What to Do If Furniture Doesn't Fit Through the Door

You have carried the sofa halfway up the stairs and it will not clear the doorway — now what? Stop forcing it before you scratch the furniture or the wall, and check the easy fixes first: remove the door from its hinges, take off couch legs or cushions, and try tilting the piece diagonally instead of straight on.

If it still will not pass, measure the diagonal of the doorway, not just the width — it is usually bigger than you think. When nothing works, most large items can be disassembled further than the manual suggests, or a mover can walk it through a window or balcony. It is rarely actually stuck; it just needs a different angle.