How to Move Heavy Furniture by Yourself:

Naturally, the home moving process will involve various tasks of packing things into cardboard boxes, lifting and carrying those moving containers out of your home, loading them into the awaiting moving vehicle, then transporting the filled boxes to the new address, unloading and carrying them into the new house or apartment.

Unfortunately, the successful handling of cardboard boxes will not be the only thing you will need to worry about – in most cases, it’ll be the heavy furniture pieces that will give you a much harder time.

And if you have decided not to use the services of reputable furniture movers – for some reason or another, then you will need to double your efforts, at least, in order to be able to move heavy furniture on your own.

What is the best way to move heavy furniture by yourself?

The following tips for moving heavy furniture will enable you to handle that heavy task (literally!) much more easily, without causing any costly damage to your possessions or sustaining painful injuries to you or any of your helpers.

First things first: Should you move your heavy furniture at all?

Beds, sofas, couches, wardrobes, dressers, armoires, cabinets, desks, tables – all of these furniture pieces are rather big and heavy, and thus pose a serious challenge when the time has come to move them to another home. Due to their substantial weight, the very first thing you need to do is ask yourself if you’re really willing to pay for their transportation.

Keep in mind that it doesn’t always make sense to haul furniture pieces to a home that can be tens, hundreds or even thousands of miles away from your pickup location simply because the time and money you will lose in the process cannot possibly match the actual value of those items. You may find it really hard to leave your favorite furniture pieces behind but it all comes down to an impartial assessment of what you will gain and what you will lose in each relocation scenario.

Make an informed decision to avoid having bitter regrets after the move is over. After all, you won’t be particularly happy to have gone to the trouble of disassembling, packing, lifting, moving, loading, transporting, unloading, carrying, unpacking, reassembling and positioning your furniture pieces only to realize that they won’t fit, match or suit your new home.

Oops! /How to get rid of stuff when moving/

Now let’s assume that you have analyzed your home moving situation and you have decided to move a number of heavy furniture without using professional moving services. If that is the case, then you should be really interested in learning how to move heavy pieces of furniture by yourself.

See also: Top 5 self-moving mistakes to avoid

Required equipment to move heavy furniture by yourself

Moving heavy furniture safely is practically impossible without the usage of the right moving equipment. Even Superman would probably need some kind of moving equipment to complete the task quickly, easily, and with zero damage.

The success of moving heavy furniture by yourself hinges on the availability of proper moving equipment.

Here’s what to use to move heavy furniture:

Moving dolly

Professional movers swear by moving dollies, and they are right to do so. The wheel still remains one of the greatest inventions in the history of mankind, and there isn’t a single reason why you shouldn’t take advantage of it as well.

An appliance dolly (the L-shaped two-wheel hand truck) or a furniture dolly (the four-wheel square platform)?

Get a furniture dolly to move heavy furniture around your home and wheel it out all the way to the moving van. Rent one from a local moving company or consider investing in a new one, especially if you tend to move house fairly regularly.

Furniture sliders

If you really want to know how to move heavy furniture with one person only – across the room or to another room in the home but never up or down the stairs, then your best bet is to use furniture sliders.

Sliders are made of hard rubber and plastic, and when placed underneath each leg or side of a furniture piece, they will minimize the friction between the item to be moved and the room floor. And without any subsequent resistance between Object and Surface, you will be able to slide any big and heavy furniture piece effortlessly across any type of floor without leaving scratch marks or dents on the floor during the process.

There are separate furniture sliders for hardwood floors and carpeted floors, so you can actually pick the ones you need. High-quality sliders can be purchased from a local moving company, from a home goods store, or online.

If you’re moving on a tight budget and you’re not willing to spend money unless you really have to, then you’ll be glad to know that you can resource to using DIY furniture sliders. Good alternative to the original furniture sliders can be old plastic Frisbees or pieces of thick clothing (moving blankets work great).

Pro tip: How to pack for a move like a pro

What to do before moving heavy furniture on your own

Now that you’ve decided which furniture pieces you will move and what equipment pieces you will need to do just that, it’s time to focus on the final preparation stage just before the actual moving process begins.

Here’s what you are advised to do before you move really heavy furniture without the assistance of professional movers:

Disassemble the furniture

Disassemble your furniture first for safer packing and easier transportation.

First of all, see if the wooden pieces you own can be disassembled safely for easier and safer transportation. In addition to the substantial weight, furniture is often too oversized and awkwardly shaped to be moved out as it is.

Whenever possible, remove any detachable parts such as arms, legs, doors, shelves, side sections, and so on to 1) reduce the overall weight, 2) to make the packing task way easier, and 3) to make sure those pieces will pass through all door and hallway openings in your home.

Get qualified help if you’re unsure how to take apart some of your furniture pieces.

Protect the furniture

It’ll be a mistake to start moving furniture out of your home without providing a good level of protection first.

• All wooden surfaces of each and every piece of furniture should be completely covered with moving blankets, secured with tape or pieces of rope but never placed directly onto the delicate finish.
• Use bubble wrap to protect more fragile parts such as ornaments. If you happen to be moving antique furniture, then you should definitely use plenty of bubble wrap as extra protection, or get in touch with experienced furniture movers.
• Place pieces of corrugated cardboard around furniture corners and tape them in place.
• Remove glass elements (doors, shelves, tabletops, showcases, etc.) and wrap them separately in blankets.
• Use pieces of twine to secure all movable yet non-detachable parts that may open during transport.

You’ll need this: The best 15 packing tips for moving

Eliminate possible dangers

Knowing how to move large and heavy furniture is all about taking the necessary precautionary measures and keeping a high level of safety throughout the move. One such precautionary measure is to inspect carefully the exit route of your furniture pieces and see if there are any danger spots along the way that could prove to be problematic.

Remove random objects that happen to be in the way so that the paths remain clear of obstacles. No water, dust, mud or snow must be present on the ground because they can easily form slippery areas where bad accidents will be waiting to happen.

Get non-professional assistance

Needless to say, the best way to move heavy furniture is to request professional moving services so that you can stay outside the risky moving action and watch the pros do what they do best. But the cost to hire professional movers may not be to your liking, or you may have concluded that you’ll manage the local move all by yourself. Either way, you’re still going to need help moving your heavyweight household items.

Moving heavy furniture entirely on your own is only possible if those heavyweight items are only being moved from one room to another on the same floor, for example. In all other moving scenarios, you are strongly advised to get at least one, preferably two trustworthy helpers to give you a hand and keep things safe.

Useful info: 10 things to do before professional packers arrive

How to move heavy furniture by yourself

Safety is critical when moving heavy furniture, so you must be familiar with the proper way to lift the heavyweight items without sustaining any injuries. And then, when you know how to use the proper lifting techniques, we’ll give you some useful tips for moving heavy items on carpet, hardwood or tiles.

Use proper lifting techniques

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  Looks like things are going your way. Or are they? Consider hiring professional furniture movers when things get too tough.
  Keep your feet shoulder-feet apart in order to maintain a stable base. This way, the weight of the heavy item will be distributed evenly across your entire body.
• Keep your back as straight as possible at all times in order to avoid bad back injuries.
• Never arch your back when lifting heavy furniture – instead, bend your knees and use the strong muscles of your thighs as a hoisting device.
• Make sure you have a good grip on the heavy item before lifting it. Consider using high-quality work gloves.
• Never twist your body when lifting and carrying heavy items at your home. If you must turn, do it with your feet.
• Always keep heavy furniture pieces close to your body in order to maintain good stability. This way, the heavy object will stay as close to the center of gravity as possible.

How to move heavy furniture on carpet

The legs of heavy furniture pieces will dig into the carpet and won’t let you slide them towards the door.  And you shouldn’t do it without proper moving equipment either.

If the furniture piece is close to the door, it’s best to load the previously disassembled and protected piece straight onto a furniture dolly. Lift the furniture slowly with your friends, position it in the center of the dolly, secure it with rope and have your helpers hold it to prevent it from tipping over.

If the piece is far from the door, then you can use sliders to slide it towards the room exit. Place a slider under each leg or side of the furniture and push the oversized object in the direction you need it to go.

Must-read: 6 safety tips for moving furniture

How to move heavy furniture on hardwood floors and tiled floors

How to move heavy furniture without scratching the wood floor? Unlike carpeted floors, hardwood floors can be easily damaged if a heavy object is accidentally dropped on them – scratches, dents, and bumps can appear quickly along the wooden surface and their repair will cost you. Moving really heavy furniture on tiles can also be dangerous due to the easily breakable floor surface.

If you need the heavy object to be slid across the room, use furniture sliders that are meant for hardwood floors. Always use a furniture dolly that has floor-friendly wheels – clean, soft and made of rubber. Whenever possible, you’re advised to push heavy items than to pull them so that you conserve your energy and keep a better view of what’s happening in front of you.

Be sure to have helpers to keep the load perfectly steady once it’s been placed on the wheeled piece of moving equipment.

How to move heavy furniture downstairs or upstairs

It’s not recommended that you try to move heavy furniture downstairs alone without hiring professional movers to do it safely. The risks of property damage and personal injuries are just too great to be justified in this specific relocation scenario. Remember that one wrong step can lead to catastrophic results.

For your own safety and peace of mind, it’s important to be able to distinguish between completing a move-related task with a calculated risk and trying to do a reckless moving job that may prove to be a complete disaster in the end.

Get in touch with professional furniture movers and ask for price quotes.

Mountain Bliss: A Creekside Cabin, Rustic Treehouse & Outdoor Canopy Bed:

This tiny cabin is the perfect fall retreat, nestled among the redwoods outside San Francisco.

John “JT” Tredgold knows a thing or two about love at first sight. 

As vice president of bakery operations at Semifreddi’s in Oakland, CA, he needed a way to decompress after long hours of perfecting pastries and chocolate croissants at the handcrafted bread shop.

The London native sought a mountain respite to get away from it all. He embarked on a six-month search, which ended as soon as he set foot inside a rustic creekside cabin about two hours outside the city.

“It’s a funky cabin, but I looked at the design and proportions, and I fell in love with it,” JT said. “You walk out to the deck, and it overlooks this gorgeous creek. It just goes on and on. It’s overlooked by redwoods. It just gets better and better.”

The tiny-but-tough cabin that made the baker’s heart rise packs quite a punch into just 324 square feet. Built in 1959, it boasts a classic woodsy interior with thick, exposed wooden boards, plus a number of outdoor features — a treehouse! Zip lines! More on those in a bit.

Inside the main house, a clawfoot tub painted fire-engine red adds a burst of color in the bathroom. The copper-colored faucet and handles give off a warm vintage feel.

Upstairs, a lofted bedroom with an expansive skylight offers a view of the redwoods that surround the property. It’s JT’s favorite.

“Waking up in the morning and seeing the light break through the trees is incredible,” he said. “The same goes for nighttime. When it gets dusky, the sky turns deep blue, and I can hear the creek.”

“I don’t rush in the morning,” he continued, “and I don’t rush in the night. I just make sure I’m breathing it all in.”

And there’s certainly space to do that. On the deck, JT built a canopy for snoozing under the stars. A white curtain provides a wispy cover, while 200 hand-strung lights illuminate the space at night.

For more adventurous days, there’s a set of zip lines perfect for darting across the property. And the handmade treehouse that JT built, lofted among the trees, offers a spot for him to sleep in the summer or just to sneak away and read. The creek nearby provides nature’s soundtrack.

A roadside fence is also handcrafted — curvy and sinuous to mirror the wavy surface of the creek. Storage sheds are made of salvaged wood, while some of the walls were formed using repurposed shipping pallets from the bakery.

Parting with the property is bittersweet for JT, but important, he said. Wanderlust is calling, and so he must go.

“I’ve been here for five years, and I’ve never really been anywhere for more than five years,” JT said. “I just decided it’s time to go.”

“A friend of mine once said the biggest danger to an adventurous spirit is stability and security, and a free spirit needs to look for a new horizon every morning,” he continued. “And that’s always stuck with me.”

Kyla Brooke of Vanguard Properties carried the listing. Photography by Shidume Lozada.

How to Unpack After Moving House:

There is so many tasks that you have to do if you want to prepare for a move. While you may have an idea of how you want your move to go, you may find out that the actual act is nothing like what you imagined it.  The whole relocation process can be the best thing you can do or it can be the worst thing, depending on who you are working with and what you have to do. It’s important that you find one of the best moving companies before you even start moving anything. You will need to pack up your home, your life. Now you will have someone helping you do that. The success of your new home will be determined by who well you organized your move.

Make the move seamless

You hope that you don’t run into any problems during your move and if you do, then you will need to make sure that you can deal with it. However, you can make this move a lot better for yourself if you hire the right professional moving company to assist. You can hire a group of friends to assist you with your move in hopes of saving yourself money however you may find that you have a stack of cardboard boxes that are mix matched and lots of stories to tell instead.

Stay organized

It is best to be organized when you start packing. Pack and label each box as per the room. Thus, it is best to pack each room before moving on to the next. Similarly, it would be much easier when you unpack as each room’s things would be unpacked in an organized way.

There is a certain way that if you unpack your boxes, you will know where everything is with a few organizational tips that have worked so well in the past. If you packed your boxes up quickly, you most likely will need a new system to unpack your boxes to ensure that everything goes in the right room. The only problem when you unpack is that it could take twice as much time to do what you need to get done. The length of time that it takes for you to unpack will depend on several factors; the number of boxes you had to move, the number of people helping you, whether it is professional movers or just friends, and the number of special items that you had to pack with special care.

MINIMALIST MOVING: DECLUTTERING FOR A LIGHTER LOAD AND NEW HOME:

It’s no secret that most of us have too much stuff. Homes are just crammed with it: attics stuffed with dusty holiday decorations we never use, garages full of camping equipment and beach gear and sports paraphernalia, basements overflowing with old furniture, hand-me-downs, and heirlooms.

We hardly think about all the excess junk—until it’s time to move. Then it’s clear how much more of a headache those collections of possessions will be, complicating an already long to-do list. But here at Modernize, we’re passionate about helping you make your home your sanctuary—and simplifying your move is part of the journey.

If you’re willing to adjust your perspective a little, moving can be a chance for a fresh start—for your stuff as much as for you. This is your opportunity to clear out unwanted items and part with the old toys, collectibles, and everything else that no longer serves your life. Here’s how you can unpack the baggage around what you own, so you can pack up easily when it’s time.

Acknowledge That Our Belongings Have an Emotional Footprint

One of the biggest reasons it’s so difficult to declutter is that our belongings are typically more than mere objects: they’re stand-ins for different emotions. Maybe you like to have two or three extras of everything—what you’re really saying is that extra stuff represents the concept of safety to you. Or maybe you don’t want to keep all the old hand-me-downs your mother gave you, but you can’t bear to part with them because you feel guilty every time you try to throw them away. Recognizing that your stuff is more than just stuff will help you address some of the underlying causes for why you just can’t seem to let go.

Decide What’s Clutter—and What’s Not

Sorting your stuff is an important part of the moving process, but before you begin, you should decide on some rules for what goes and what stays—especially if you’re hoping to do some serious paring down. In The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up, Marie Kondo advises you to get rid of everything but those items that “spark joy,” but truthfully, it’s a little more complicated than that. Practical items like kitchen utensils or technical gadgets should be stuff you use everyday, so if you haven’t touched it for more than six months, give it away or pitch it. Remember, you can always borrow from friends or neighbors if you need that spare roasting pan somewhere down the line. Same thing goes for clothes that no longer fit you, or shoes you haven’t worn in the past year. You can always buy new pants if you lose or gain weight in the future.

Recognize That More Stuff Equals More Time

One thing that can help you de-junk is to realize what a time suck your stuff can be. Joshua Becker, who runs the website Becoming Minimalist, advises you to think about the time commitmentdemanded by each object you own. This is especially the case if you’re having a hard time parting with something you know you don’t use. Each thing must be dusted, maintained, and like now, moved, so it can really be a drain on your life if it doesn’t add some practical value or real satisfaction. Noticing how your stuff tends to swallow your time will make it easier to say sayonara.

Start with the Easy Stuff First

This is why so many people put decluttering projects off until it’s time to move. Once it reaches a certain critical mass, cleaning out the stuff can seem like a virtually overwhelming task. The best advice is to start early, and hit the low-hanging fruit first. You can sort through the old mail or go through a laundry basket of clothes in an hour or two, and it’s a great first step on the path to clearing out. As you work, make sure to separate your stuff into three piles: to keep, to toss, and to donate—and take it to the trash can or donation center as soon as you can. That will keep piles from becoming another unapproachable mess. Make a plan for how you’ll attack the rest of your home, and divide large areas—like the basement or attic—into a few days’ worth of work. After several weeks proceeding like that, you’ll be surprised at how much you can accomplish—and it won’t feel like you took two years off your life.

Don’t Keep Stuff Out of Guilt or Obligation

Just because you got it as a gift doesn’t mean you have to hang on. Yes, it’s nice that your friend bought that bright pink glittery “BEST FRIENDS” wall ornament, but if it’s not something you love, the best advice is to donate it. Instead, as you find these kinds of items in your decluttering process, write down all the memories and emotions behind the items you were gifted. That way, you’ll feel like you’re able to honor your relationships and express gratitude for your friends’ generosity—without keeping a bunch of stuff around you don’t want.

Realize That You’re Giving Your Stuff—And Yourself!—a New Life

It’s okay to feel sad, anxious or nervous when you’re decluttering, especially if you’re doing it ahead of a big move. But realize that you’re giving your old things a chance to make someone else happy, especially if you concentrate on donating it to charities or resale stores that are part of a good cause. What more could you ask for something you once loved? And cleaning out your living space means you’ll start life in the new house with a brand-new lightness. There’s a reason they call it baggage, after all. A fresh new take on life, with new opportunities ahead, is your gift for all your hard work—and it’s only a few trash bags away!

Erin Vaughan is a blogger, gardener and aspiring homeowner.  She currently resides in Austin, TX where she writes full time for Modernize, with the goal of empowering homeowners with the expert guidance and educational tools they need to take on big home projects with confidence.

Choosing the Right Storage Service : Useful Ideas for your Benefit:

Using a storage service is an efficient and affordable way of stocking objects of all sizes and shapes in one convenient location. Storage units can be used for several different purposes – as an addition to your house, a place for storing seasonal or seldom used items, to declutter an office, for freeing up garage space, and much more!

The size you need

Choosing the correct unit size will ensure that you pay only for the storage space, you actually require. There is a large variety of storage unit sizes available at almost all storage services, from units as big as the closet to units as large as an extended garage. Here is how you choose the right size:

1. Begin by taking inventory

Before even starting to consider the unit size, take an inventory of all the things you wish to put inside the storage. Get the measuring tape out for some of the bigger items to figure out the least space they can be fitted into. Once you are well aware of all the things you desire to store, you can analyze which unit will work best for you.

2. Standard sizes of storage units

While most storage services have standard units of varying sizes and rates, some may charge you for the space your things actually require. The total volume of space your items need places you in a package.

Here is a look at the standard unit sizes: 

• 5x5 storing units that can fit a small mattress set, dressers, and several boxes
• 5x10 storing units that can fit a dresser, mattress set (Queen-sized), TV, and several boxes
• 10x10 storing units that can fit a whole family room (bookshelves, sofa, chairs, coffee table, etc.) and two bedrooms (night stands, mattress sets, dressers, etc.)
• 10x15 storing units that can fit three full bedrooms and larger furniture (chairs, sofas, appliances, tables, etc.)
• 10x20 storing units that can fit the whole multiple bedroom house, large furniture and many boxes
• 10x30 Storing units that can fit multiple bedrooms, including big furniture and many boxes

Choosing a provider

It is very important to choose a storage service provider wisely. Here are a few features that should go with their services:

1. Pickup: Choose a provider who is willing to pick all your stuff from the doorstep and carry them to their facility, so that you don’t have to lift a finger.
2. Delivery: Make sure they offer delivery services, i.e., you get your things back anytime you want at your doorstep.
3. Best support and service: The provider should be able to offer the best support and storage service.
4. Storage accessories: Choose a company that offers storage pads or moving blankets to secure your things while in storage.
5. Security: The warehouse should never be open for public and should be under surveillance 24 hours. The provider should take proper precautions with the support of security devices such as motion detectors, cameras, and alarms.

It is best to speak to at least three storage service providers before making the final choice. Also, drive down to the facility to check it out thoroughly. Apart from this, you must speak to the staff to be assured of how well trained they are to handle fragile items.

How to Keep Your Kids Busy During a Move:

Moving can be really hard. It can be especially challenging if your kids are going to be with you during the moving process. Ideally, having a babysitter, friend or a family member watch your kids on moving day would be the best option, but we get that having childcare isn’t always possible. So if your kiddos are going to be with you during a move, you’ll want to make sure that there are some activities for them to do while you deal with any last-minute packing, organizing, navigating the movers, or any other moving day activities that you’ll likely have to deal with. To help you prepare for the big move with kids, check out some of our tried and tested moving day activities.

#1 Create a moving day activity kit

Get a collection of fun things to do for the kids to keep them entertained on moving day. This doesn’t have to be a ton of items, but rather a few meaningful (and lightweight pieces) that could help to keep your little ones busy. This could be markers, crayons, a coloring book, a grade-appropriate activity book, a sticker book, playdough, etc. To make this extra special, give them their bundle of activities on the day of the move so that everything is fresh and exciting to them.

#2 Make sure they have their special stuff

In addition to their activity pack, make sure that they have a few of their favorite toys. This can offer some comfort to them during the often busy moving process. You’ll just want to make sure that the toys aren’t too bulky or heavy.

#3 Deck of cards

A classic and lightweight option, cards are a great way to pass the time where they play a variety of games like Go Fish, Spades, War, Crazy Eights, or even Solitaire if you have any only child.

#4 Books

Books are a great option for kids of all ages to help pass the time. During the packing process, have your kids pick out a few of their favorites that you save for moving day. If you have kids that don’t read yet, like toddlers, pick out a few picture books for them to look through. On moving day, pick a safe area where your kids can go while the movers load and unload their stuff. Make sure that this isn’t a busy area or high-traffic part of your house or apartment.

#5 Use what you have

You’ll likely have an extra moving box (or two) and some moving supplies after all of the packing is done. Consider saving what you have, along with some markers or other crafts, where your your kids can get creative by creating something with the boxes. As an alternative, your kids might just want to climb inside and create their own imaginative game.

#6 Bubbles

Bubbles are awesome for pretty much everything. On moving day, young kids will love to blow and catch them to pass the time. Get a few different types of bubbles for hours of engagement.

#7 Dance party

If you have some lawn space or a designated area where your kids can be during the moving process, consider having a dance party. Get them moving by playing some of their favorite music from your phone. Let them have a freeze-dance contest or a free-play contest to help them to get the sillies out. Just make sure that they stay out of the movers way!

#8 Break out a ball

Another movement option, if you have some space is to play catch or kick a ball. Get involved in the playing, if you have time in between moving day tasks.

#9 Talk a walk

If both parents or caregivers are moderating the move, see if one person can step away for a bit so that you and your child can separate from the moving action and take a walk. The walk might be something that is beneficial to both of you as you get some fresh air and separate from the stress. Consider getting some lunch or enjoying a special treat together.

#10 Download something fun

If your moving process will be really long, consider downloading a movie or some games. Watching a new movie or cool game that they have been wanting to check out is ideal during this time when they will likely be bored.

#11 Staring contest

Have your kids have a staring contest. The winner gets a special prize in your new house.

Moving can be tricky when you have little ones with you. Since there’s so much going on, you want to make sure that they have activities and things to do to keep them busy. We hope these options will give you some ideas to make moving with the kids a little less stressful.