The humble couch is likely to be one of your favourite pieces of furniture. Who doesn’t love relaxing on the couch with a cold one after a long day? But couches are also one of the most notoriously difficult pieces of furniture to move. Not only are they large, they rarely come apart like a bed, and as soft furniture, they’re also easy to damage. If you have to move a couch by yourself, here’s how to do it.

Step one: how much do you love your couch?

We start every moving guide with the recommendation to declutter before you pack. This applies to furniture too. If you feel the need to move on and start a relationship with a new couch, save yourself the hassle of moving the old one and sell or donate it instead.

Pro tip: This is the second easiest way to move a couch.

Step two: what you’ll need to move your couch

1. Plastic wrap or old sheets
2. Moving blankets
3. Packing tape
4. Furniture sliders or a dolly
5. Soft rope or furniture moving straps
6. A friend (preferably a strong one)

Step three: pack your accessories

Remove any item from your couch that can be packed in a box, including cushions, blankets and any other accessories that normally live on the couch. Label the box so you can easily find these items again when you unpack. Any cushions that are too large for a box should be covered with plastic wrap or an old sheet (to reduce plastic use). This will stop them from getting dirty in transit. Make sure you secure the covering with tape or string.

Step four: take it apart if you can

If your couch has been designed so it can be disassembled, take apart what you can, even if it just means removing the legs. Make sure you pack any small parts in a separate box so you can easily find them later on. Most couches aren’t designed to be disassembled, so don’t force anything that offers resistance.

Step five: wrap your couch

You can use plastic wrap to cover your couch, but moving blankets provide a good layer of protection which will help prevent damage from accidental knocks in the truck. Secure everything in place and you’re ready to get moving.

Step six: your truck awaits

Plan your route to the truck. Even if you have to move the couch further, pick the most open path with the widest doorways. Moving large pieces of furniture around corners or down corridors can cause damage to walls as well as your couch.

If you’re using a dolly, stand the couch upright on the dolly and tie it in place if you can. Then move it slowly and carefully, with a person at the front and back of the couch at all times. You can also slide the couch in the same fashion on an old towel, but you’ll need to be very careful to avoid damage to your couch or floors.

If you have to negotiate stairs, you will probably need to use a combination of items to help you get the couch to the truck. Take your time. Take breaks if you get tired.

Step seven: strap it in!

You’ll want to aim to put your couch aboard the truck before any other item. Place it upright if you can and secure it to the wall of the truck with furniture straps so it doesn’t move at all. This gives you more room for other items and will prevent your couch from being crushed.

Step eight: do it all again in reverse.

Yes, you’ll need to repeat each step of this guide in reverse to get your couch into your new home. Once you’ve done this, reassemble your couch and give it a clean. Then, open a cold one, sit down and celebrate your success.

If all this sounds too hard, give us a call or request a quote today.

Pro tip: Calling us is definitely the easiest way to move your couch.