I've got this curio cabinet that's really front-heavy, inherited from my dad. He had it on hardwood floors, but now I want to place it on carpet, and it's leaning forward a bit. I've already pulled it away from the tack strip, but I'm still worried that if I load it up, it's going to tip over. One more thing, the cabinet has a sliding door and fits snugly in an alcove, so I need to be able to move it forward and back a little for access. This makes it tricky to use any anti-tip measures. Any recommendations on how to keep it stable without sacrificing its mobility?
3 Answers
Make sure your cabinet is on a level part of the floor. If it’s right where the carpet meets the wall, it might be resting on the tack strip, which could contribute to that forward lean you’re noticing.
You’ll need to straighten it out first. I'd recommend getting some foot pads from a hardware store to place under the front feet until it’s level. The chain is just added safety in case someone pulls on it. Alternatively, you could put wheels underneath, but that might be a bigger job and could change the look. An easier option could be covering the carpet with a piece of plywood to help it slide more easily, although it may not look great.
Actually, I had a similar thought. I was thinking of placing a strip of 1x3 for leveling and then covering the bottom with plywood (maybe 1/4") and using magic sliders. Just an idea brewing...?
You might want to try attaching a little piece of chain or wire from the cabinet to the wall with a screw eye. Use a hook or clasp on one end so you can easily detach it when you need to move the cabinet. That way, it won’t just tip over when you’re accessing it.
But if it’s loaded and leaning, won’t that chain just let it tumble forward when you detach it?
The floor islevel, and I mentioned in my post I'm already well clear of the tack strip. It’s just the weight in the front that's causing this issue.