What Can You Use to Stop a Couch From Sliding on a Wood Floor?

Rubber Pad

• Commercial rubber pads stop couches from sliding on floors. Place the oval rubber pads under the davenport legs. The thick rubber pads, about 1/4-inch thick, provide a nonslip buffer between the individual couch leg and the slick floor. Specialty pads, about 2 inches wide and 3 inches long, have holes punched in the pad center. When the couch rests on the pads, the holes act as suction cups and prevent the couch from sliding. The removable pads need no adhesive or glue. Lift a corner of the couch, slide a pad under the leg, and repeat until all legs rest on a pad.

Rubber Caster Cups

• Match rubber caster cups to the couch leg size. Caster cups, designed to stop caster wheels and smooth furniture legs from rolling, come in round and square designs and widths to fit most couch legs. Typically available in white, sand or brown colors, these cups sell in most hardware and home improvement stores. The raised, molded borders act as brakes to sliding legs. Lift each leg and slide the cup under the leg. If your couch has lockable roller casters, lock the casters to prevent rolling. If your couch or divan has round legs, look for rubber furniture tips that fit over the legs like crutch tips.

Carpet

• Use nonskid carpet under the full couch or just under the legs. Using nonslip backing suited to hardwood floors ensures the backing will not stain or adhere to the wood flooring. Some carpet runners are the right length to fit under a couch. These carpets measure 18 to 30 inches wide and 48 to 60 inches long. Many runners with nonslip backing are machine washable. For a decorator touch, use a padded area rug larger than the couch. An area rug cushions the couch and protects the wood floor while muffling noise and insulating the couch area against floor temperature changes.

Considerations

• Cutting a carpet remnant into leg pads is tempting but has disadvantages. Many remnants have rough backing that scratches wood floors. If you use carpet pieces, place the soft side down to protect the floor. Avoid plastic mats unless the mats are safe for wood floors. Many have foam backs that deteriorate and stick to wood finishes. Scrap rubber is inexpensive but often contains chemicals that stain the floor. Use safe lifting when placing protectors under the couch. This is a two-person task, with one person lifting the couch slightly while the other slides the leg pad in place.