Moving can be stressful, especially when disassembling furniture pieces. But don’t worry! This guide will provide helpful tips and tricks to make the process easier and save money on moving costs. We’ll walk you through the steps, answer your questions, and even advise you when it might be better to seek professional help.

Taking apart your furniture yourself is a great way to save money, especially if you’re hiring a moving company. With the right guidance, you can disassemble even the most complicated pieces without damaging them. Let’s get started!

Why Disassemble Furniture?

When you move, it’s a good time to eliminate things you no longer need. Disassembled furniture takes up less space and is safer to transport. Moving through tight spaces is easier and less likely to get damaged.

We can help you declutter and get rid of things responsibly. Instead of keeping unwanted furniture that won’t fit or look good in your new home, let us help you donate or dispose of it. This will make your move smoother and help your new home look great.

Benefits of Disassembling Furniture

• Easier to move: Disassembled furniture is easier to move through tight spaces.
• Less damage: Smaller pieces are less likely to get damaged while moving.
• More space: Disassembled furniture takes up less space in the moving truck, which can save money.
• Safer: Handling smaller pieces is less risky for you and the movers.

Disassembling Furniture: A Guide

Every piece of furniture has a story to tell, from old family heirlooms to new modern pieces. It’s important to appreciate each piece for what it is.

Don’t underestimate how long it will take to disassemble furniture. Smaller items might take 30 minutes, but bigger, more complicated ones could take several hours. It’s better to take your time and do it right than to rush and damage your furniture.

Before we tell you how to take apart big furniture, you should do a few things to get ready.

Step 1. Determine if Moving Your Large Furniture Is Worthwhile

Before you decide whether to disassemble furniture, decide first if you want to bring it in the first place.

Moving furniture to your new home will cost a lot because it’s heavy. Movers charge based on the weight of your stuff.

Moving heavy furniture costs money, time, and energy. It’s often cheaper and easier to buy new furniture than to move old stuff across the country.

Step 2. Use a Moving Checklist for Planning

It’s important to plan ahead before you start furniture disassembly. Moving a home or office is different, so make a moving house checklist that is appropriate for you.

If you’re moving home, consider big items like sofas, beds, and dining tables. These are often special items. Make a list of everything you want to move and note which furniture needs disassembly.

If you’re moving an office, consider desks, chairs, tables, cubicles, and filing cabinets. Some might have electronics or special features. Make a separate list for these items, and be careful when disassembling furniture that has any sensitive office equipment.

By making a checklist that’s right for your move, you’ll ensure you don’t forget anything and know how much work you have to do. Remember, every item, whether from your home or office, needs special care when being taken apart.

Step 3. Study the Components and Assembly of Your Furniture

Before you dismantle furniture, learn about the materials and how they are made. For example, different fabrics need different care. Leather can get scratched, and some wood might break if you’re not careful. Always check the instructions that come with the furniture. If you lost them, you can usually find them online.

Step 4. Assess the Fit of Furniture Through Doorways

Not all things need furniture disassembly. If it can fit through doors, hallways, corners, and stairs, you can leave it assembled and pack it for the move well.

To determine whether you need to disassemble furniture, measure doors and hallways first, then the furniture. Compare the numbers to see if anything won’t fit.

If some big things don’t fit, you’ll need to take them apart, either a little or all the way.

Step 5. Take Pictures and Write Notes to Remember the Process

Before you dismantle furniture, take pictures and notes. This will help you remember how everything goes back together. Pay attention to hinges, screws, and how different parts connect.

Step 6. Get Help From a Friend

Don’t try to take apart big, heavy furniture alone. It’s dangerous, and some parts need two people to do it safely.

Furniture disassembly will also take a long time to do it by yourself.

Ask someone you trust for help. They could be a family member, friend, neighbour, or coworker. You need at least one other person, but more would be even better.

Step 7. Get the Instructions

It’s helpful to have instructions before you disassemble furniture. This is especially true for big things like china cabinets, armoires, or shelving units.

You might think you can do it without instructions, but some furniture needs to be taken apart in a specific order. So, it’s always better to have the instructions.

You can usually find them online if you don’t have a physical copy. If not, try contacting furniture stores in your area.

Remember that furniture disassembly instructions are usually just the assembly instructions done in reverse.

Step 8. Ensure a Safe Working Environment

Furniture disassembly isn’t just about being fast; it’s also about being safe. Make sure you have good lighting. Don’t rush, as accidents can happen quickly. Wear gloves to protect your hands from splinters or sharp edges. If you’re working with glass, wear safety glasses.

Make sure you have enough space to work. Clear the area around the furniture and have a clean, flat surface to lay out the parts.

Step 9. Check That You Have All the Necessary Tools

To save time, get the right tools before you dismantle furniture.

Most furniture is put together with screws, bolts, and nuts. You’ll need a full set of screwdrivers and wrenches because the screws, bolts, and nuts are different sizes.

A small hammer can also be helpful, but be careful not to damage your furniture.

For some furniture, you might need special tools. Check the instruction manual to find out.

You might need:

• a hammer
• pliers
• wrenches
• spanners
• Allen keys
• screwdrivers or a drill
• a rubber mallet

To keep track of small parts, use a Sharpie and Ziplock bags. For labels, use painter’s tape.

Important: If some furniture is glued or nailed together, don’t try to take it apart yourself. Some movers won’t help with this because it’s too risky.

Step 10. Prepare Enough Ziploc Bags to Store HardwareUse resealable bags to keep small parts from getting lost.

Before you disassemble furniture, get several resealable plastic bags to keep small parts and fasteners safe.

As you dismantle furniture, put all screws, bolts, nuts, washers, dowels, and other small fasteners into Ziploc bags so they don’t get lost. Label the bags and tape them to the furniture they came from.

You don’t want to get to your new home and find out that you lost important screws, bolts, or nuts. If you did, buying replacements and putting your furniture back together would take a long time.

Disassembling Furniture for Moving: A Guide

Before you dismantle furniture, understand why it’s necessary. This will help you make the right decisions.

Big furniture doesn’t fit through small doors, hallways, or stairs. You need to move it in pieces and then put it back together in the rooms they belong to.

The best way to move big furniture is to take it apart first. This way, you won’t damage floors, walls, or door frames. Disassembled furniture is also lighter and easier to carry, making you less likely to get hurt.

So, how to disassemble furniture for a move?

How to Disassemble Furniture: BED

• Take the bedding off the bed and pack it separately.
• Take out the mattress and put it in a special mattress bag.
• Remove any drawers and pack their stuff separately.
• Unscrew the headboard and sideboards.
• Take apart the main bed frame as much as possible.
• Follow the bed assembly instructions in reverse order.
• Wrap the big bed parts, including drawers, in blankets.
• Wrap fragile items in bubble wrap.
• Put small hardware pieces in Ziploc bags and label them.

How to Disassemble Furniture: WARDROBE / DRESSER

• Taking apart your wardrobe might be harder than you think.
• Empty all drawers and cabinets and pack your clothes. Remove all clothes hangers and pack them in a moving box.
• Take out the drawers to make it lighter and easier to move. Pack the drawers separately. Take out all the shelves if you can.
• Remove any glass parts, like doors or shelves, using the right screwdriver. Wrap them in packing materials such packing paper and then bubble wrap.
• Remove all doors by unscrewing the hinges.
• Pack all the parts in moving blankets to keep them safe.
• Put small hardware pieces in a resealable plastic bag.

How to Disassemble Furniture: SOFA / COUCH

• Take off anything on your couch, like cushions, covers, or stuffed animals.
• Take off the legs by unscrewing the screws or turning them counterclockwise.
• Remove the armrests if possible to make moving the couch through doors easier.
• Take apart any other parts that can be safely removed. Check the instructions for details.
• Keep all fasteners, metal or not, in resealable plastic bags to prevent losing them.
• Wrap the legs and armrests in furniture blankets to keep them safe.

How to Disassemble Furniture: CHINA CABINET

• Empty your china cabinet. Don’t leave anything delicate inside because it won’t survive the move.
• Take out any drawers and pack them separately.
• Remove the glass doors by unscrewing the hinges.
• Take out the glass shelves one by one, carefully and without sudden movements. You might need to use different angles.
• If your china cabinet has two parts, separate them. This will make it easier to carry and move safely.
• Pack the glass parts in packing paper, bubble wrap, and furniture blankets.
• Keep small hardware pieces in Ziploc bags so they don’t get lost.

How to Disassemble Furniture: DESK

• Your desk is ready to be taken apart.
• Take out all the drawers to make it lighter. You can stretch-wrap the drawers with their stuff inside to save time.
• Take out any detachable trays, like a keyboard tray.
• Unscrew and remove any legs. Some desks have long legs, while others might not have any.
• Remove any glass parts, like a glass top. Pack them separately, first in packing paper, then in bubble wrap.
• If you have an L-shaped desk, separate the two parts by removing the metal fasteners that hold them together.
• Put all small parts in plastic bags that seal well to avoid losing them.

How to Disassemble Furniture: DINING ROOM TABLE

• Take off the glass or marble top from your dining room table. Pack the tops carefully in thick moving blankets.
• Take off the legs. Turn the table upside down and unbolt or unscrew the legs. Pack the legs in bubble wrap.
• Put the table sides down and secure them with masking tape if you have a drop-side table.
• Remove the extra centrepiece if you have an extendable table. Pack the extension separately.
• Put all removed hardware pieces in a plastic bag and tape it to the underside of the table.

Putting Furniture Back Together

When putting furniture back together, the best thing to do is look at the instructions that come with it. If you don’t have the instructions, here are some tips:

• Label zip bags: Put hardware, like screws, bolts, and other parts, in resealable bags. Label the bags based on the furniture to which they belong. This will make it easy to find the right hardware for each piece.
• Document the disassembly: If you don’t have the instructions or want extra help, take pictures or videos when you take apart the furniture. These can be very helpful when you put it back together.
• Don’t rush: Moving day can be stressful, so putting furniture back together when you’re rested is best. Start with the furniture you need most and follow the instructions in your manuals or videos.

If you’re patient, you’ll quickly return your furniture to how it was.

Do Movers Need Furniture Disassembled?

If you’re asking questions like, “Do removalists dismantle beds?” or “Do removalists dismantle furniture?”, then the answer is yes.

Whether you need to disassemble your furniture before moving depends on the moving service you choose. Full-service moving companies typically handle this task, while basic services require you to do it yourself.

At The Smooth Movers, we offer a comprehensive moving service that includes furniture disassembly. Our team will carefully disassemble beds, cribs, dining tables, buffets, and other pieces, pack them securely, and load them onto the moving truck. Hiring a professional moving company can significantly simplify your move but may incur additional moving costs.

While disassembling furniture can save money, carefully evaluate the costs and benefits. Some moving companies charge extra for this service, so the savings may vary depending on the complexity of your furniture. You could potentially save around $25 to $50 per hour for simpler items like bookshelves or desks. Ultimately, the decision should be based on your furniture, budget, and personal comfort level.

Keeping Children and Pets Safe While Disassembling Furniture

Safety is very important when disassembling furniture, especially if you have children or when you moving with pets. Planning is a good idea to keep everyone safe.

Consider sending your kids to play with friends or setting up a safe area where they can play and stay entertained while you work on the furniture. This will help reduce stress and create a safer environment for everyone during the moving process.

Caring for Furniture After a Move

After you put your furniture back together, take care of it. Check and tighten any loose bolts or fasteners.

Polish and clean your furniture to make it look good. This will help it look its best in your new home and improve the overall appearance of your space.

Storing Disassembled Furniture

Disassembling furniture can be a good way to save space when storing it. Make sure the storage area is dry to prevent moisture damage and use pest repellents to protect your furniture.

If you run out of space, you can rent one of our self-storage units. This will give you more space and added security for your belongings.

Efficiently Move Your Furniture With Professional Help

Moving companies offer to disassemble and reassemble furniture as an additional service, which incurs extra costs. During the in-home estimate, let your movers know which furniture you want them to move so they can determine if furniture disassembly is necessary.

Disassembling and reassembling furniture is crucial for a safe move. By following this guide and considering the challenges of moving to Australian cities, you can simplify your move and reduce stress.

Hiring professional movers like The Smooth Movers can save you time and energy. We have the expertise, tools, and dedication to customer satisfaction to ensure your furniture is handled carefully.

Contact The Smooth Movers today to learn more about our moving services and how we can assist you with your upcoming house and office move. Let us alleviate the stress of moving and guarantee your furniture’s safe disassembly, transportation, and reassembly in your new home or office.