Furniture Anchoring Guide

Under certain circumstances, a chest with all its drawers open can topple over. Imagine a small child climbing a high bookshelf in pursuit of a toy sitting on a lofty shelf. This scenario poses a significant risk, which is why it's imperative to fasten any piece of furniture to your wall to prevent it from tipping over onto a climbing child. Even if you don't have young children, a small visitor can quickly find themselves in a precarious situation. Accidents typically happen without warning and in an instant. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that, on average, about 11,000 children per year visit hospital emergency rooms due to tip-over related injuries, with approximately 500 of those incidents proving fatal. This is a project that you can't afford to put off. Fortunately, it's not overly complicated, and we have some tips to assist you.

General Safety Tips

• Ensure TVs are placed on a sturdy base and push them back as far as possible, especially if wall anchoring isn't feasible.
• Try not to display or store items like toys or remote controls atop furniture that could entice children to climb.
• Store heavier items on lower shelves or drawers. You want to keep the center of gravity of any object as close to the floor as possible.
• Cultivate the habit of keeping all drawers closed and instill the same habit in your children.
• Keep TV and cable cords out of children's reach.
• Many products come with wall anchor accessories. These are also available at hardware stores and online under terms like "furniture safety straps," "anti-tip," and "furniture wall anchors." Generally, the task involves tethering your furniture to a wall stud (a vertical 2" x 4" wood frame, spaced 16" apart) to prevent it from tipping over.

For detailed instructions, watch this helpful video on how to properly secure furniture to the wall.