Chair legs are prone to scratching your floors, and sometimes, they can stick and rub so much that it’s challenging to move them. There are easy tricks to make them glide more smoothly if you have such chairs.
To make chairs slide easier over the floor, you can use chair glides. These glides help move chairs more efficiently and protect the chair legs and your floor from damage. You can also make your own glides or install wheels on your chair legs.
If you’ve ever worried about sliding chairs across carpets or wood effortlessly and, most importantly, without leaving the aesthetics of your floor to the mercy of the chair’s legs, don’t worry. I’ve rounded up a few ways to solve your problems.
How to Make Chairs Slide Easier on Wood or Tiles
Wood and tiles are often easier to slide chairs on than carpets because they have a smoother surface. Thus, you may only need basic glides to get the job done. I have discussed the two best gliders for wooden and tiled floors below.
Furniture glides/slides are small disks made of plastic, Teflon, rubber, metal, or felt pieces. These small circles stick to (or slide under) the legs of your chairs.
Glides are reusable and protect your floor from unsightly scratches while allowing you to slide in your chairs effortlessly.
Nylon Glides
Nylon glides are ideal for rough wooden and tiled flooring. These self-lubricating glides come in various sizes, glide smoothly on any surface, and are simple to install.
The thick, durable nylon disk will protect your floor and chair legs from damage. In addition, they will safeguard your ears from the irritating sound of scooting chairs.
I’d recommend the anti-slip Ruwado 30 Pcs Nylon Chair Glides (available on Amazon) as they’re durable and have a moisture-proof effect.
Felt Glides
These are glides with felt embedded on their lower side. Most felt glides are self-adhesive, but they can also come in nail-on packs. I usually recommend the nail-on glides because the adhesive ones are prone to coming off and sticking to your flooring.
Felt glides like Felt Furniture Pads X (Amazon) are an excellent way to prevent chair legs from scraping a wood floor. I love this multi-pack because it comes with tons of different sized and shaped glides so that you can find the perfect fit for your chair legs (and your other furniture, too).
Still, you need to ensure the felt stays in place and doesn’t collect dirt. I recommend tacking them on with some tiny wire nails for the most secure hold.
How to Make Chairs Slide Easier on Carpet
Sliding chairs and other furniture on a carpet is a challenge, and it can be hard to find a good way to reduce friction so you can move your furniture without fighting against your fibrous floors. However, some glides and alternatives will work well on carpeting.
Here are the best sliders for gliding chairs on carpets:
Plastic Glides
Glides made of plastic are the best for carpet flooring. These glides are available in square or circular shapes, and they are smooth enough that they won’t catch on the carpet when you slide your chairs. I recommend using a nail-on plastic glide since the self-adhesive ones are prone to sticking to your carpet.
Metal Glides
Metal glides are perfect for carpeting. Since metal glides are usually the smoothest, they make it easy to slide your chairs on rough, textured surfaces like carpets. Still, when choosing a glide, the thicker your carpet, the wider the metal glide should be.
These 24 Pack Wrought Iron Patio Furniture Glides (Amazon) are easy to fix metal glides, and they come with a quality warranty. Although they are expressly for patio furniture, I find that they are the best option for carpeting. Plus, they come in a matte black color that’ll blend into your carpet, so you won’t even see them!
Teflon Glides
If you plan on moving your furniture regularly, Teflon glides are an excellent option because they reduce friction on the carpet. Although they are usually blue, carefully check the packaging for Teflon, as some cheap knockoffs are blue without Teflon.
You can try GINOYA Teflon Furniture Sliders since they reduce screeching sounds and are reusable.
Tip: Before buying any glides, check to ensure they are the right size and shape to match the legs of your chair. Most furniture sliders can reliably accommodate up to 40 pounds of weight (18kgs).
Alternatives to Chair Glides
Although chair slides are usually your best bet when you want to make your chairs glide more easily, there are several other reliable ways to keep your chair legs from grabbing at your floors.
Add Wheels to Chairs to Protect Your Flooring
Adding casters or wheels is a great way to enhance the mobility of your chairs or furniture. Adding wheels to chairs makes your space more vibrant and dynamic because you can change the setting and arrangement for different occasions or moods.
After choosing the ideal casters for your chair, installation is easy. First place and indicate the positions where the wheels will be attached. Then, drill some small holes and attach your wheels using a screwdriver or drill bit.
Wheels are a more permanent way to add mobility to your furniture, and they come in many different styles and shapes to ensure that your chairs look attractive and slide with ease.
To get an idea of how classy wheels can look on your chairs, check out these Skelang 1.5-inch Ball Casters on Amazon, which come in sets of four. They look stunning, and they’re functional too!
Make DIY Gliders With Fabric
If you want to save some money or are a DIY enthusiast, it’s easy to make your own chair glides at home.
You’ll need some felt, some wire nails or tacks, and some adhesive. I recommend using E6000 Craft Adhesive since it’s a reliable, flexible, industrial-grade glue. It also peels off surprisingly easily when you put some force into it, so you can always pry off the glue if you want to take off the gliders later.
So, once you have your materials, here’s how to make custom chair gliders:
- Using a chisel or a slotted head screwdriver, scrape off any worn-out sliders from the chair before starting.
- On a piece of paper, outline the bottom of all legs of the chair. While some chairs may have similarly shaped leg-ends, others have unique shapes, so don’t skip this step.
- Trace the outlines drawn onto your preferred fabric. I recommend using leather, plastic, felt, fleece, or wool.
- Glue the fabric pieces to your chair legs.
- Drive a small wire nail into the center of the glide to secure it better.
Final Thoughts
Installing a set of chair glides or sliders can make moving and scooting your chairs a breeze, and it will also p[rotec t your floors from scratches and skids. Gliders are always a good investment because they eliminate the need to refinish your flooring and replace your seats.
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