How to Move a Recliner Sofa

Written By
Quinn Marshall
Quinn Marshall
Published: Sep 25, 2011
Updated: Nov 20, 2021
2 minute read

Step 1

Close the sofa's footrest so the reclining parts are in their normal upright positions.

Step 2

Measure any doorways the sofa will pass through to ensure it fits. If the couch is wider than the doorway, choose a different route.

Step 3

Remove the cushions before moving the couch to lighten the load and avoid potentially tripping over them if they fall off.

Step 4

Slide a ratchet strap under the couch below the reclining part of the couch. Grasp the end of the strap and wrap it up over the back of the sofa toward the front. Feed the strap into the ratchet part of the strap, then pump the ratchet to tighten it. This holds the recliner in the upright position, keeping the footrest from popping out while the sofa is being moved.

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Step 5

Push the sofa if you're moving it from one side of a room to the other. Push one end first, then the other, alternating until the sofa is in its new position.

Step 6

Carry the couch if it needs to be loaded in a truck, moved around a corner or up a flight of steps. Bend your knees and grasp the bottom of the couch, lifting it as you stand. Have a helper lift the other end of the couch.

Step 7

Carry the sofa facing right-side up if there's room; otherwise, turn the couch on its side and carry it so the back of the couch faces the floor. The person facing forward should guide the person who's walking backward, advising him of potential obstacles and approaching corners.

Step 8

Set the sofa down in its new location. Release the ratchet and unwind the strap, then remove the strap.

Tips

Remove the sofa's feet if possible, which may be necessary for it to fit through doorways and narrow passageways.

Quinn Marshall

Based in New England, Quinn Marshall began her writing career in 2004. She was a featured writer for Laptop Logic and contributes to publications such as "Smashing Magazine."

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