How to Move Ikea Furniture

Moving Ikea furniture can be a challenging but manageable task with the right approach. These pieces are designed with versatility and affordability in mind, often featuring modular designs and lightweight materials.

However, their assembly and disassembly require careful handling to prevent damage. Whether you’re relocating an entire home or simply rearranging a room, this guide will provide you with how to move ikea furniture safely and efficiently.

Benefits of Properly Moving Ikea Furniture

Properly moving Ikea furniture comes with several advantages that can save you time, money, and stress. By handling these pieces with care, you can avoid unnecessary damage, preserving both their functionality and aesthetic appeal. This means you’ll likely save on repair or replacement costs in the long run.

Additionally, correctly disassembling and reassembling your Ikea furniture makes the moving process more efficient, as it allows for easier transport and prevents structural strain. Finally, proper handling ensures that the furniture retains its stability and durability, so you can continue enjoying it in its new location for years to come.

10 Methods How to Move Ikea Furniture

1. Disassemble the Furniture

One of the most important steps in moving Ikea furniture is disassembling it. While it might seem easier to move the furniture as-is, dismantling it makes it much more manageable and reduces the risk of damage. Most Ikea furniture is designed for easy disassembly, with screws, bolts, and dowels holding the components together.

Start by removing any shelves, drawers, or smaller parts. For larger pieces like bookshelves or wardrobes, unscrew the legs, shelves, and doors. Keep all screws and small components in labeled plastic bags so they don’t get lost. Disassembling not only makes the pieces more compact but also helps prevent stress on the furniture joints during the move.

2. Use Proper Packing Materials

Proper packing materials are key to protecting your Ikea furniture during a move. Once disassembled, wrap each piece in protective material to prevent scratches, dings, or dents. For larger surfaces, use moving blankets or padded furniture covers to shield the furniture from damage.

For smaller, more fragile parts like glass shelves or mirrors, use bubble wrap or foam padding. If you have the original boxes or packaging materials, they can be incredibly helpful for securely packing the furniture. For any missing packaging, sturdy cardboard can be used to reinforce the furniture’s protection during transport.

3. Label and Organize Parts

After disassembling your Ikea furniture, it’s essential to keep track of all the pieces. Label each part—such as screws, bolts, and panels—on a piece of masking tape or with small bags marked with corresponding names or numbers.

This step will make the reassembly process significantly easier, as you won’t have to sort through piles of parts and risk mixing up important components. Also, keep the instructions handy or take pictures of the furniture before disassembling it so you can easily refer to them during reassembly.

4. Measure Your Space and Pathway

Before moving Ikea furniture, ensure that it will fit through the doors, hallways, and elevators. Measure the dimensions of both the furniture and the spaces it will need to pass through. Some Ikea pieces, like large cabinets or sectional sofas, can be surprisingly wide or tall, making it difficult to move them through tight areas.

If possible, disassemble even larger pieces into smaller sections to make them easier to maneuver. Check if there are any obstacles like doorframes, banisters, or sharp turns that could impede the process. This proactive step will save you time and frustration during the actual move.

5. Use the Right Moving Equipment

Transporting Ikea furniture requires the right equipment to ensure that it moves smoothly and without damage. For larger items like bookshelves or wardrobes, you will need a dolly or furniture cart. These tools allow you to easily roll heavy pieces, reducing the risk of dropping or damaging them.

For smaller items or individual pieces, a hand truck or a set of moving straps can help you lift and move them more comfortably. Moving straps are particularly useful for heavier pieces, as they help distribute the weight and make lifting easier with the help of a second person.

6. Enlist Help

Ikea furniture, especially larger pieces, can be quite heavy and cumbersome to move on your own. Enlisting the help of a friend, family member, or professional movers is highly recommended, especially if you’re handling bulky furniture like a king-sized bed frame or large dining table.

Having an extra set of hands can significantly speed up the process and ensure that the furniture is safely lifted, loaded, and unloaded without injury or damage. Be sure to communicate and plan with your helper about the best lifting techniques to avoid strain or accidents during the move.

7. Protect Your Floors

When moving Ikea furniture, it’s important to protect your floors, both in your current home and your destination. Sliding heavy furniture pieces across hard floors or carpets can cause scratches or dents. To prevent damage, lay down floor protectors, moving pads, or old towels beneath the furniture.

If you’re using a dolly or furniture cart, ensure that it has rubberized wheels to minimize the risk of damaging your floors. Taking the time to protect both your furniture and your floors will save you from costly repairs and ensure everything remains in pristine condition.

8. Load Furniture Carefully in the Moving Vehicle

When loading your Ikea furniture into the moving vehicle, make sure to do so carefully and methodically. Begin by placing the heaviest and largest pieces in the vehicle first, such as cabinets or large bookshelves, ensuring that they’re secured upright to prevent shifting during transport.

Use moving straps to fasten the furniture to the walls or sides of the truck. For smaller parts or pieces, place them securely between the larger items, using any remaining space efficiently. Be mindful of the weight distribution in the vehicle, as improperly loaded furniture can cause damage or shifting during transit.

9. Take Extra Care with Fragile Parts

Certain Ikea furniture pieces, such as glass tabletops, mirrors, or delicate components, require special attention during the move. Wrap these parts in several layers of bubble wrap or thick blankets to ensure they are well-protected. If possible, pack them separately to avoid pressure or impact from heavier items.

For glass surfaces, it’s a good idea to place them upright in the moving vehicle, just as they would be if they were a framed picture or mirror. This positioning minimizes the risk of cracking or breaking during the move.

10. Reassemble the Furniture at the New Location

Once you’ve successfully transported your Ikea furniture to its new location, the next step is reassembling it. Start by organizing the parts according to the labels and instructions you kept during disassembly. Lay out all the components on a clean, flat surface to ensure you have everything you need.

Follow the original assembly instructions carefully, tightening screws and bolts securely but without overtightening, as this could cause the wood or panels to crack. If you’re having difficulty, take breaks and tackle the reassembly in manageable steps to avoid frustration. If you had to disassemble larger items, such as a bed frame or sofa, be sure to check for any additional components or tools required for the reassembly before starting.

Things to Consider When Moving Ikea Furniture

When moving Ikea furniture, there are several factors you should keep in mind to ensure a smooth and stress-free experience. First, consider the age and condition of your furniture. Older pieces may not endure repeated disassembly and reassembly well, as wear and tear can weaken the structural integrity of the joints or fasteners.

Next, think about the weight and size of each piece before deciding whether to move it fully assembled or disassembled. Transporting heavy or bulky furniture intact can be risky and inconvenient, but too much disassembly can increase time and effort. Lastly, evaluate the tools and equipment you have on hand.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Moving Ikea furniture can be challenging, and avoiding common mistakes is key to ensuring a smooth process. One frequent mistake is failing to label parts and hardware during disassembly. Without clear labels, reassembly at your new location can become confusing and time-consuming.

Another common error is over-tightening screws and bolts, which may damage the furniture’s structural integrity or cause cracking in particleboard or wood components.

Additionally, neglecting to secure furniture properly in the moving vehicle can result in items shifting or breaking during transit. Using insufficient protective material, such as skipping bubble wrap or blankets for fragile parts, also increases the risk of damage.

Conclusion

Moving Ikea furniture can be a daunting task, but with proper planning, the right tools, and careful execution, the process can be significantly smoother and stress-free. By taking the time to disassemble, protect, and label each piece, you can ensure a safe and efficient move while minimizing the risk of damage.

Remember to enlist help when needed, safeguard delicate components, and protect both your floors and furniture throughout the move. Thanks for reading our blog post on how to move ikea furniture! We hope you found it helpful and informative.