7 Ways to Make Home Furniture Deliveries Easier

 

This guest post brought to you in association with Out There Interiors, is very timely as we have had to move lots of furniture in the last two weeks, whilst we were decorating. I also know lots of people are starting to think about home improvements, maybe it was the sunshine we have had this week.

Written by Liz Higginbottom

Whether you are moving house, changing the layout in your home, taking delivery of something new or even just cleaning, you are bound to be faced with moving a chest of drawers sooner or later. The main consideration here is to avoid any damage, whether it’s to the unit itself, to the floor covering, to the walls or to your back.

Follow these simple suggestions for surprisingly stress-free furniture shifting.

1.  Don’t do it if you don’t have to

When buying furniture, always read the delivery policy. Often couriers, all too aware of the problems involved in moving large pieces of furniture, will only deliver a chest of drawers to just inside the front door. So check before you buy. You can usually pay a small extra charge to have the new item put exactly where you want it. This is particularly useful in the case of mirrored furniture which is exceptionally heavy and easy to damage.

2.  Don’t try to do it on your own

You need at least one helper and if stairs are involved may be a third. If you anticipate moving large items frequently it may be wise to invest in a two wheeled trolley or sack barrow. These make moving large items a walk in the park

3.  Reduce the weight

If you have to do it yourself take out all the drawers. Not only will this lighten the load it will also stop them falling out and hitting the banister as they are manoeuvred. If the drawers are the same size it is a good idea to label them on the reverse, thus ensuring that they go back into their original slot where they will be a better fit.

4.  Reduce the dimensions

Is it possible to unscrew the legs? They can be vulnerable as you negotiate stairs. Consider totally dismantling a piece of furniture only if it is intended to come to pieces. Often damage can be done to joints or screw threads stripped if you attempt this. Check though, as some items may surprise you. I have an enormous French wardrobe for instance which reduces to a pile of planks which can then be transported in an estate car.

5.  Measure

Measure any doorways that may cause problems and devise the best plan of attack. I once moved into a house where the first floor was accessed by an enclosed winding staircase. Anything larger than a bedside cabinet had to be hauled by rope up to the balcony on a makeshift track made of two roof joists!

6.  Replace the drawers before transporting

Replace the drawers before transporting your chest of drawers by road, in order to maintain the rigidity of the unit. It is fine to leave clothes inside but remove anything that will fly around if the unit is tipped. Wrap the whole thing in a blanket or in bubble wrap thus ensuring that the drawers remain in place and any adjacent items do not scratch the chest.

7.  Always protect your back.

You have heard it before but it really is important to bend from the knees so that it is your legs not your back that take the strain. Also if you are carrying the chest upstairs the taller person should be pushing up from the bottom and the shorter lifting from the top.