One of the most difficult and frustrating parts of moving into an apartment is having a couch that just won’t fit. Maybe it’s a tight doorway, a narrow staircase or even a hallway that’s too narrow to move your couch through.
To solve this problem, you need to assess your situation first. Measure all entrances and stairwells to ensure that the sofa you are moving will be able to get through them.
Take it apart
You’re moving into a new apartment, and you notice that your couch isn’t going to fit through the door. It’s a frustrating situation, but don’t panic — there’s a solution!
You can take your couch apart and reassemble it in your new apartment. The process will vary depending on the type of sofa you have, but it’s easier than you might think if you follow a few simple steps.
First, make sure you have the right tools on hand to take your couch apart. You’ll need a screwdriver, a pair of pliers, a staple puller, and a box cutter. You should also have some plastic garbage bags to put all the screws and bolts into.
After you’ve gathered your tools, you’ll need to take some measurements of your sofa. It’s best to do this in advance, as this can save you a lot of time and trouble once it’s actually moving day.
Start by measuring the width and height of your couch. This will give you an idea of how big it’ll be when it’s completely dismantled, and how much room you have to cram it into the space.
Next, remove the back and cushions of your sofa if they are attached. This will make it easier to remove the frame underneath the upholstery.
Use a staple puller to remove any staples that hold your sofa’s upholstery together. This will help you to reduce the amount of fabric you have to dispose of, as you won’t need to worry about damaging the material.
Before you begin, be sure to vacuum and wipe down your sofa so it doesn’t bring any dirt or germs into the apartment with it. It’s also a good idea to label all of the pieces you’re taking apart so they are easy to find once you’re reassembling your sofa in your new home.
When it comes time to reassemble your sofa, you should be familiar with the specific order of each major piece in the structure. The best way to do this is to consult the instructions manual that came with your sofa.
Wrap it up
A couch can be a big investment, so it’s important to get it into your new apartment in tip-top shape. That’s why it’s a good idea to learn how to wrap your couch up so that you can keep it in pristine condition during the moving process.
To do this, start by measuring your couch so that you can figure out how much wrapping material you’ll need to cover it. Be sure to measure all exit points, including the bulky arms and sofa feet.
Then, use plastic stretch wrap or furniture blankets to protect the frame and cushions. Try to keep the wrapping tight as possible so that it won’t come undone during the moving process.
It’s also a good idea to tape the wrapping material together so that it doesn’t come loose during transport. This will help prevent any tripping and other safety hazards during the move.
Once you’ve wrapped the couch in the right materials, it’s time to put the finishing touches on your move. Depending on the size of your couch, it’s a good idea to have a pair of helpers on hand to assist you with this task.
One of these movers will place furniture sliders under the couch’s feet to help you lift it into your home. While this can be a hassle, it’s a necessary evil in some cases.
Next, you’ll want to cover the entire sofa with the best possible wrapping material. This could be a combination of furniture blankets, plastic stretch wrap or even old sheets.
You’ll want to make sure that the coverings are large enough to cover all of the couch’s nooks and crannies. You should also cover the top and front of the couch, as well as the ends.
The final touch is to secure the coverings with straps so that they won’t fall off when the couch is hoisted into your home. This is especially important if you’re using the straps to raise your couch over a balcony or window.
Lift it over the balcony
If you live in an apartment with a balcony, it can be difficult to move your couch into your home. Stairs often don’t fit couches, and balconies have railings that can be difficult to navigate. Luckily, there are a few ways to get your furniture into your new apartment without breaking your back or your budget.
Firstly, you can use a hoist to help lift your furniture up and over the balcony. These motorised hoists are designed to lift heavy items quickly and safely with minimal damage. By using this method, you can save yourself a lot of time and effort and avoid any injuries to the person lifting the sofa as well as the sofa itself.
Before you begin the lifting process, ensure that your furniture is fully wrapped with pads and shrink wrap. This will prevent the straps from rubbing against the walls or railings of your apartment and damaging the couch. You should also make sure to secure the sofa with a few thick blankets to prevent scratches and tears.
Once your furniture is fully wrapped, you can then hoist it over the balcony. This can be done by using long ropes that are twice as high as the sofa’s height from the floor to the balcony (with a few extra feet of rope to allow easier handling).
After you’ve attached the ropes, it’s important that you don’t stand under the airborne couch. You should also wear gloves to protect your hands from the ropes and to prevent any injuries.
The next step in the process is to attach long, sturdy ropes to loops on both sides of your couch. These will serve to help you lift the couch up and over the balcony and guide it during the process.
You should also take special care to synchronize the pull of the ropes, so that both ends of the couch are lifted at the same time. This will prevent the couch from swinging and hitting the balcony or a wall, which could cause serious injury.
Lastly, it is important to find a spot with as few obstacles as possible where you can securely lift your furniture up and over the balcony. You should not try to hoist your sofa over a balcony that is very high or one that has lots of trees, as this can cause severe injuries to anyone on the ground below and may also damage your sofa.
Take it up the stairs
A couch is a big, heavy piece of furniture that can be hard to move, even when you have the right tools and training. You may want to consider hiring a professional, especially if you have an apartment with multiple flights of stairs.
First, measure the size of the couch. You’ll need this information when you decide how to transport it up the stairs. This will help you plan your route and avoid getting stuck. You’ll also need to measure the dimensions of the doorway in which you need to take your couch.
If your couch is too tall to fit through a standard doorway, you can try tipping it onto its end or standing it up on its end and hooking one side into the doorway. You’ll still need a friend or two to help you maneuver it through, but this can make it easier.
Depending on the size of your apartment, you might be able to remove the interior doors and move your couch vertically through them. This will give you extra space to maneuver and lessen the chance of damage to your couch while it’s in transit.
Another option is to tilt the couch up or down, which will reduce its weight and make it more stable as it moves up the stairs. This strategy is particularly helpful when you need to move a couch up narrow hallways or staircases.
When moving a couch up the stairs, remember to take frequent breaks so that you don’t strain your back or get too tired to keep going. It’s also important to wear comfortable shoes that are supportive and have good traction, so you can stay on your feet without slipping or falling.
Next, make sure to ask several reliable friends to help you with the move. They will be able to carry pieces of the couch and help you move it around the stairs safely.
You should also take some time to discuss your strategy for moving the furniture up the stairs with your helpers in advance. This will ensure that you all understand each other and know what to do if something goes wrong. It will also make the process more efficient and safer for everyone involved.