How to Disassemble Furniture Before a Move

Sep 21, 2024 | Tips

Trying to pivot and move large furniture yourself can scuff up your floors, scrape the paint off, and leave unsightly dents in your home’s drywall and door frames. Not to mention, it’s highly unlikely you’ll be able to get large pieces through a doorway.

Large furniture usually needs to be disassembled and reassembled in your new home to achieve a successful move without damage to your furniture and home. You could opt for a DIY approach, but working with professional furniture movers who understand how to disassemble, pack, and reassemble furniture makes the process move faster.

However, if you’re on the fence about hiring movers for large furniture, our handy guide will provide the steps for disassembling various types of furniture in your move.

Prepare to Disassemble Furniture

Before assembling, examine your furniture and determine which pieces need to be disassembled. Consider the furniture’s size, complexity, and fragility.

Next, consider doorway sizes, staircases, and the layout of your current home versus your new home. From there, gather all of the necessary tools for disassembly: screwdrivers, Allen wrenches, pliers, ziplock bags, labels, moving blankets, bubble wrap, and packing tape. 

*Pro-Tip: You’ll want to label your ziplock bags for various screws, bolts, and small components to prevent them from getting lost during your move. The last thing you want on your hands is a half-assembled bed you can’t sleep on your first night in a new home.

Disassembling a Bed

Disassemble Bed FrameStart by removing all bedding, including sheets, pillows, and the mattress. Then, detach the headboard and footboard by unscrewing or unclipping any connectors, usually found at the corners where they meet the bed frame.

Next, unscrew the side rails from the frame if applicable, and set them aside. Finally, disassemble the slats or base of the bed, if necessary, by removing any screws or bolts. Don’t forget to keep all hardware organized in a labeled bag to make reassembly easier.

Disassembling a Desk or TableUnscrew Legs of Table

When disassembling a desk or table, begin by clearing off the surface and removing any drawers or accessories. If the desk or table has detachable legs, unscrew them from the frame using a wrench or screwdriver.

For desks with a hutch or shelving unit, detach the components carefully by removing any screws or bolts that connect them to the base. If the tabletop is connected with brackets, unscrew or unclip them to release the top.

Disassemble Dresser

Empty Dresser DrawersStart by removing all items stored inside the dresser drawers.  Next, tape the drawers closed on either side to move the entire dresser easily.

Alternatively, you can remove the drawers from the dresser altogether. If your drawers have stops or tracks, carefully lift or unscrew them to remove each drawer. Next, unscrew any hardware that secures the dresser’s top to the frame, if applicable.

Afterward, detach the legs or base (if applicable, not all dressers have legs) by unscrewing or unbolting from the main structure. If the dresser has a mirror or additional top shelving, unscrew and remove these parts as well.

Disassemble Sofa

First, remove the cushions and any detachable pillows off the couch. Next, check for screws or clips underneath the sofa to detach the legs or base, using a wrench or screwdriver as needed. Sometimes these legs simply screw off on their own without the need for tools.

If the sofa has a reclining mechanism or sectional pieces, separate these components by unlatching or unscrewing the connectors. Some sofas also have removable arms, which can be detached by locating and unscrewing the fasteners beneath the upholstery..

Hire Professional Movers for Furniture Disassembly

If you’re faced with moving oversized furniture, heavy or valuable items, or lack the proper tools, it is in your best interest to hire professional movers. Element Moving & Storage can easily manage the entire process.

From taking furniture inventory to disassembly, packing, and reassembly at your new home, our furniture movers are here to help you move as quickly and as stress-free as possible.

Our movers are professionally trained and have years of experience working with high-end customers throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Choosing our white-glove local moving services guarantees safety, a speedy process, and significantly reduces the stress that typically comes with moving.

Schedule your next move today!