A DIY Furniture Dolly Makes Redecorating A Total Breeze

If you've ever tried to move a couch on your own or looked into other ways to make moving your bulky furniture easier, you know your back thanks you for an ancient yet simple concept: the wheel. That's the key element in a furniture dolly, a wheeled platform that makes it a lot easier to move your furniture around when you decide to redecorate or rearrange. While you can purchase a premade furniture dolly or rent one from a moving company, you can also make your own using some scrap wood, plus wheels, glue, and screws.

Before you start building, there are a few things to keep in mind. When you purchase a furniture dolly, you know what weight it's rated to handle, which can range from a few hundred pounds to over 1,000 pounds. For your DIY, you want to consider the load-bearing capacity of the wheels and the wood you're using. Remember that hardwood species such as oak are stronger than softwoods such as pine. If you'll be using your furniture dolly on uneven surfaces, get larger wheels since small ones are only ideal for flat, smooth spaces. Plus, for better protection of and grip on your furniture, add a piece of carpet or similar material on top of the wheeled dolly.

To build this furniture dolly, start with 2-by-1-foot plywood for the platform. If you want to build a bigger dolly for moving larger items, you can use larger plywood; just adjust other dimensions accordingly. Then, use wood glue to adhere 2-inch-by-4-inch-by-1-foot wood pieces flush with the ends of the platform on its underside; they add strength to the platform and serve as mounting blocks for your choice of wheels, such as these Andutees 2-inch caster wheels with a combined weight capacity of over 2,000 pounds. You can also further secure these blocks to the platform with 2.5-inch nails using the right type of nail gun or a hammer. You need a handheld power drill or driver to affix the mounting plates of the caster wheels (some wheel sets include the screws you need). Space the wheels 1 inch from the platform's side and 1 inch from its end in all four corners.

You can now use the dolly to arrange your furniture. Since it doesn't have any straps or lifts, you need to take some precautions. Enlist a friend or family member to help you load heavy items. If a piece is too heavy to lift, tilt it back and slide the dolly underneath it before slowly lowering the furniture. To keep the platform steady, place a foot on it. Always center an item  to keep its weight evenly distributed. Finally, ensure the dolly's path is clear as you guide it gently along the way.