Are you preparing to move house? Have you already started packing up all your smaller belongings, leaving the bigger items until the end? This is the common approach people take, and then suddenly they are left with the question of how to best move their large furniture without damaging it, or the home. We’ve got a number of practical tips you can use as you prepare to move house and deal with moving those large pieces of furniture.

Start with the Big Pieces – Get Them Out of the Way

While most people are tempted to leave the large oversized furniture until the end, in some cases it can make more sense to begin with those items. Any furniture that isn’t essential to your day-to-day life could be moved to a storage unit. Companies like Safestore offer storage units that make it possible to store your items in a safe and secure manner, giving you much more space to move around in your house as you organise, pack, and eventually move out. You can even get a quote online by entering your postcode, city or town. Be sure to check out the various storage room sizes with the virtual walkthrough, photos, and videos so you find the best one for your needs.

Your furniture can remain in a storage unit until you are in the new house, and you may even choose to leave it there for a while. Perhaps the new house doesn’t have the same amount of available space, or then again, maybe the furniture just doesn’t work with the new décor. Either way, you can keep your items in storage as long as you need.

Don’t Think About Moving Pieces on Your Own

The next tip is to make sure you don’t over-exert yourself and try moving those large pieces on your own. This is an excellent way to do damage to the furniture, walls, floors, and to yourself. Instead, plan in advance and get a couple of friends or family members to give you a hand with moving the furniture. If you don’t have anyone that can help, it can be well worth it to hire professional movers just for the heavy items like the furniture. They will have the proper skills and equipment to move the items in a safe and efficient manner.

Make Use of Furniture Sliders

When it comes to the equipment needed to move furniture, the most useful items are furniture sliders. These sliders go under the feet of your furniture so you can essentially slide items across hard floors without scratching the floor. Some sliders will also work on carpeting, as long as it’s not thick pile carpeting. Experts recommend that you leave these sliders on the feet of your furniture after the move is complete, as they will continue to protect your floor.

Measure and Plan Your Execution

Before you start to move anything, you will also want to take a little time to map out your plan. This means measuring the furniture itself, the doorways, the stairs, and so forth. Then figure out what is the best and most direct way to get the furniture out. You don’t want to get stuck in a doorway or mid-way down a staircase simply because of poor planning.

Lift the Safe and Proper Way

When it comes to lifting, make sure you are using proper posture and technique. This means you lift with your legs, rather than lifting with from your back. As you bend down, make sure your legs and knees are bending, not just your back. You can also help to prevent injury and stress to your body by using a dolly, harnesses, and lifting straps.

Each of these practical tips will ensure that moving the big pieces of furniture doesn’t have to be stressful or dangerous.