How to Move Large Furniture Without Damaging Your Home
Moving large furniture is often the most intimidating part of any move. You’ve got that massive couch, a dresser your grandparents passed down, or that solid wood dining table that barely fit through the door when you first moved in. Now, the idea of hauling these beasts to a new home without causing dents in the walls, scratching your floors or damaging your furniture, can feel impossible.
But don’t worry—it’s actually very doable. As a moving company with years of experience, we’ve seen our fair share of tight squeezes, awkward angles, and big, bulky items. So, today, we’re sharing tried-and-true tricks that can help you move large furniture safely and efficiently, while keeping your home—and your back—safe from damage.
Plan Before You Lift
Measure and Plan Your Route
The first trick to moving large furniture starts before you even touch the furniture. Planning is key. Grab a measuring tape and measure the dimensions of your largest items—couches, dressers, entertainment centers—and then measure the doorways, hallways, and stairs they need to go through. You’ll want to make sure everything fits before you start moving (trust us on this one.)
Pro Tip: If you’re working with tight spaces, consider removing doors from their hinges to give you a few extra inches of clearance. (A hammer and screwdriver will usually do the trick.)
Protect Vulnerable Areas
Take a look at your home and identify spots that could get damaged during the move. Walls, floors, and door frames are prime targets for scratches, dents, or scuff marks when moving large furniture. Cover them with protective padding, such as moving blankets or cardboard.
For hardwood or tile floors, consider laying down moving blankets or even rugs in high-traffic areas to prevent scratches. A little prep work will go a long way in avoiding repairs after the move.
Gather the Right Tools
Moving large furniture without the right equipment is a recipe for disaster. Luckily, you don’t need to spend a fortune on professional tools—many can be rented, or you might already have them.
Furniture Sliders
Furniture sliders are an absolute game changer. These little discs slip under the legs of heavy furniture and allow you to slide items effortlessly across floors, reducing the risk of scratching hardwood or tearing carpet.
Dollies and Hand Trucks
A sturdy dolly or hand truck is another must-have for moving heavy items. They’re perfect for appliances like refrigerators or large pieces of furniture that can’t be easily disassembled. The great thing about dollies is that they take the weight off your back and make it easier to maneuver around tight corners or down hallways.
Furniture Straps
If you’re tackling something super heavy—like a sleeper sofa or a full-size wardrobe—furniture straps can be a lifesaver. These straps allow you to distribute the weight more evenly between you and your partner, reducing strain on your body and making it easier to control the furniture as you navigate through doors or stairs.
Disassemble When Possible
When you’re facing oversized furniture that’s a struggle to move, disassembly is often the easiest solution. Many large pieces of furniture, like bed frames, couches, or tables, can be partially or fully disassembled to make them easier to transport.
We can’t tell you how many times we’ve been called to move a sectional sofa, only to find out that the homeowner didn’t realize it breaks into three smaller pieces. Suddenly, what looked like a nightmare move became manageable!
Pro Tip: Keep small screws and parts in a labeled Ziplock bag and tape it to the corresponding furniture piece. This simple trick will save you a lot of time—and frustration—when you’re reassembling everything later.
Protect Both Your Furniture and Your Home
Wrap It Up
When moving large furniture, protection is everything. You want to avoid nicks, scratches, and scuff marks on both your furniture and your walls. Wrapping furniture in moving blankets or bubble wrap is an absolute must for any bulky items.
For wood furniture, a layer of protective padding will prevent scratches or dings. Upholstered pieces should be wrapped to avoid stains, tears, or punctures.
Protect the Walls, Floors, and Door Frames
Aside from protecting the furniture, you need to shield your home from potential damage. A rookie mistake is to forget about walls and doorways. You can avoid gouges that require patching and repainting by placing padding on sharp corners, door frames, and walls in high-traffic areas.
For floors, lay down furniture pads or even large pieces of cardboard to protect against any scratching or gouging. This is especially important for hardwood or laminate flooring.
Use Proper Lifting Techniques
Even with all the right equipment, if you don’t lift correctly, you could end up hurting yourself—or worse, dropping and damaging your furniture (just kidding, but seriously.) Remember these basics to protect yourself and your belongings:
Lift with Your Legs, Not Your Back
This one seems obvious, but you’d be surprised how many people forget to lift properly in the moment. Bending your knees and using your legs to lift keeps the strain off your back. Trust us, your body will thank you the next day.
Use Teamwork
Large furniture should always be handled by at least two people. Communicate with your moving partner, especially when navigating tight spaces or stairs. Having one person hold the top of the item and the other hold the bottom makes it easier to tilt and control the furniture as you move through doorways or down stairs.
The High-Low Method
For taller items, like bookcases or dressers, using the high-low method—where one person lifts the bottom and the other the top—helps maneuver the item through doorways or around corners. The tilt creates better control and prevents damage to the surrounding area.
Hire Professional Movers to Save Time and Stress
Let’s be honest: Moving large furniture is tough work. If you’ve got the time and patience, these tips will help you make it happen without damage. But if you’re short on time, have especially heavy pieces, or just want to ensure everything goes smoothly, hiring professional movers is a smart investment.
Why Pros Are Worth It
Professional movers have experience, specialized equipment, and the know-how to move your large furniture safely. The truth is that your time is valuable, and better spent doing the things you love (which is why we became movers, we love moving! Weird- we know.) You can relax, sit back, and rest assured knowing it’s all taken care of. Out of all of the investments you can make in life, (good) movers are definitely worth it.
Final Thoughts
Moving large furniture without damaging your home isn’t about brute strength—it’s about strategy, planning, and using the right tools. Whether you’re moving yourself or hiring professional movers, following these tips will help you avoid damage to your walls, floors, and furniture.
Remember: Measure first, disassemble when needed, protect your home, and use proper lifting techniques. And if the job seems too big, don’t hesitate to bring in that moving company you love…! Hint: It’s us.
Seriously, if you want help moving, contact us today for a free estimate and let the professionals handle the hard part while you get back to doing what matters.