We all struggle to keep our spaces clean, yet we live in smaller spaces with rooms that serve dual purposes. The tables in your home are functional in ways that go beyond just being places to put dishes—most also double as project display areas. The problem is that they’re also largely immobile, but if you can move them out of the way, you can reactivate your space at any time. Move your coffee table out of the way and you’ve got a larger party space with a console to prop up snacks; the same goes for your kitchen table or even a kitchen island. The solution? Casters.
IKEA furniture assembly – TINGBY – Coffee table (Side table on wheels)
Those office chair wheels can be purchased and installed on almost anything, including ottomans, coffee tables, and even a couch. They don’t have to look as functional as your office chair either. They come in a variety of styles. Adding wheels to my coffee table made it easier to reach dog toys that had gotten lost underneath, it made it easier for my Roomba to do its thing, and best of all, it made it easier to actually wash my washable rug.
To install, all you need is a drill and your wheels. Make sure you choose wheels that are rated for the weight of your furniture, and ideally you want the type that locks into place.
Turn the furniture on its side and hold the caster bracket against the leg where you want it and use a marker to mark where the holes should go. You always want to pre-drill the holes instead of just screwing the casters in because you don’t want to split the wood. Also keep in mind that when you put the casters on, you want to make sure that they are far enough away from the outside edge of the furniture that you don’t stub your toe on them. You can even put them far enough away from the edge that they are invisible.