Most people will have a few larger furniture pieces to contend with when they move. While passing boxes through open doorways is not a big deal, shimmying an overstuffed recliner, double-door fridge, or heavy wardrobe through a tight opening can be rough.
When you bring in the help of professional movers, they do the heavy lifting for you. And most of them use industry experience to get the job done. Check out these tips on moving big furniture through tight openings from professional movers.
1. Measure, Measure, Measure
Grab your measuring tape before you even get started. Get measurements of:
- The door frame’s length and width
- The width of the furniture piece
- The height of the furniture piece
It is far better to know how much space you will have to work with before you have a large piece of furniture pushed through a doorway, realizing you don’t have enough room.
2. Disassemble as Much as Possible
Whether you are dealing with a large appliance or a general piece of furniture, look to see if you can take part off to make it more manageable. For example, when dealing with a narrow doorway or tight space, even a fraction of an inch can make a big difference. So, go ahead and disassemble what you can on the furniture.
- Removing the doors from the refrigerator
- Taking legs off of a sofa or chair
- Removing doorknobs and drawer pulls from a wardrobe
- Taking detachable legs off of tables
- Removing detachable cushions from cushioned furniture
3. Look at Things From a Different Perspective
In some situations, getting a large piece of furniture through a tight space will require a little innovative thinking. If you can’t get the item of furniture through the opening in the way you expect, consider how you could maneuver, flip, or change the position of the furniture piece to make it work. For example, you may not be able to slide a recliner through the opening straight, but maybe if you tilt it at an angle, you could have enough space.
4. Have People on Hand to Help
If you have a large, awkward furniture piece on hand, have people around you who can help. For example, a sleeper sofa can weigh around 180 pounds. If you need to tilt the sleeper sofa through a doorway, the more hands you have to help, the easier it will be.
5. Be Prepared to Make Room
To prevent damaging either a door frame or the furniture itself, you may have to make some temporary alterations. For example, you may need to remove the door shock from a screen door or remove the molding or trim surrounding the frame to get a few added inches. The only solution will be to remove a door from its hinges in some instances.
Need Help With Large Furniture Pieces?
Dealing with the most significant furniture pieces during a move can be one of the most challenging tasks. If you need help, reach out to get a free quote for your residential move.
