Do you want to move your own furniture? The process may easier than you think. Even amateurs can safely move large furniture pieces like couches, mattresses, and chairs using the right techniques and tools.

Here are 10 essential tips for moving furniture to your next house, apartment or even just another room.

1. Get Help

The first thing to know is that you want to not only protect your furniture and home, but you want to protect yourself. Start by reaching out to friends and family and seeing if you can get some help. An extra pair of hands or two can make all the difference. If you can’t seem to find any volunteers, think about using a service like Moving Help to search for moving service providers in your area.

2. Plot Out Your Trip

Figure out exactly what you will be moving and where. Look for potential dangers like icy outdoor stairs or potholes. It is also important to think about where things will be going when you unload so that you can pack your items in the right order.

Mother and Son Packing Box

3. Protect Doorways and Remove Molding if Necessary

It is fairly easy to bump against doorways while moving large furniture pieces. Removing the molding on the doorway will help create extra space to maneuver and help avoid potential damage to the doorway. Covering furniture in Quilted Pads will also help protect doorways.

4. Use Furniture Sliders

Furniture sliders protect both hardwood and carpet floors from getting scratched or damaged during the moving process. It is often a good idea to leave these on even after your move is complete!

5. Use the “L” Method To Get Chairs through doors

Large chairs can often be “hooked” through small doorways by turning the object on its side and backing the long end of the L shape through the doorway and then rotating to bring the other end through.

6. Get Personal Protective Equipment

One of the best investments you can make is in PPE (Personal Protective Equipment). Protective items like Heavy-Duty Work Gloves can keep your fingers and hands from getting cut during the moving process.

7. Find a dolly for heavy and awkward sized objects

Dollies are often the best way to move large and heavy objects like washing machines or dryers. You can decide to either rent or purchase these tools.

8. Purchasing lifting straps and harnesses

Products like the Forearm Forklift Moving Straps not only make it much easier to move furniture, they can also make it much safer! These professional Straps are often the secret tool for professional movers everywhere.

9. Carry Furniture The Right Way

To prevent injury, be careful to lift with your legs and not your back. It’s also important to bend at your knees and not your waist. Both of these techniques help prevent undue physical stressors that could hurt you or your fellow movers.

10. Take off the legs of chairs and couches

Taking apart large pieces of furniture can help you get the extra inch or two required to fit through narrow doorways.

If you are interested in looking at more do-it-yourself moving supplies, visit our moving and lifting tools page.