slide the lifting strap beneath the item so that when lifted, the weight is evenly distributed between you and your helper.
- Lift simultaneously, and be sure to bend your knees and keep your back straight as you stand up.
- Once you’ve reached the destination, carefully lower the furniture by bending your knees and keeping your back straight, ensuring you and your partner are coordinated.
This equipment costs roughly $30 – $50 to purchase at a hardware store or online.
Tip #9: Use Moving Blankets or Towels to Move Heavy Furniture by Yourself
Moving blankets or towels can help move heavy furniture over smooth, flat surfaces or be used as cushioning to protect things like wooden legs or upholstered furniture from getting gashed.
- Lift each corner of the furniture slightly and place a blanket or towel underneath.
- Gently push the piece of furniture along the floor. The blanket or towel will reduce friction, making it easier to slide.
You can also wrap towels or blankets around your furniture to protect it from dings and scratches during the move.
Tip #10: Use Furniture Sliders or Coasters to Move Heavy Furniture by Yourself
Product available through Lowe’s
Furniture sliders and coasters are small, usually round furniture pads that you place under the furniture’s legs to smoothly glide over the floor without causing damage.
- Lift each corner of the furniture and place a slider underneath.
- Once the sliders are in place, gently push the furniture. You’ll find it much easier to move, even with minimal effort.
- Sliders not only make moving easier but also protect your floors from scratches and scuffs.
You can also make your own sliders using thick socks, small towels, or felt pads. They should be sturdy enough to handle the furniture’s weight without tearing.
Tip #11: Use a Dolly to Move Heavy Furniture by Yourself
Product available through Amazon
A dolly, often confused with a hand truck, is a low, flat platform with four wheels. Unlike a hand truck’s vertical design, a dolly is horizontal and doesn’t require tilting to move. Here’s how to use it:
- Before placing any furniture on it, ensure the dolly is stable and that the wheels roll smoothly.
- The entire base of the furniture should be on the dolly to prevent tipping.
- Use moving straps or ropes to tie the furniture down, and be sure to push the dolly slowly.
- Once at your destination, untie any straps and carefully lift the furniture off the dolly. It’s best to have help for this step.
Many dollies you can get from the hardware store cost between $200 and $300 (or you can rent a dolly for a fraction of the price).
Tip #12: Use Plywood Boards to Move Heavy Furniture by Yourself
You can use plywood boards to create some sort of subfloor beneath the furniture to prevent damage during the move. This could be an efficient way of ensuring that your carpet doesn’t get damaged when moving heavy furniture across it. Plywood can also act as a ramp up and down stairs.
- Wear work gloves and the proper shoes when dealing with materials that may splinter.
- Be careful not to overestimate how much a thick piece of plywood can hold when using it as a ramp.
Plywood sheeting can cost just a few dollars up to $50, depending on how big of a piece you need.
Tip #13: Use Floor Runners to Move Heavy Furniture by Yourself
Floor runners are long, protective mats that provide a durable and non-slip surface to help move pieces of furniture across your carpet. To use one:
- Ensure it’s long enough to cover the entire path you’ll be moving your furniture along.
- Slowly roll out the runner along the path you intend to move the furniture.
- Make sure it lies flat against the floor without any curls or bumps that could cause tripping or instability.
With the runner in place, push or slide your item slowly over it. The runner will protect your floors and offer a smoother glide, reducing the effort needed to move heavy items.
Moving? You Might Need a Storage Unit
After navigating the challenges of moving heavy furniture by yourself, you might find yourself needing a secure place to store some items. Neighbor offers a peer-to-peer storage marketplace that connects you with affordable, convenient storage options near you.
Whether you’re downsizing, waiting to move into a new place, or simply need to declutter, Neighbor provides a variety of unit sizes close to you to fit your specific needs. Visit Neighbor’s ‘Self Storage Near Me’ page today to find the perfect storage solution for your large pieces.
