You love your oversized, comfy sofa and plan to take it with you when you move out, but let’s face it: There’s no way it’s going to fit through the doorway of your apartment or in the elevator.
Remember the classic scene from the TV show “Friends,” where Ross kept urging everyone to “Pivot!” so they could cram the couch in? Well, if you know that’s not going to work, you’re going to have to figure out how to take apart your sofa for moving. Here’s what to do.
1. Do the prep work
Your sofa was probably delivered to your apartment in several pieces because that’s the easiest way to move it. Depending on its construction, sofas are fairly easy to dismantle. Because you’ll be reassembling it in your new place, be careful during each step. Take photos or draw a diagram of the sofa, and take notes when you remove any screws or bolts so it will be simpler to put it back together.
While every piece of furniture is different, you’ll probably need some or most of these tools before you begin:
- A flathead and Phillips head screwdriver
- An Allen key or wrench
- A staple puller
- Pliers
- A hammer with a claw to remove nails
Now that you. have your tools in hand, let’s start the dismantling.
2. Take off the cushions
If your sofa has removable back and cushions, remove them. Pack up the sofa cushions and small throw pillows into plastic garbage bags and label them so they don’t get thrown away accidentally.
3. Remove the legs
Most sofa legs unscrew for removal, but some might require removing the screws holding the legs to the frame. Measure your doorway and elevator again — you might be able to fit your sofa in now that the legs are off.
4. Still too big? Remove the arms of the sofa
The sofa upholstery is usually fastened with staples. With the staple puller or a flathead screwdriver, pull out the staples holding the upholstery underneath the sofa. Once you expose the sofa frame, remove the staples holding the upholstery on the arms. Roll up the fabric until you can see where the arms attach to the base of the sofa. Remove the screws or bolts — there are usually two on each side. Take off the arms, leaving the upholstery intact.
5. Take off the back of the sofa if necessary
If you still can’t fit the sofa through the door after you remove the arms, follow the same procedure to separate the back from the seat. Be careful whenever you reach into the sofa because the brackets might have sharp edges. Once you’ve removed all the screws — there are usually about six, tilt the sofa upside down onto its front. The back will come right off.
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6. If you’re moving a sofa bed, there’s more to do
Not only are sofa beds way heavier than regular sofas, but they’re more complicated to disassemble. You might want to check on the manufacturer’s website for instructions because the fold-out frames are often spring-loaded, which could be dangerous if you’re not careful.
Generally, you can remove the mattress and unscrew the hinge arms that fasten the bed part to the sofa’s frame.
7. Taking apart a sectional or U-shaped sofa
Sectional and u-shaped sofas are usually made up of three to five parts. If the modules connect with clasps, remove each one. For sofas that snap together, remove the male pieces — the ones you insert into the snap. For clasp technology sectionals, carefully remove each piece. If the pieces are still too big, remove the feet.
Tips for moving a sofa
Even after you decide how to take apart a sofa for moving, you’ll still have to do the heavy lifting. Here are some best practices:
- Measure your sofa and the doorways and elevator door twice to make sure it will fit
- Wrap it with moving blankets or plastic wrap to protect it during the move
- Lift slowly with your legs — not your back — and squat instead of bending at the waist to prevent injury
Once you’ve got it moved to your new space, work backwards carefully to put your sofa back together.
Leave yourself enough time for the job
Too often, tenants wait until moving day before discovering they need to take apart their sofa. It’s best to take measurements in advance, because it can take anywhere from 30 minutes to a few hours to disassemble a sofa, depending on its construction.
You won’t want to add to the stress of moving day by taking on this task while your belongings are being loaded into the truck, trust us. And you’ll want to take things slowly, so you don’t damage any of the components. After all, you’ll want it to look fantastic in your new apartment!
