How to Move Furniture Without Scratching the Floor

Tile, hardwood, and luxury vinyl flooring are some of the most sought-after features in modern homes. They not only improve your living space, they also boost resale value. But while they can last for years, scrapes, scuffs, and scratches significantly diminish their appeal. Heavy furniture is one of the most common causes of damage, due to its weight and small contact areas, which concentrate pressure. To protect your home, we’ll explain the best way to move furniture without scratching the floor.

Tips for Moving Furniture Without Damaging Your Floor

The easiest way to move furniture is to simply drag it across your floorboards. It’s also the worst way. Without protection, you’ll likely dig lines into the surface of your floor. And since you have less control when pushing or pulling heavy objects, you might bang into walls and doorways as well, especially if you have to navigate tight corners. Moving furniture the right way requires planning, effort, and preparation. Experts recommend:

Enlisting Help

While it’s generally safe to move chairs, nightstands, and end tables on your own, ask for help when dealing with anything over 50 pounds. However, smaller objects can also be troublesome. Anything that’s unusually long, wide, or hard to grip can shift your center of gravity, making it unwieldy. To avoid damage and prevent injury, ask friends or family members to lend a hand. A good rule of thumb is one person for every 50-75 pounds of weight, though you might need more if the object is unusually shaped or particularly cumbersome.

Cleaning Your Floors

Even if you don’t drag your furniture, dust, grit, and debris can cause dents and nicks when trapped beneath heavy furnishings. Sweeping rooms and hallways ensures you don’t have to worry about small objects getting ground into your flooring. For the best debris removal, consider mopping your floors as well, for the deepest possible clean. Just make sure to rinse properly afterwards, so your floors aren’t slippery.

Taking Apart Your Furniture

Transporting furniture in separate pieces is considerably easier than moving it as a single unit. Always disassemble furniture before carrying it, if you can. It not only saves your floor, it also minimizes the risk of back and shoulder injuries.

Clearing a Path

Make sure there’s nothing in your way that could be a tripping hazard: toys, shoes, clothing, baskets, power cords, etc. Even decorative rugs can snag your feet. A momentary entanglement might not sound serious, but it can cause you to lose your grip and damage your furniture, walls, or flooring, or worse, injure yourself.

Buying the Right Equipment

While carrying furniture by hand is certainly a viable option, it’s not always the safest or most efficient way to move your belongings. Fortunately, there are a number of tools available you can purchase to make the process a little easier.

Furniture Sliders. Discs made of soft felt that you place under the legs of your furniture, allowing you to move it over your floor without scraping it up.
Moving Straps. Long, thick bands of polyester or nylon that wrap under the furniture and around your shoulders, forming a harness. Moving straps redistribute the load across your legs and shoulders (your strongest muscles), allowing you to carry furniture while remaining in an upright, ergonomically correct posture.
Dollies. By replacing lifting with rolling, furniture dollies improve control and stability, making it possible to move heavy objects with only one person ‒ though it’s advisable to have one or two other people present to help guide you around corners and through doorways.

Keep in mind that hard wheels can damage floors, so if you’re using a dolly, lay some cardboard over your intended path. Wrap your furniture in moving blankets before loading it onto the dolly, to cushion it in case you bump into a wall or doorway. If you don’t have moving blankets, towels are an acceptable substitute ‒ the thicker the better.

Going Slowly

Heavy loads are not always easy to control, so take your time. To avoid collisions, you’ll need to maneuver carefully when going down hallways, through doorways, and around tight corners. Don’t rush. If you feel yourself getting tired or frustrated, stop and take a break. Better to spend a few extra minutes than risk damaging your floors or belongings.

Consider Hiring Professionals

While the DIY approach saves money, hiring professional movers saves time and effort. They are not only familiar with safe lifting and carrying techniques, their experience lets them maneuver large objects safely through tight space with relative ease. They’re also equipped with the right tools, enabling them to move furniture without scratching your floors or denting your walls.

North American Moving Services

Whether you have carpet, tile,or hardwood floors, North American’s full-service moving teams use the utmost care when handling your belongings. Our tools, skills, and experience protect your home and furnishings from scrapes, scuffs, and blemishes ‒ ensuring they remain as valuable and attractive as they were when you moved in. Contact us today for a free quote!