The sitting room is the first room guests see and the last one most people pack, because the family uses it until the final evening. It is also full of large, awkward things: a three-seater, two armchairs, a rug, a glass centre table, a TV stand, lamps and curtains. Pack it in the right order and moving day is quick.
This guide takes you through the room, item by item.
Start two days before
You cannot pack a sitting room in an afternoon, but you can do most of it in stages.
- Two days before: take down pictures, small ornaments and shelf items.
- One day before: wrap the lamps, remove curtains and roll the rug.
- Moving morning: take apart what can be taken apart and carry out the big pieces.
Keep a sofa and one table in use until the last evening, so the family can sit.
Sofas and armchairs
Sofas are heavy and often too wide for a narrow door or stairwell.
- Measure the sofa and the door, the stairwell and the lift if there is one. Do this before moving day.
- Remove loose cushions and pack them in bags.
- Take off feet or legs if they unscrew, and put the screws in a labelled bag taped to the sofa.
- Wrap each piece in an old blanket or sheet and tie it with cloth or rope. Avoid clingfilm directly on leather because it can trap damp.
- Carry the sofa on its side or end if needed, and never drag it.
If a corner sofa comes apart in sections, separate it and label each part.
Rugs and carpets
Vacuum or shake the rug outside a day early. Roll it tightly with the pattern facing in, tie it in two or three places and put a plastic sheet or an old bedsheet around it. Do not fold a stiff rug, because it will crease. Load it flat along the side of the truck or on top of the furniture so it does not get crushed.
Glass centre tables and TV stands
A glass top can break from one bump. Our guide on moving glass, mirrors and table tops has the full method. In short:
- Take the top off its base if it lifts off.
- Cover both faces in cardboard or thick cloth, and tape across the glass in a cross.
- Carry it upright, never flat, with two people.
- Load it standing on its edge with padding on both sides, and keep heavy items away from it.
For a wooden TV stand, empty it fully, remove the shelves or tape them in place and wrap the corners. Move the TV separately. Our guide on moving a TV, home theatre and sound system shows how.
Lamps, curtains and small items
- Remove bulbs and wrap shades in paper, never plastic.
- Coil cables and tape them to the lamp base.
- Take down curtains and rails. Fold curtains into a labelled bag and keep the rail screws with them.
- Pack cushions, throws and ornaments in a box marked "sitting room: soft items".
- Carry one clean set of cups and a kettle in your own bag for the first night.
Ready to move?
Request a truck or van on Sphere
Choose your vehicle, propose your price, and verified drivers in Lagos, Abuja and Ibadan accept or send a counter-offer.
Label everything
Write the room name on two sides of every box, and on sticky labels for furniture. Add a short description, for example "Sitting room, ornaments, fragile, top". Our guide to labelling and numbering boxes shows a simple system that makes unpacking much quicker.
Loading order
Tell the driver and the helpers the order you prefer:
- Sofas and heavy furniture go in first, low and against the cab.
- Armchairs and cabinets next.
- The rolled rug on top or along the side.
- Glass standing upright with padding, held in place.
- Lamps and boxes last, in gaps.
If the road is rough, ask the driver to tie the furniture at two heights.
At the new place
Set the sofas down first so you know where the room will sit, then bring in the rug and put the table on it. Hang the curtains early. A room that looks finished by evening makes the whole move feel done.
Read the first night in your new home for what to unpack first.
How to do this on Sphere
Open the app and choose a pickup van or a truck for your move. Add the pickup and drop-off, and describe the load: "sitting room: one three-seater, two armchairs, a glass centre table, a TV stand and a rolled rug". Mention stairs or a narrow gate. Propose a price, and nearby verified drivers will accept it or send counter-offers. Agree loading and offloading help with the driver before you accept an offer.
You can also read about house moving in Lagos and van hire in Lagos.
Frequently asked questions
Should I wrap a sofa in plastic?
Use blankets or cloth first. Plastic can trap damp and mark leather, so keep it as an outer cover only if the sofa is dry.
How do I get a sofa through a narrow door?
Measure first. Remove feet and cushions, then tilt the sofa on its end or side. If it still does not fit, ask whether the frame comes apart.
How should I carry a glass centre table?
Upright, with two people, and with both faces covered. Never carry it flat, and load it standing on its edge with padding on each side.
Can I roll up a rug without damaging it?
Yes, if you roll it tightly with the pattern inside and tie it in a few places. Avoid folding it, because creases can stay.
When should I pack the sitting room?
In stages. Pack ornaments and pictures two days before and curtains the day before. Keep one sofa and a table until the last evening.
Request your move
Request a truck or van on Sphere
Choose your vehicle, propose your price, and verified drivers in Lagos, Abuja and Ibadan accept or send a counter-offer.
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