Genuine hardwood flooring is a timeless and beautiful addition to any home. However, hardwood floors are susceptible to scratches and scuffs, especially from heavy furniture. With some planning and preventative measures, you can design your home with the furniture you love without worrying about damage to your hardwood floors. Follow these tips to keep your furniture from scratching your hardwood flooring.
Quick Tips to Stop Furniture From Scratching Hardwood Floors
Contents
- Lift and carry furniture when moving it, never push, drag, or drop it on the floors. Get help moving heavy items.
- Attach felt furniture pads to the bottom of all chair and table legs, as well as sofa feet. Check and replace pads regularly.
- Use area rugs under couches, chairs, beds, and other furniture to provide a protective barrier. Choose natural fiber rugs without rubber backings.
- Limit furniture rearranging by planning layouts virtually first. Only move pieces once into the ideal position.
- Use office chair mats and rolling casters made specifically for hardwood floors. Plastic and carpet mats can damage wood.
Things to Avoid to Prevent Scratching Hardwood Floors
| Things to Avoid to Prevent Scratching Hardwood Floors | |
| 🚫 Don’t Use: | Rubber-backed rugs – Plastic pads under furniture – Ball casters on chairs – Carpet chair mats |
| 🚫 Don’t: | -Push heavy furniture – Drag furniture across floors – Drop furniture into place |
| ❗ | These hazards can seriously scratch, dent, and damage your beautiful hardwood floors! Stick to recommended floor protection methods only. When in doubt, lift and carry furniture instead of sliding it across the floor to prevent accidents. Your floors will thank you! |
Handle Furniture with Care
The number one cause of flooring damage is moving furniture incorrectly. When bringing new furniture into your home, take care not to drag, drop, or push furniture across hardwood floors. These motions easily scratch and dent wood. For lighter pieces, lift and carry the furniture. For heavy items, always ask a friend to help maneuver it. Resist any urge to move furniture solo, as scratches most often occur when homeowners attempt this alone. A little help goes a long way in protecting wood floors.
Thoroughly clean entryways and remove shoes before moving furniture inside. Debris caught under furniture can dig into floors. Keep a rug at entry doors to trap dirt and a shelf or rack for storing shoes indoors after use.
How Susceptible is Your Flooring to Furniture Scratches?
| Flooring Material | Scratch Resistance |
| Hardwood (oak, maple, etc.) | Low scratch resistance – Highly prone to scratches and dents from furniture due to soft porous surfaces. Requires protection. |
| Engineered Hardwood | Slightly better scratch resistance than solid hardwood due to the plywood base, but still susceptible to scratches from the furniture. |
| Laminate | Good scratch resistance – Top plastic layer resists scratches better than real wood. Still benefits from furniture pads. |
| Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP) | Excellent scratch resistance – LVP has a very durable top layer that prevents scratches. Minimal protection is needed. |
| Tile (ceramic, porcelain) | Excellent scratch resistance – Impervious to furniture scratches except for polished/glazed varieties which may show light marks. |
| Carpet | Good scratch resistance – Thick carpet pile resists damage but can show indentations from heavy furniture. |
Use Protective Pads
Attach felt or rubber furniture pads to the feet of chairs, sofas, tables, and other furniture. The soft pads cushion contact points and prevent scratches. Felt performs best for furniture needing occasional shifts like dining chairs. The pads allow smooth sliding without marking the wood. Check pads routinely for wear and debris buildup. Replace dirty pads to maintain protection.
Area Rugs Add Style and Safeguard Floors
Rugs create cozy spaces while protecting floors underneath. Use them under couch and chair seating areas, beds, and dining sets. Select natural fiber rugs without rubber backings. Jute and rubber can be abrasive. Put down rug pads under area rugs, choosing natural rubber over synthetic foams that degrade and discolor floors. Rugs contain messes and prevent direct furniture contact with the flooring. They also warm up cold hardwoods.
Lift and Place Furniture
When rearranging furniture, lift pieces instead of sliding them across bare floors. Unload bookcases and lighten other items before moving them. While lifting takes more effort up front, it prevents potential damage from pushing heavy objects around.
Plan Ahead to Limit Moves
Decide on your ideal room layout before hauling furniture into place. Use online floor planning tools to virtually arrange furnishings and visualize placements. This identifies the perfect configuration so you only have to move pieces once. Limiting furniture shifts is the easiest way to guard against scratches.
Office Chair Mats and Casters
Protect wood flooring from rolling office chairs with smooth-surfaced chair mats. Hard plastic and textured mats intended for carpets can damage hardwoods. Opt for polycarbonate, tempered glass, or smooth vinyl mats. Place mats under desks and anywhere chairs will roll.
Also, use rubber or polyurethane casters designed for hard floors instead of standard nylon office chair wheels. Softer synthetic materials won’t scratch floors. Replace casters on existing chair bases if needed.
Repair Scratches
If scratches occur, disguise them by rubbing in matching wood stains. For light woods, use pecan or walnut shells. Dark woods can be blended with black tea diluted in hot water. Scratch cover-up markers are another option. Spot repair damaged boards instead of replacing full planks if possible. Consult an expert for deep gouges.
With some preventative steps, you can keep your furniture and hardwood floors looking their best. Handle all furnishings with care, use protective pads and rugs, and limit furniture shifts across floors. A few simple precautions will keep your beautiful wood floors scratch-free for years to come.
What’s the best way to move furniture across hardwood floors?
Always lift and carry furniture pieces instead of pushing, dragging or dropping them. Get help with heavy items to avoid scratches.
Should I use plastic furniture pads on the legs of my chairs and tables?
No, plastic pads are too hard for wood floors. Use soft felt pads instead to cushion contact points.
Can rubber-backed or jute rugs be used on hardwoods?
Avoid these materials as they can be abrasive. Use natural fiber rugs with felt or natural rubber backing.
How do I protect wood floors from rolling office chairs?
Use chair mats made specifically for hardwoods and chair casters designed for wood floors.
What’s the best way to repair minor scratches on my floor?
Disguise small scratches by rubbing in matching wood stains. Walnut shells or teas work well.
What can I put on the legs of my furniture to prevent scratches?
Felt pads attached to the bottom of furniture legs create a soft barrier to protect hardwood floors from scratches.
How do I stop my dining room chairs from scuffing up the floor when moved?
Attach felt pads to the bottom of the dining chair legs. The pads will allow the chairs to slide smoothly without scratching the floor.