How to Stop a Bed from Sliding With 5 Diff Methods

After a long day, you fall onto the bed, only to have it slide across the vinyl floorboards, almost throwing you to the floor. That's a great way to end the day, nearly taking a trip to the emergency room. But you should know better; this happens every night. Let's explore how to stop a bed from sliding.

Fortunately, you can use a few hacks to prevent this from happening. Let's look at how to stop the bed from sliding across the floor.

Why Does My Bed Slide Around the Room?

In most cases, your bed slides across the floor because the surface is slick and doesn't produce friction on the bed's feet. It's like a couch sliding on the flooring when you sink into it. The surface needs some friction to prevent the feet from moving.

Vinyl and hardwood floors are the biggest culprits for this, and you'll need to do something to introduce friction to the surface to resolve the sliding issue. Here are a few ideas to stop the sliding when you get in and out of bed.

How to Stop Bed from Sliding – Methods that Work

Forget all the nonsense out there with the crappy hacks and methods that ruin your decor. Let’s look at the options for adults and responsible people that care what their bedroom looks and feels like. These are some of the same methods to prevent a bed from sliding.

1) Position the Bed Properly

If you have a slippery floor, you'll need to reconsider where you position your bed in your room. If you have the bed in the center of the floor or up against a back wall, there's plenty of room for it to move around. One of the most common methods for stopping the bed from sliding around is to place it in the corner of the room.

However, it's not the best hack if two people sleep in the same bed. You'll both have to get out on the same side. That's a hassle if you get up in the middle of the night and must climb over your partner to go to the bathroom.

2) Fix the Headboard to the Wall

Does your bed have a type of headboard that attaches firmly to your bed frame? A better solution to stop the sliding is to fix the headboard against the wall. It's a permanent solution, locking the bed in place. This is a great answer for how to stop a bed from sliding. While this solution prevents the bed from moving around, it also has drawbacks.

It makes it impossible to lift the bed for cleaning, and you'll need a headboard capable of permanently fixing the wall. It's fine for wooden models, but leather or fabric-bound headboards won't suit the project. You'll also need some handy skills for the task, or you'll have to spend money hiring a contractor to do it for you.

3) Place a Rug Under the Bed or Carpet the Floor

The easiest solution to stop the bed from sliding around on the floor is to place some type of rug underneath it. The rug should cover all four feet, but it generally solves the issue if you can get it across two feet. The rug introduces friction between the bed and the floor, stopping it from sliding around the room.

Rugs come in all shapes and sizes, so measure the bed before buying one. Ensure it has enough length and width to cover the footprint of the bed's feet. You'll also get the advantage of the rug providing a soft, warm surface for your feet when getting in and out of bed.

4) Use Bed Risers or Remove the Legs

You can buy bed risers for most types of bed frames to stop it from sliding. Risers attach to the feet and come with a non-slip base creating friction with the floor. Risers come in different heights, and most will elevate the mattress's sleeping surface, making it taller.

Or, you have the option of removing the legs altogether. This is a pretty drastic method for how to keep a bed from sliding but it works. If you have the frame on the floor, it creates enough friction to stop it from shifting around. However, the issue with leaving the bed on the floor is that it traps moisture and dirt, creating the ideal breeding grounds for mold spores.

5) Fit Velcro Feet Pads

A simple solution to the shifting problem is to fit Velcro feet pads to the bed's feet. The top and bottom of the pad feature adhesive, with Velcro in between. You stick one side to the floor in the correct position for the bed and the other to the bottom of the feet on the bed frame. When you place the pads on top of each other, the Velcro sticks together, preventing the bed from moving.

You get the added advantage of removing the feet pads from the floor pads, letting you move the bed around to clean underneath. It's an affordable hack. Velcro pads don't cost much and are readily available online and from hardware or home stores.

6) Use Rubber Feet or Floor Pads

Rubber feet are similar to the Velcro idea. These clear sleeves fit over the bedframe feet, creating friction on the floor. Rubber feet come in various styles, with slip-on sleeves or adhesive patches similar to the Velcro concept mentioned earlier. This is the classic and cheap method for how to stop a bed from sliding.

Some models replace the feet on the bedframe entirely. They have plastic or wooden feet with a rubber base. You screw out the old feet from the frame and replace them with the new ones. Rubber floor pads are also an option.

They come in circular or square designs; you slip them under the bed feet. They don't require adhesive or Velcro for fitment and are easy to remove. However, you'll have to adjust them occasionally to ensure they remain squarely under the feet.

7) Fit Locking Casters

You can also replace the feet on the bed frame with rolling casters. These casters make it easy to move the bed around the room, and they have locks. When you have the bed in position, you deploy the locking system in the caster, and it stops the rubber wheels from moving.

However, there's a bit of a risk to this solution., For instance, you might forget to lock the casters in place after moving the bed to clean., When you get into bed that night, you take a free spin around the room, probably resulting in the bed crashing into the wall or furniture.

How Do I Stop My Mattress Sliding?

Aside from the bed moving around, you might find, depending on the type of mattress, that your mattress slides across the base when you get in and out of bed. While it's not dangerous, it's annoying to have to reposition the mattress every morning while making the bed; who needs more chores, right?

It's the same issue as the bed feet sliding on the floor – there's no friction between the mattress and the bed frame. You can fit a fabric sheet to the base to introduce the friction you need to keep the bed stable. Some box spring frames come with fabric surfaces to stop this problem.

Or you could try using a Bunky board to resolve the issue. The bunky board creates a barrier between the mattress and bed frame but has a low profile, so it won't raise the sleeping surface too much.

How Do I Stop a Mattress Topper Sliding?

The mattress topper bed cover is becoming popular to increase the comfort of the sleeping surface. If your bed isn't as soft as you like or feels lumpy, adding a topper is a great way to make things comfortable without shelling out dollars for a new mattress.

Unfortunately, mattress toppers also have the problem of sliding around on top of the mattress. To stop it from happening, use a fabric sheet on the mattress and lay the topper on top of the sheet to introduce friction.

You'll also need to buy the right size topper for the mattress. If it's too large, it will move around; if it's too small, you reduce the size of the sleeping surface and give it room to move around.

FAQ’s Regarding Preventing a Bed From Sliding

We’ve discussed how to prevent a bed from sliding but what else is there to know about this subject? Let’s cover some common questions real quick.

Why Do My Bed & Mattress Move Around?

Your bed and mattress move around for the same reason. There's a lack of friction between the bed frame feet and the floor or a lack of friction between the frame and the mattress. Slats could be missing from the bed frame if the mattress slides around, or the material doesn't create enough friction to keep the mattress in place. If the bed feet are moving, the floor is slippery and doesn't create friction between the feet and the flooring.

Should I Leave the Mattress or Box Spring Directly on the Floor?

We advise against leaving the mattress and box spring directly on the floor. Doing so makes it harder to clean underneath and usually results in mold forming on the underside of the mattress.

Why Does My Bed Squeak?

Wooden and squeaky metal bed frames have joints. When they're un-lubricated or lost washers, the metal or wood rubs against each other when you move around in the bed, creating friction in the joints. The friction is what causes the frame to squeak.

That’s How to Stop a Bed From Sliding

We’ve discussed multiple ways and other related topics for how to stop a bed from sliding. You can and will find a satisfactory option from the choices above. Some are easier and cheaper to implement while others may take more time and effort but look better. Choose what’s right for you at this time in your life and you’ll be happy!

You'll Also Enjoy:

• 5 Mattress Alternatives to Keep You Sleeping Comfortably
• 11 Headboard Alternatives to Decorate Your Bed in Style
• Standard Bedroom Sizes for Adults, Kids, & More
• If One Room Has Bed Bugs, Do They All?
• 12 Futon Alternatives for Space Saving Comfort