Whether you are moving house, relocating your business or just doing some remodeling in your basement, changes to your living or business space will likely involve having to move heavy furniture. This can be physically demanding, exhausting and even quite dangerous for you. Between the lifting, the pulling and the carrying, you run a serious risk of injury when you don’t do something right. And that’s not even mentioning the potential of damage to the items in question. So, it’s important to know what you’re doing when moving heavy furniture.

When and why you might need to move heavy furniture

One of the main reasons why you will be moving heavy furniture a lot is relocation. Moving house means packing up and transporting everything you own. This includes all the beds, sofas, closets and other furniture you want to bring with you. You will also need to do some heavy lifting when changing your business address. If you aren’t renting already furnished space, all the desks, cabinets and even company vehicles will need to be moved to your new location.

And even if you’re not moving, you may be doing some remodeling. If you’re about to paint a room, expand your living space to the patio or even just reorganize your bedroom, you should know how to move heavy furniture around.

You will need to move heavy furniture even if you just want to remodel your living room

Ways to move heavy furniture

When choosing the furniture for your new home or office, you are probably not thinking about how difficult it is going to be to move it. But, eventually, the time comes when you do need to think about that. So, here are five ways to make moving heavy furniture easier, faster and safer.

1. Furniture sliders

Whenever possible, you should avoid lifting heavy furniture. Most people don’t know how to lift heavy things properly. And doing it the wrong way may result in back injuries that can be permanent. It is, therefore, best to carry only small pieces of furniture and use other methods for the heavier stuff.

Invest in furniture sliders to avoid lifting heavy furniture. All you need to do is put the sliders (smooth side to the floor) under the corners of the item you are moving and then push or drag it to where you want it. It is simple and easy. There are even specialized sliders for carpeted or grassy surfaces. So, you can even use them when arranging an outdoor living area. If you don’t have furniture sliders, you can try using Frisbees or glossy magazines instead.

Use furniture sliders to avoid lifting heavy objects

2. Using additional equipment

If you’re going to move heavy furniture a lot, it’s smart to invest in some additional equipment that makes the job easier for you. Moving dollies – small square platforms with wheels – can be a great option if you’re moving furniture across flat surfaces. They can be found in a variety of sizes, so you can use them for almost any piece of furniture. Just lift what you’re moving onto the dolly and you can push it around easily. A shoulder dolly is another good choice. It’s a lifting strap that connects to the shoulders of the person carrying the furniture. It gives you extra leverage and takes the weight off your back making moving heavy furniture safer for you.

3. The high-low method

This method is particularly useful for tall pieces such as shelves, bookcases and filing cabinets. You will need two people to move furniture like this – one person to support the top part and one person to support the bottom part. Tilt the item you are moving and keep it at a slight angle as you lift it a bit off the ground and carry it. The person supporting the top part is in charge of keeping the furniture steady so it doesn’t swing around and potentially injure someone or damage the property.

4. Taking furniture apart

Large and heavy furniture will be easier to move in parts. So, disassemble everything you know how. Take out any drawers, take off doors and lids, unscrew legs and other moveable parts you can find. These individual parts are not nearly as heavy as the entire piece of furniture they make up which makes them much easier to move around. They are also not as big, so they will be easier to move through narrow hallways, down or up stairs and around corners.

Disassemble heavy furniture to make it easier to move

5. Hiring professionals

No matter how prepared you are for moving heavy furniture, you are ultimately not an expert. But, luckily for you, experts do exist. If you are willing and able to budget for it, you can always hire professionals to move heavy furniture for you. This is also the safest and easiest for you. Whether you are moving for a job, a better climate or just a change of scenery, whether you are relocating your home or your business, whether you are moving long-distance or only a short distance away, there is a moving company out there suited to your needs. You can even have your vehicles moved by professional movers like Executive Auto Shippers, LLC. They will take care of everything for you – you just need to sit back and relax.

General tips and tricks

However you choose to move heavy furniture, there are some things that are just good moving practice you should follow. These are the tips and tricks that will make your life easier:

  • Plan ahead – always be prepared in advance: make a list of things you want to move and draw up a floor plan so you can plan the best and simplest route for moving furniture; set aside enough time to move everything you want to and get the help you need.
  • Prepare the furniture for moving – empty out all drawers and closets to make them lighter and disassemble what you can; baby proof the corners or cover them with play-doh or sponge to protect your walls in case you bump into them.
  • Protect the furniture – take out any glass parts and cover flat surfaces with moving blankets or tarp to protect them from scratches

Finally and most importantly: keep yourself safe. If you are going to be lifting heavy things, learn how to do it properly. You should always keep your back straight and lift using your legs. This puts less strain on your arms and back and minimizes the risk of injury.

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