My Design Standards for Furniture
Since graduating high school, I’ve moved every 10-14 months. I like moving, and my wife even more so. New places are fun, and each time it’s been an upward change to our lives. We’ve lived in rural, suburban, and city-lite and are looking at true city living in the future. At this point, we’re getting pretty good at it.
I would almost say it’s a pleasant experience if it wasn’t for moving heavy shit. Especially when it’s not your heavy shit (@mywife). I’ve been able to chip away at lots of moving annoyances, like buying a mattress bag with handles so you can slide a mattress.
But the latest 2,335-mile move from Boise to Charlotte has me at my wits end when it comes to furniture. Too many times now have I dented door frames trying to fit the 7’ long dresser at a right angle or had fingers pinched by bookshelves with swinging doors. Not to mention, moving trucks are stupidly expensive. And so I’ve created a set of standards for any new furniture in hopes of one day no longer hating every piece of furniture we own.
- Furniture must be able to fit through a doorway without geometric gymnastics.
- Furniture must be able to be moved by one person with a hand truck.
- Furniture must have wheels or the option to put wheels on
- Furniture must have handles or legitimate, safe handholds.
- Swinging doors must be able to remain locked on their own accord.
In the future I hope to once again start making furniture. Ideally, I would remake every piece of furniture with these standards. Imagine the utilitarian beauty of a dresser that is lightweight and includes wheels and/or handles. My back already begs for it.