Furniture safety
When many of us think about furniture safety, we think about childproofing*. While that is vitally important in homes where children spend time, whether you’re an empty nester, a full nester, or desire no nest at all it’s important to make your home safe and comfortable for all ages. We’ll show you how to do that.
*Childproofing goes above and beyond the tips we highlight in this 5 Minute Friday. Click here for a comprehensive list.
Grab a piece of paper and a pen or the notes function on your phone to write down any areas that you need to safety proof.
LOVE IS AN OPEN DRAWER
If your spouse or housemate is one to throw open cabinet doors or dresser drawers and leave them that way, we all know the frustration that can come with a bumped head or a stubbed toe. While those stings subside rather quickly, a dresser can actually be a dangerous piece of furniture if not safety-proofed.
Too many drawers left open can cause it to topple over. An open drawer and a curious kiddo or pet can be a devastating safety disaster. And a dresser in an earthquake can quickly fall over and hurt someone.
One of the quickest and easiest safety tools that you can deploy around your home is to use a furniture anchor, also known as an anti-tip kit, or L-bracket to secure top-heavy furniture to your walls. You can purchase an anti-tip kit at your local hardware store for about $10 each.
Bookshelves should also be secured to your wall. Place bulkier items on lower shelves and do not overload your bookshelves for safety.
Take a tour of your home and note any dressers, bookshelves, or top-heavy furniture that you need to secure to the wall.
TAKE A SEAT
Ahhhh, there’s nothing quite like the feeling you get when you can finally sit down after a long day. But what if you can’t get up again? That low, extra deep sofa might be great for lounging on to watch a movie marathon, but impossible to get out of if you are in your last trimester of pregnancy or over a certain age.
Test out the couches and chairs in your home. When seated, adults should be able to have their feet touch the floor and hips should not fall too far below knees. Seating that is too low, soft, or deep is hard to get out of and can pose a safety hazard.
Furniture is an expensive investment, so if yours is not meeting your current needs there are more affordable ways to help you get out of your chair than buying a new one. Seat booster cushions and lift assist kits can help make it easier for you to get up and grab your movie marathon snack from the fridge.
While you’re checking out your home’s seating, also observe the placement of your furniture. Be careful not to place sofas or other furniture too close to a radiator or fireplace.
Do you have clear walking paths to get around furniture in your home? If not, it might be time to rearrange some furniture to make it easier to walk around.
CUT THE CORD
Now that you have a comfy and safe place to sit, let’s check out the TVs in your home for safety. Are your televisions wall-mounted or on a stand? If you’ve considered putting them on the wall, now might be the time from a safety perspective. A wall-mounted TV is out of the way and harder to bump into, so less likely to topple over and the cords can easily be hidden or managed for safety, lowering tripping hazards.
If you prefer the look or practicality of a TV stand, make sure that it is secured safely to the wall using an anti-tip kit and that your television is secured to it too. Both items are top-heavy and can topple over.
Great job scanning your home for furniture safety items! If you’ve already tackled this task, you have our permission to take a seat on your easy-to-get-out-of couch and start a movie marathon. If not, take a few minutes to plan your furniture safety strategy. And if you need help implementing any of these items, we’re always here to help!