There is perhaps nothing more annoying than an uneven dining chair, barstool, or table. Have you ever gone to a restaurant, coffee shop or other establishment and sat down only to realize that your chair or table was extremely wobbly? You know, where there are folded napkins, cardboard, or other crud wedged under the legs to try and level them? Ugh.
Whether you recently bought and assembled some new dining chairs that aren’t sitting quite right, or whether your existing chairs or stools are increasingly unstable, we can help! Here at Woodstock Furniture & Mattress Outlet, we know how crucial it is for your dining setup to be both stable and comfortable. Join us below as we discuss what causes uneven dining chairs and stools and how to level them properly. Let’s get started!
Why Are My Dining Chairs Wobbly?
Before we dive into possible solutions, it’s important to understand why your chairs might be uneven in the first place. There are typically 3 likely reasons:
(1) Loose Joints or Hardware: Perhaps the most common culprit is loose joints, or when joints have been unevenly tightened during assembly causing misalignment. For more info on how to tighten things up properly and how to level those dining chair legs, keep reading.
(2) Variations in Manufacturing: Second, even quality furniture can have slight inconsistencies in joint angles or leg lengths that can cause misalignment or imbalance. Especially when combined with uneven floors – but we’ll get more into that below.
(3) Uneven Floors: This last reason is quite common, however, many consumers are unaware of it. So many times, when one of our customers has an issue with a brand new chair not sitting evenly, their floors end up being slightly less than level. In older homes, floors can shift or settle over time creating slightly uneven surfaces. Even in newer homes, hardwood, laminate, tile or other flooring surfaces can have inconsistencies, knots, or seams in them that can throw off your chair's delicate balance.
Solutions for Dining Chairs That Aren’t Level
Let’s talk solutions. Keep in mind that some of the issues above may be more apparent than others. For instance, joints with too much slack in them are typically pretty obvious since you can feel the movement in the joints when you sit down or shift your weight in your seat. In cases like these, you may assume that fixing the issue is as simple as tightening a few bolts. Sometimes this is true. That’s why this is the first thing you should check.
When tightening up loose joints or assembling a new dining chair or stool, be sure to move from one bolt or screw to the next, tightening each one gradually. In other words, don’t tighten each bolt or screw all the way in before moving to the next. Tighten one a few turns, then move on to the next one. Continue on repeating this process until they’re all snug. This will make sure everything is tightened evenly.
This alone is often enough to fix the problem. However, what if tightening things up doesn’t fix the issue? Unfortunately, this likely indicates either a slight misalignment issue with the chair itself or uneven floors.
To figure out which issue you have, rotate the chair 90, 180 and 270 degrees and check the wobble again. If the wobble occurs in the exact same way regardless of which way it is turned, your issue is the chair. However, if the wobble only occurs when it is turned a certain direction, you’ve got an uneven spot on your floor. Another way to check this is to simply move the chair to another spot and see if you have the same issues.
Regardless of which issue you have, we’ve got your next steps below.
Does Your Dining Chair or Barstool Have Levelers?
Before moving forward, you should first double check to see if your chair or stool has levelers or leveling feet. These days, many new dining chairs, barstools, and even some tables come equipped with built-in levelers. These little adjustable pieces make a world of difference, as they allow you to adjust each leg individually to achieve that perfect balance.
If your chair or stool has levelers equipped, adjusting them is as simple as the old adage, “righty-tighty, lefty-loosey”. Looking at the bottom of each chair leg, you should see a small, adjustable pad or screw-in piece. Using your hands or a wrench, twist the levelers clockwise to shorten each leg or counter-clockwise to extend it. Take your time and test the chair on the floor of your dining space until it feels steady.
How to Level Your Dining Chair If It Doesn’t Have Levelers
For dining chairs or stools without levelers, try this tip. This fix should work for minor wobbling problems regardless of whether the issue is with your chair or with your floors.
Step 1: Flip your chair or stool upside down so that you can access the bolts where the legs attach.
Step 2: Loosen the bolts ever so slightly, allowing for a tiny amount of wiggle room in the legs.
Step 3: Flip your chair or stool right-side up and sit in it as usual. Your body weight should force the chair legs into a level position on the floor.
Step 4: Repeat Steps 2 and 3 as needed until the wobble is entirely gone.
Step 5: Finally, gently re-tighten the bolts with the chair sitting right-side up. The goal here is to merely set your adjustments, not to fully tighten the bolts.
And there you have it! This method works to fix the vast majority of wobbly dining chair issues. Have additional questions? Let us know! If you’re a Woodstock Furniture & Mattress Outlet customer and are still having an issue with a recent purchase, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us here or using our convenient web chat.
Woodstock Furniture & Mattress Outlet Is North Georgia’s Source for Dining Sets, Chairs & Stools
Whether you’re working with built-in levelers or tackling uneven legs yourself, we hope today’s article will help you stabilize your dining set for years to come. Remember, you don’t have to settle for wobbly, uneven, or unstable chairs in your dining room, kitchen, or other dining space.
Finally, if you’re actively looking for dining furniture that combines quality, style and functionality, Woodstock Furniture & Mattress Outlet has one of the best selections of dining furniture in Georgia! Visit us at our Metro Atlanta and North Georgia furniture stores in Woodstock/Acworth, Dallas/Hiram, Rome, and Covington to find the perfect chairs and barstools for your dining area – including a number of collections that feature built-in levelers for even the most uneven floors. Our team can’t wait to help you create your ideal, balanced and beautiful dining space!
