Updated : September 15, 2025
Published : August 12, 2025
Guides

There are few things more frustrating than buying a beautiful sofa, only to discover it won’t make it past the front door. Narrow hallways, tight staircases, Victorian terrace proportions - London and other UK homes weren’t exactly designed with oversized furniture in mind. The result? Scuffed walls, strained backs, and sometimes the heartbreak of returning a piece you love.

It doesn’t have to be this way. With the right preparation - and an understanding of how modern furniture (like Furl’s) is designed with these challenges in mind - you can move a sofa through even the trickiest of spaces without drama.

Step 1: Measure Before You Move

It sounds obvious, but most sofa mishaps happen because people skip this stage. Measure your sofa’s height, width, and depth, then compare it to the door frame (both the width and the diagonal clearance). Remember to check every point of access: front door, stairwell, hallway corners, internal doors.

A quick calculation of the diagonal height of the sofa (from back corner to front edge) against the doorway diagonal is particularly useful. If the sofa’s diagonal is shorter, it can be tilted through.

Step 2: Plan the Route

Before you lift a finger, walk the route. Are there banisters that can’t be removed? Radiators sticking out at awkward angles? Low ceilings? Identifying these now will save a lot of mid-move improvisation.

Pro tip: Remove rugs, shoe racks, and anything else that narrows the pathway. Even small obstacles become a hazard when you’re carrying weighty furniture.

Step 3: Protect Your Home (and Your Sofa)

It’s not just about fitting the sofa through the door - it’s about doing it without leaving a trail of damage.

Wrap the sofa edges with blankets or protective wrap.

Tape down cardboard around sharp corners of walls.

Wear grippy gloves to avoid slips.

A little padding can save hours of paint touch-ups later.

Step 4: Tilt and Pivot

Yes, pivot - and we’re sure you’re also picturing the iconic Ross Geller scene from Friends! Here’s where the geometry matters. Most sofas won’t glide straight through. Instead, they need to be angled. The trick is usually to tilt the sofa on its end, push the top corner through the doorway, and then rotate the bottom in after.

For longer pieces, the “hook and pivot” method is best: feed one end through the doorway diagonally, then swing the rest around. This often works even when the measurements feel impossibly tight.

Step 4: Tilt and Pivot

For longer pieces, the “hook and pivot” method is best: feed one end through the doorway diagonally, then swing the rest around. This often works even when the measurements feel impossibly tight.

Step 5: Remove What You Can

Check if the legs unscrew, if cushions are detachable, or if arms can be loosened. Even a few centimetres less depth can make the difference between stuck and seamless.

At Furl, we design with this in mind. Our sofas and sofa beds are delivered in individual sections - meaning you never face the nightmare of a frame too wide for your staircase. Each part is carried in easily, then assembled in your room by our professional team. It’s a design choice born of experience: we’ve yet to meet a London stairwell we couldn’t handle.

Step 6: Ask for Help

Moving a sofa is rarely a solo activity. Two people at minimum, ideally three if stairs are involved. Communicate constantly - one person should take the lead in giving directions so everyone moves in sync.

If you’re worried about access or weight, remember that professional delivery services do this daily. Furl’s own installation teams don’t just deliver; they assemble on-site and guarantee a perfect fit.

Step 7: Know When to Rethink

Sometimes, no amount of pivoting will make a traditional sofa fit. That’s when you consider smarter alternatives. A sofa bed, for example, offers compact seating with sleep options, giving you versatility without dominating the room - browse Furl’s sofa beds here to find your perfect match.

And if you’re unsure whether your chosen design will fit, we’ve created a guide on how to know if your sofa bed will fit, breaking down all the essential measurements and access considerations before you buy.

Step 8: Get The Timing Right

Another overlooked detail is timing. Attempting to manoeuvre a heavy sofa through a narrow entrance at the end of a long day is a recipe for stress. Choose a quiet morning or weekend slot, when you and your helpers aren’t rushed, and the building itself is calmer - fewer neighbours using communal hallways, less traffic blocking your entryway.

Giving yourself unhurried time to angle, pivot, and pause when needed can be the difference between a smooth installation and a frantic wrestle with walls and doorframes.

Final Thoughts

Getting a sofa through a door doesn’t have to end in frustration. With preparation, protection, and a little geometry, most homes can accommodate more than you think. And if you’d rather not take the risk, choosing a brand like us at Furl - where delivery in sections and professional assembly are standard - means peace of mind is built into the purchase.