13th July 2012

How To Prevent Your New Furniture From Damaging Your Floor

By Darlings Of Chelsea

If you’ve just bought some beautiful and elegant furniture from Darlings Of Chelsea, you probably can’t wait to get it in your home. Whatever you’ve bought – whether it’s a new sofa, chair, table or dresser, we’re sure you’ll get years of use out of it.

However, have you thought about how you will protect your floor?

Believe it or not, as much as you might love your new purchase, your floor may not. Moving it into your room, coupled with the use it will get over the years means that your floor could take a real punishment. However, if the right steps are taken, then your floors will look just as good as your new furniture for years to come.

With that in mind, here are a few tips courtesy of our friends at flooringsupplies.co.uk for how you can protect your floors so they look as good as new for years to come.

1. Stop floor scratches with furniture tips

Scratches and dents from furniture legs are some of the most prevalent threats to your floor – particularly if it is made of wood. Suppliers of hardwood flooring agree that protecting your floor from the hard tips of table legs are one of the best ways to maintain their beauty.

The good news is that it’s easy to guard against scuffs and scratches by purchasing furniture tips. They can be attached to furniture with a non-damaging adhesive, and they cushion the parts of the furniture that touch the wood floor directly. Also, remember the golden rule here – don’t slide your furniture across the floor – even after you install these tips. If they come loose you’ll not only scratch your floor and have an expensive bill to pay to get the scratches removed.

2. Keep your carpet in tip-top shape

carpet filmThe best way to protect your carpets when moving your new furniture into your home is to buy special self-adhesive plastic film. This is specially made for protecting carpets as it covers the area with a tear-free, non-slip surface. The glue used on this film is also designed not to leave any sticky mess on your carpets after you finish your move, and it can be bought in a variety of sizes. However, although it’s a great product it can be pretty expensive.

If you can’t afford to buy this adhesive film then there are a few other things you can do to protect it. Old bed sheets and blankets work well, but beware – they can snag and you could trip up, so it’s a good idea to tape them down with heavy-duty tape. If you have it, you could always place old bits of carpet and cut them up into strips to place on top of the carpet.

3. Stop your carpet from denting

floor coastersUnfortunately, there is no such thing as a dent-proof carpet. Every carpet, no matter how expensive it is, will get dents from furniture use over time. Although dents can be fixed, those caused by furniture legs and sofa feet are the most permanent because of the pressure exerted on a very small area.

However, you can prevent dents by using furniture coasters. These coasters distribute the weight of your furniture over a larger area, so it won’t dent so much. Another benefit of these coasters is that they have a smooth surface on the bottom – which allows your furniture to be moved easily. This makes it even easier when it comes to moving your furniture around for cleaning, or just when you want to rearrange it from time to time.

4. Clean your furniture regularly

When it comes to protecting your floors from potential damage from your furniture, you don’t just need to focus on where it comes into contact. Unfortunately, your floors can also be damaged by items kept on top of your furniture, or just from everyday use, so it makes sense to clean it regularly. If you keep a candle on a dresser for example, watch out for the potential of spilling wax – so make sure it’s got a firm base and grip. Dinner tables need to be wiped down after meals to avoid any food spills. You could invest in a coir mat to protect your wooden floor from the everyday movement of dining room chairs too…

Simply adopting some good habits with your furniture will see you extend the life of your floors considerably.

5. What about your walls?

We’ve mostly focused on your floors in this post – but a final point would be to spare a thought for your walls.

When it comes to accepting delivery for your new furniture, you don’t want to chip, scratch or damage your walls or doors – or your elegant new goods either! Although your furniture won’t be at as much risk as your flooring, your walls can take some serious punishment – especially if you’re moving your brand-new furniture up and down stairwells. With that in mind, why not use a few old drop cloths to protect door frames and bannisters?

So there with have it, five simple tips for protecting your floors come moving day and beyond. We hope you enjoy your new purchase!