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In most cases, a couch is the biggest piece of furniture we have in our homes. As such, it can be difficult to get through narrow spaces and doorways. While you can remove sofa legs and cushions, it can still be a tight squeeze. From wrapping it in plastic to using furniture moving straps, here is everything you need to know about how to get a couch through a door.
How Do You Get a Couch Through a Doorway?
If you need to move a couch through a door, there are a few things you can do to make the process easier and avoid any damage to the couch or the door. Here are some steps you can follow to get a couch through a door:
- Take off removable pieces: The best way to get your couch through the door is to remove as many parts as you can. Remove the couch cushions and move them separately. If possible, remove detachable armrests and unscrew legs, feet, or casters.
- Measure the couch: The next step in moving a couch through a door is to measure the size of the sofa. Be sure to measure the width, height, and depth of the couch, so you know exactly how much space you need.
- Measure your doors and doorways: Then, measure each doorway in your house. Take into account where you are putting the sofa and look for the closest door that is wide enough. This includes regular doors as well as sliding glass patio doors as well.
- Determine the best path: Now that you have all the measurements, decide on the best path for moving your sofa. See what doorways work best and account for stairs, corners, and other obstacles. Avoid sharp corners and narrow hallways whenever possible.
- Lift the couch: Have at least two people lift the couch together. Position yourself on either side of the couch and lift it with your legs, not your back. If the couch is too heavy or awkward to lift, you may need to seek the help of additional people or use moving straps or dollies to help you lift and move it.
- Angle the couch: As you approach the door, angle the couch so that it is perpendicular to the door. This will allow you to fit the couch through the door more easily.
- Tilt the couch: Once you’ve angled the couch, tilt it slightly so that the top of the couch is closer to the door frame. This will help to clear any obstacles that may be in the way, such as door handles or locks.
- Walk the couch through the door: Once you’ve tilted the sofa, carefully walk it through the door. Keep a firm grip on the couch and take small, steady steps to avoid tripping or losing your balance.
- Adjust the couch: Once you get the sofa through the door, carefully adjust it so that it is in its desired position. Be sure to replace any detachable parts you removed before moving the sofa through the doorway, such as sofa cushions, armrests, and couch legs.
It’s important to be patient and careful when trying to get a couch through a door. Be sure to lift with your legs, not your back, and take small, steady steps to avoid tripping or losing your balance. If you’re unsure of how to proceed, it’s always a good idea to have additional help or hire professional movers.
Tips on Moving a Sofa Through Narrow Doorways
Moving a sofa or couch through a narrow door can be tricky, but sometimes it just takes the right planning. If your doorways are just a little too narrow to move your couch through, there are a few tricks you can use:
- Take the door off the hinges. In most cases, this will give you an extra inch or two of space and can make all the difference when going through narrow doors.
- Hang furniture pads around the door frame. Furniture pads are thick cloth pads that go around the door frame to prevent damage. They not only prevent snags or rips in the sofa, but they keep your door frame from getting damaged.
- Go through the door at an angle. Tilting or angling the sofa as you go through the door can give you just enough clearance to make it through without damaging the fabric or doorway.
- Take your time and think it through. Moving can be stressful, and it’s easy to try to rush things along. However, patience and planning can make a huge difference.
- Move heavy couches slowly. If your sofa is really heavy, move it slowly and take breaks to prevent hurting yourself.
- Lift with your legs, not your back. Even if your sofa is very light, you should always lift it with your legs so you don’t injure yourself.
- Use a furniture dolly. If possible, move your couch through the door with a dolly. This removes weight from the equation and can significantly speed up the process.
- Try furniture straps. One of the best-kept secrets of professional furniture movers is furniture straps. Made of heavy-duty material, you wrap furniture straps around your shoulders and use them to limit your sofa. It helps balance the weight and limits the risk of injury.
- Wrap it in plastic. This may sound crazy, but sealing your couch in plastic wrap can save you a few inches. Stand it in an upright position, then pull the plastic tight around the back, across the bottom, and back over the seating area. Repeat this several times, pulling it tightly to cinch the sofa cushions down. As an added benefit, this can keep it from getting damaged during the move too.