How to Move a Bed to Your New Home
With moving day fast approaching, you'll want to start planning and preparing everything in advance even down to how you’re going to move and pack your bed. It is one of the biggest and most awkward items you will need to move to your new home so it's vital you plan your next steps carefully.
Moving your bed and mattress may seem like a difficult task and one many people will want to put off until the last minute. But with proper planning and preparation, it doesn't have to be hard. If you're not getting help from a removal company, you will need to learn how to dismantle your bed and pack it up safely.
Compare My Move has created the ultimate step by step guide on how to move and pack your bed in 4 simple steps, from how to pack your mattress to how to dismantle your bed frame.
What to Know Before Moving the Bed
Before you can begin moving the bed, you need to determine its size. King-size beds are often easier to move than queen-size beds as the box spring in king-size beds are usually divided in two. The mattress will often be split also, whilst the queen-size mattresses will not making them difficult to manoeuvre.
If you're moving the bed without the aid of a removal company, you may need:
- Mattress bags
- Bubble wrap and strong tape
- A screwdriver or wrench
- Plastic bags to keep the bed's nuts and bolts
- Moving straps
- A Rented dolly
- An appropriately sized van
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How to Move a Bed in 4 Steps
Moving a bed without the help of a removal company doesn't have to be difficult. Follow these 4 simple steps to avoid any damage to your bed frame and the dismantled parts.
- Step One - Pack the mattress
- Step Two - Dismantle the bed
- Step Three - Pack the bed
- Step Four - Move the bed
We'll continue to break down each of the steps shown above to give you a detailed step by step guide on how to move your bed.
1. Packing The Mattress
To start moving your bed, first start by packing away your bedding. You'll want to carefully handle your mattress as it could easily get damaged during the process. Use a protective cover to wrap around your mattress to avoid any damage from other items that'll be surrounding it.
Most removal companies will offer a mattress protector with their packing service, but you can easily do it yourself with items you already have in your house. If you don’t have a mattress protector, then wrap your mattress in old bedsheets or table covers and secure it with tape. An extra layer of plastic sheeting will also act as extra protection. A useful moving house tip is to use a fitted sheet on both sides of the mattress as a first layer.
Avoid bending the mattress to fit into a protective cover, it will damage the springs and affect the shape. A moving checklist will help you stick to a structured plan for your move.
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2. Dismantling The Bed Frame
Most removal companies will offer a dismantle service for furniture including beds, but if you’re keeping the costs down then you can do this yourself. It's worth checking the cost when requesting removal quotes just so you know how to plan your house move. If you have the original instructions that came with your bed, then follow them.
To dismantle your bed, unscrew the legs, footboard and headboard and place all the screws, nuts and bolts into a plastic bag. Attach this bag to the bed so you don't misplace it.
Finally, with tape, attach the screws in their bag onto the leg or part that they belong to. By taking the time to do this, it will reduce any moving house stress by making the reassembling process of the bed easier and more efficient. It'll also be useful to take pictures of where each part will go to help the reassembly process be as simple as possible.
3. Packing The Bed
Once you’ve dismantled the bed frame, make note of where all the parts and screws go and keep them attached to the bed in the removal van. This will make the task of assembling your bed simple. Next, you'll need to carefully pack each part of the dismantled bed. Start by wrapping each part in old sheets or protective covers. To fully protect the bed parts, wrap each item in bubble wrap and extra protective covers.
If your bed is wooden, don't wrap the parts in bubble wrap. Only use bubble wrap after it's been covered in protective sheets as any sort of plastic wrap will cause damage to the surface of the wood. After packing, you should label the boxes so it's easier when it comes to unpacking.
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4. Moving The Bed
Your bed will be easier to move once it's been dismantled and packed. But in some circumstances, it may be difficult to move out of the room and down the stairs. Give the removal company plenty of notice if you know it will be a tricky process to move your bed. They are trained professionals and have vital experience in moving awkward items.
Prepare as well as you can to give the removal company easy access to the bed and its parts on moving day. This will be easier as you'll have decluttered and packed everything already. If you're not paying for a packing service and it's safe to do so, carefully move the bed parts one by one down the stairs so it's all ready for moving day.
Be sure to label the wooden parts of your bed so the removal company know not to stack anything on top that could damage it.
For more information on moving heavy items of furniture read: The Do's and Don'ts of Moving Heavy Furniture
How to Move an Ottoman Bed
Ottoman beds have a lot more storage than traditional beds, making the moving process slightly different. When decluttering and cleaning the property, you should also empty your ottoman bed so that it's ready to be moved. Ottoman beds also come in a variety of styles and base types, so it's important you research and inspect the frame before you begin taking it apart.
Before you can begin dismantling the frame of an ottoman bed, you will need to remove the slats. Once this is done, you can remove the hinges as well and begin dismantling.
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Can Removal Companies Move Beds?
Most reputable removal companies will have experience moving a variety of large and awkward items such as beds. Hiring a moving company may cost more but it will make the process much more efficient and safe as they will have the correct equipment to protect your items. They should also have the correct size van to ensure the bed isn't damaged during transit.
Compare My Move partners must go through a strict verification process before joining the network. This means they will have the relevant insurance and experience required to help move difficult items such as beds and other large items of furniture.
Save Money and Time on Your Move
Now that you know how to save time and money by packing and moving your bed yourself, why not save on your home removal costs too? We'll connect you with up to 6 removal companies in your area and save you up to 70% on the cost along the way.
