How to Stop Your Recliner from Sliding On The Carpet?

Does it annoy you when furniture slides off your carpet, causing a lot of wear and tear in the process? Are you tired of putting it back in its place? Is it a safety concern for you that your furniture slides off to where it is not supposed to be? 

A lot of furniture tends to walk or slide on slick flooring or carpeting, but recliners are the worst in this regard. You might primarily only use it to watch TV, and if you are sitting on it for a good few hours, even the slightest movement in your position might cause the recliner to slide from its place. The continuous movement of the recliner on any carpet will cause it to wear off over time, and replacing carpeting can be one tiring job. 

Sudden movements can be extremely annoying because you would either avoid using your recliner or keep putting it back in its place. Families with children or older people may have safety concerns if the recliner slides into them when they are sitting around and injures them in the process or ruins other furniture.

After you buy a recliner, the first thing you should do is place it in a spot that does not have fragile décor, your child’s playing area, and your pet’s sitting area. The last thing you want is for your child to bump into the recliner while playing. If the primary purpose of the recliner was to watch TV, then make sure that the line of sight from your TV to the recliner is clear.

However, all these tips will not stop your recliner from moving about, so if you are looking to find ways to stop your recliner from sliding on your carpet, you have come to the right place. We have put together some tips to help you figure out what will work best for your recliner while keeping everyone around you safe. 

Before you buy a recliner

Before you decide to buy yourself a recliner, ask yourself, is the flooring I have right for it? Recliners tend to slide off more easily on slick flooring or a too smooth and thin carpet. If you already have plans to change your flooring, you can keep your recliner in mind when selecting it. 

Deep carpets work best for recliners or any furniture that tends to slide off. The legs of the furniture get buried in the depth of the carpet, making it hard for it to move around. But that certainly does not mean you need to get new flooring to stop your recliner from sliding. 

The furniture market is filled with accessories to protect, maintain, and keep your furniture in place, and we found the ones that work best to stop your recliner from sliding on the carpet!

Self-Adhesive Furniture Pads:

Furniture pads or also known as furniture grippers, are specifically sold at furniture stores to help keep your recliners or any other item you have bought in place. They are available in various materials, including plastic, silicone, softwood, or cork. Depending on what your recliner’s legs are made of, you will have to see which material of furniture pads will work best for it. 

Furniture pads are sold in packs of 2 or 4 and are put at the legs of your recliner to stop it from sliding on your carpet. There are two sides to the furniture pads, one glued to the furniture and a textured side that is put face down on the floor or carpet. The anti-skid side of the pad will help stop your furniture from moving, reducing tears or scratches on your carpet, and you will not worry about readjusting your recliner every time you sit on it.

Although reusable, furniture pads can be a little pricier than alternate options. However, if you are looking for a long-term solution and cannot be bothered to replace the anti-skid accessories every few months, investing in these self-adhesive furniture pads might be the best idea.

Non-Skid Felt Mats:

Non-skid felt mats work similarly to furniture pads, except that they come in large squares or rectangles, are made of felt, and can be cut down to whatever size you would like. Instead of buying one pad for each recliner leg, you would buy one felt mat and cut it to the size of your recliner’s legs. You would then place under each leg the felt mat from its adhesive side and put the felt side facing down on the carpet. You can cut the mat smaller depending on the size requirement of your recliner, and it should hold it steady for a long time. 

Using non-skid felt mats is also a cheaper alternative to using furniture pads because you can buy them in bulk for lower prices and replace them whenever needed. They will also protect your carpets from scratches and add some height to your furniture.

Rugs:

If you do not want to go through the trouble of placing furniture pads or felt mats under your recliner to keep it from moving, you can buy a thick deep rug to place on top of your carpet and rest the recliner on the rug. The rug should be thick enough to hold the recliner legs once they have dug themselves into the rug, which will stop your recliner from sliding. 

If you are décor conscious and think a rug would look out of place, buy one that goes with the color of your carpet, so it does not look like it is just there to stop the recliner from sliding. Contrasting or matching the color of the rug to the color of your carpet will make it look like it belongs there.

Cork:

Are you someone not willing to spend a lot of money for something as small as furniture pads and would rather attempt to do it yourself? If you answered yes to that question, this tip is for you! DIY furniture pads are not unusual; in fact, cork makes one of the best materials for making your own non-skid pads. 

All you need to do is buy a cork sheet from your local hardware store and cut it to the size of your recliner legs. You can also use cork from your wine bottles to stick under your recliner legs. All you need to do is cut them to the right size, put some strong glue on the side facing the legs, and you are good to go! Cork is also the safest option in terms of environmental protection compared to rubber or plastic.

Leg Caps

Leg caps are covers for your recliner’s feet that grip the floor and prevent your chair from sliding. They come in various materials, including plastic, metal, and rubber. Some leg caps even have spikes on the bottom to further anchor the recliner to the floor.

Reposition Your Recliner

The placement of your recliner matters! Generally, most people like placing their recliners too close to the wall. This might save some space, but it’s not the best idea. The reason is that when you lean back in your recliner, the backrest will push the chair against the wall. This, in turn, will make your recliner slide on the carpet.

Instead, try to place your recliner a few inches away from the wall. This way, when you lean back, nothing stops the chair from moving freely.

Frequently asked questions:

Does the size of my recliner matter?

It does! The size of your recliner should suit your height. If people of different heights will use the recliner, consider buying one with adjustable headrest settings. 

How much space does a recliner need?

Depending on the length of the recline and the model of the recliner, it usually takes about 30cm to 90cm of space behind it.

How do I know the recliner frame is strong?

Ensure the recliner frame is constructed of quality wood like beech and teak as they are considered two of the strongest wood for furniture.

Can I buy recliner cam bolts?

Yes, you can replace recliner cam bolts depending on the model you have. You can search for them online or visit any hardware store. 

How do I keep my rocker from sliding on the carpet?

It’s simple! Just add extra friction to the runners. For doing this, you can add non-slip shelf liners or attach felt strips to the rocker.

How to stop a recliner from sliding on the laminate floor?

If your recliner is slipping on your laminate floor, you may need to add extra friction to the base. This can be done by attaching non-slip mats or rubber grippers to the bottom of the recliner. You could also try placing a carpet under the recliner to help keep it in place.

How do you lock a recliner in place?

Locking your recliner in place means fixing it to a certain position. You can start by gripping the armrests and leaning back to achieve a desirable position. Then, simply lock the recliner in place by pushing or pulling the lever.

Different recliner models might have different ways of locking them in place. So, it’s always a good idea to read the user manual before attempting this.

Conclusion

God bless the person who discovered the problem of recliners sliding on carpets because numerous solutions are now at your disposal. And if one solution does not work for you, fret not because not every accessory works for every recliner and flooring. 

Explore the available options depending on the type of flooring you have, the material your recliner chair legs are made of, and how much money you are willing to spend. Do not give up on your recliner; choose what accessory and material works best for you and protect your carpets from getting scratches and tears.