Have you ever wanted to sink onto your couch and watch some TV after a long day at work? For many of us, the couch sometimes doubles as a bed to rest on. It can be a bit hard to rest and relax when the cushions keep sliding off, again and again.
No matter how well you tuck your cushions into the couch and pat them down, sometimes they just won’t sit when gravity takes over. So, how do you keep couch cushions from sliding?
Why do cushions slide out anyway?
The material of the couch
Some couches are just too slippery. While considered very desirable materials to use for couches, smooth fabrics such as leather and silk lack the texture needed to keep your cushions from sliding around.
Does that mean that you’ve got no choice but to throw away your leather or silk couch? The answer is an astounding no! In this article, we provide several affordable ways for you to keep your silk or leather couch cushions from sliding.
Wear and tear
The biggest reason why couch cushions slide off couches is simply a case of wear and tear. Apart from the bed, the couch is probably the piece of furniture people spend the most time on at home. Over time, the portions of the couch that are sat on will begin to lose their form. This can cause lumpy cushions that keep sliding off because they can’t properly sustain weight like they used to.
While you could buy a new couch, sometimes that is not a feasible option for your wallet. If you need your couch to last longer, try these next methods on how to keep those cushions from sliding along with you.
How to keep couch cushions from sliding
There are five methods listed here to keep couch cushions from sliding off. Each of these methods varies in accessibility and convenience. Make sure to read through each method carefully before choosing which one works best for your couch.
Method 1: Couch covers
The most straightforward method of keeping couch cushions from moving is to create friction. A simple way of achieving this is placing couch covers or slipcovers over the couch. By covering the cushions with textured materials like velvet, suede, and cotton, the friction between the fibers of these materials can reduce slippage on the couch.
Apart from this, couch covers are also very versatile. They are a multipurpose product that help protect your cushions from wear and tear while adding new colors to your couch. You can also switch out covers whenever you want to change up the look of your couch.
A more permanent version of this method is by completely changing the upholstery of the couch. However, this method is not practical to be done at home and should be done by a professional to prevent damaging the structure of the sofa.
Method 2: Rug pads and shelf liners
There are several types of textured mats you can buy to slip under your cushions. The easiest to purchase are rubber shelf liners or textured rubber sheets. As they are used to prevent items from falling off shelves, the same functionality can easily be applied to the couch.
You can just buy a roll of shelf liner, cut a piece according to the size needed, and slip the liner under the cushion. However, do note that this may or may not work with some types of couch materials, but they’re so cheap that it’s worth trying anyway!
Another inexpensive option to consider is using a rug pad. Since rug pads protect rugs from damage and sliding against the floor, which is a smoother surface, you can opt for a spare rug pad. Rug pads are also a better and more durable option than shelf liners, so you might want to try both methods and see which works best.
Method 3: Non-slip pads
If you prefer a specific product rather than the DIY options above, a non-slip pad would come in handy. Also known as cushion grippers, they work similarly to the above methods by creating a layer with a rough surface to prevent the cushions from sliding. Some non-slip pads work the same as the DIY methods — simply cut the fabric according to size and just lay the pad under the cushion.
So, if they work more or less the same, what is the difference between using non-slip pads versus the DIY methods above? The DIY methods may not work on all types of materials, so if you want to take a safer route with your solutions, a non-slip pad is designed specifically to work with couches. While they may be more costly than the DIY methods, they are also more likely to last longer and withstand more wear and tear.
Method 4: Velcro
Meanwhile, there are other variations of anti-slip pads that come in the form of tape. These types of non-slip pads employ hook and loop tape, or Velcro, to do the job.
This type of non-slip pad has an adhesive on both sides. You can cut as much of the non-slip pad according to the length of your cushion and sofa, and stick the hook and loop tape below the cushion and on the couch. When the Velcro is aligned properly, they should prevent any cushions from sliding.
The advantage of using this type of non-slip pad is that you have more options to cut the pad according to the size of your couch. This can be useful for single-person couches and ottomans too. While Velcros are effective, we recommend using them as a last resort because the adhesives may damage your couch cushions.
If you do not have any access to this specific type of non-slip pad, you can still use regular Velcro tape. However, this would require sewing on the Velcro strip to your couch in a way similar to the adhesive. If you are not too concerned about the material of your couch or if you are desperate enough, this method can work for you.
Method 5: Hook and ring
This method requires the most handiwork. Like the regular Velcro tape method, it would require you to sew onto your couch and cushions. Firstly, attach a separate piece of fabric to the cushion and surface of the couch. Then, sew on a hook and ring to the respective parts where the fabric is attached.
You can use furniture rings, although regular snap hooks and D-rings will work fine as well. This method also requires sewing directly onto the surface of the couch and cushion. Make sure to choose the location of the hook and ring carefully so you can easily add and remove couch covers for extra grip. While this method is slightly more difficult than the others mentioned, it will ensure that your couch cushions don’t slide off at all.
How to prevent couch cushions with smooth materials from sliding
As mentioned earlier, smooth fabrics like leather and silk are sometimes the reason why cushions don’t stay on the couch. However, these materials are often a little more pricey than their other couch counterparts. You may not want to accidentally damage the couch by sewing hooks and rings onto it or using adhesives.
So, what can be done about cushions sliding without making any changes to the original surface of the couch?
The easiest way to prevent sliding couch cushions is to utilize materials with different textures. As mentioned before, couch covers are an easy and non-damaging way to prevent cushions from sliding off. With slippery couches, using a textured material would create friction and thus prevent the couch from moving.
If your couch material is leather, its slipperiness could be contributed to the protective layer of wax. A layer of wax is applied onto every new leather couch to give it a sheen and maintain the leather’s quality.
An easy way to remove the protective layer is to combine a large bucket of warm water and a cup of rubbing alcohol. Pour the mixture into a spray bottle, spray the mixture onto a soft cloth, and gently rub the surface of the couch. Make sure to go over the couch again with just water and a dry cloth after doing this to prevent the alcohol from reacting with the leather, which may damage it.
FAQ
What if none of these methods work?
If none of the above methods work, it may be time to seek professional assistance. It may also be a sign that the cushions are too worn out to fix, and you may need to replace your couch cushions altogether.
Key Takeaways
There are many ways to fix the problem of sliding couch cushions and uncomfortable TV nights. Using anti-slip pads, rough materials like Velcro, hooks and rings, as well as just the right fabrics, can help you through those movie marathons without the worry of falling off halfway.
Just make sure to examine the state of your couch beforehand, know the material of your couch, and calculate the cost of these fixes before selecting your method of choice. If it is not just your cushions but your couch that is sliding along your floor, find out how to stop a couch from sliding around.
