The exact weight of your living room will depend on its size, contents, and the amount of furniture you will be relocating. When hiring professional movers, you may want to attempt to
calculate the weight of your home to get an idea of what your move will cost. Additionally, if you are renting a truck and transporting your own goods, you will need to determine the cubic footage of your possessions to know what size trailer you will need. The following table lists some common items found in a living room, their weight, and size in cubic feet so you can better determine the volume of the belongings you will be transporting for your move.
| Item | Weight (in pounds) | Cubic feet |
|---|
| Flat Screen TV (small) |
35 |
5 |
| Flat Screen TV (medium) |
56 |
8 |
| Flat Screen TV (large) |
140 |
20 |
| Entertainment Center (small) |
210 |
30 |
| Entertainment Center (large) |
420 |
60 |
| TV Stand |
175 |
25 |
| Three-seat sofa |
287 |
41 |
| Four-seat sofa |
350 |
50 |
| Sectional sofa (4-piece) |
1050 |
150 |
| Sectional sofa (5-piece) |
1295 |
185 |
| Loveseat |
224 |
32 |
| Armchair |
105 |
15 |
| Recliner |
105 |
15 |
| Rocker |
84 |
14 |
| Futon |
210 |
30 |
| Coffee table (small) |
70 |
10 |
| Coffee table (large) |
105 |
15 |
| End table |
105 |
15 |
| Ottoman |
35 |
5 |
| Cabinet (small) |
70 |
10 |
| Cabinet (medium) |
140 |
20 |
| Cabinet (large) |
245 |
35 |
| Cabinet (curio) |
70 |
10 |
| Glass cabinet |
140 |
20 |
| Desk (small) |
154 |
22 |
| Desk (large) |
245 |
35 |
| Bookcase (per section) |
140 |
20 |
| Bookshelf (small) |
70 |
10 |
| Stereo |
28 |
4 |
| Speakers (standard) |
35 |
5 |
| Speakers (large) |
70 |
10 |
| Blinds/shades |
21 |
3 |
| Curtains/Rods |
28 |
4 |
| Area rug (small) |
35 |
5 |
| Area rug (large) |
70 |
10 |
| Clock |
35 |
5 |
| Grandfather clock |
140 |
20 |
| Floor lamp |
21 |
3 |
| Table lamp |
14 |
2 |
| Mirror (small) |
21 |
3 |
| Mirror (large) |
49 |
7 |
| Painting (small) |
21 |
3 |
| Painting (large) |
49 |
7 |
| Room divider |
70 |
10 |
| Window AC unit |
40 |
4 |
| Box of books |
14 |
2 |
| Box of CDs |
14 |
2 |
| Box of DVDs |
14 |
2 |
Packing your living room
Packing the sofa
- First, remove the cushions from the sofa to wrap separately.
- Wrap the entire sofa with furniture blankets, taping it securely with packing tape. Never let the tape come in direct contact with the sofa. Make sure to cover any finished wood (such as the legs) as well. Stand the sofa on its ends to make sure the entire piece is wrapped securely.
- Alternatively, you can wrap the entire sofa in microfoam or paper pads, taping everything tightly just as you would do with furniture blankets. Then cover the sofa with shrinkwrap. Remember to never use shrinkwrap directly on the surface of the sofa--it can trap condensation and cause unsightly water damage. It can also cause detrimental damage to a leather sofa if it melts and sticks to the leather. Always use microfoam or paper pads (or both) as a barrier between your sofa and the plastic shrinkwrap.
Packing lamps
- Separate the shade from the lamp. Remove the harp (the metal framework that surrounds the bulb) from the shade.
- Prepare your lamp shade box by filling the bottom with crumpled pieces of packing paper for cushioning.
If you have several lamp shades that can fit into each other, you can stack them inside the box.
- Place the lamp shade(s) inside the box and surround with more packing paper until it is snug. This will keep the shades stationary during transit. Seal the box with tape.
- Wrap the harp by lying it near the end of a sheet of packing paper and rolling it forward until it is completely wrapped.
- Wrap the body of the lamp with corrugated paper or paper pads. Lie it on the edge of a sheet with the cord away from the lamp. Wrap the lamp until it is completely covered, and then tuck the cord inside the package and continue wrapping. This will keep the cord separate from the lamp's surface and prevent any scratching. Tape the paper in place.
- Pack the lamp inside a box just slightly larger than the lamp. Fill the box with crumpled packing paper for cushioning, making sure there is no extra space for the lamp to rattle around. Tape the box securely and mark it "Fragile" with arrows indicating which direction the box should be carried and set down.
Packing CDs and DVDs
- Pack CDs and DVDs in small (two-cubic-foot) cartons. If you pack them in larger boxes, they will be too heavy to carry and could collapse through the bottom.
- Stack them in rows at the bottom of the box, as you would on a shelf. Place a sheet of packing paper over the stacks and begin another row on top.
- Stack extra DVDs and CDs flat on the top to use up extra space.
- Lie one last sheet of paper over the top before sealing the box securely with tape. Mark the box with its contents and destination.
Packing electronics
- Remove any disks from the inside of CD and DVD players or computers. Turn the items off and remove the wires. Label them by the piece they belong to and bundle them with tape.
- Electronics should be packed in their original packaging if possible--if not, use a box just slightly larger than the item to keep it stationary.
- Wrap the item with paper pads and tape it securely. Prepare the bottom of the box with crumpled packing paper for cushioning. Set the wrapped electronic item inside the box, and fill the sides and the top with more paper. Once it is snug and unable to shift inside of the box, tape it securely and mark "Fragile".
Packing pictures and mirrors
- Lie your picture or mirror face-down on a stack of packing paper. Wrap the frame completely, and tape securely.
- If especially delicate, you may opt to wrap it again with bubble wrap.
- For optimum protection, you should purchase a mirror box to transport your pictures and mirrors. A mirror box is a specialty carton that comes in two pieces which fit around the frame of a mirror, painting, or print.
- Prepare the mirror box by filling the bottom of one half with some crumpled paper for cushioning. Slide your frame inside, continuing to insert paper around the corners and frame for protection.
- Take the second part of the box and slide it over the top of the frame, fitting it into the bottom half of the box snugly. Tape the two pieces of the box together securely with packing tape. Label the box "Fragile".
Packing books
- Pack books in small (two-cubic-foot) cartons. If you pack them in larger boxes, they will be too heavy to carry and could collapse through the bottom. Tape the bottom of the box for reinforcement.
- You can pack books inside the box one of three ways: standing up, spines up, or stacked flat. If you pack them standing up, keep the open part of the book facing the wall of the box, keeping the books spine-to-spine.
- Wrap any books that are especially valuable or sentimental in packing paper before placing them inside the box.
- Extra books can be laid flat on top of the rows if space allows. Fill in any additional space with crumpled packing paper to ensure the books remain stationary during transit.
- Tape your box securely and label it with the contents and destination.
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