Okay, here’s my blog post about my little “cushions dancing on hard wooden flooring” experiment:

So, I’ve got this beautiful hardwood floor in my living room, right? Love the look, hate how every little thing slides around. Especially those decorative cushions I toss on the floor for extra seating when friends come over. They end up everywhere but where I put them. It’s like they’re having a secret party when I’m not looking.

I decided to fix this. My mission: Keep the cushions from becoming migratory birds.

The Great Cushion Experiment

First, I tried those little rubber grippy things you put under rugs. You know, the ones that look like waffle irons? I stuck a few on the bottom of each cushion.

• Result: Epic fail. They either didn’t stick to the cushion fabric at all, or they did stick, but then they just peeled right off the floor. Plus, they left these weird, sticky squares behind. Nope.

Next, I thought, “Okay, maybe I need something with more…oomph.” I went to the hardware store and found these rolls of non-slip shelf liner. It’s kind of like a thin, rubbery mesh. I cut out pieces to match the shape of the cushions and used some fabric glue to attach them.

• Result: Better, but still not perfect. The cushions definitely slid less, but they still crept around a bit, especially if someone actually, you know, sat on them. Plus, the fabric glue was a bit messy, and I’m pretty sure I got some on my fingers. (Don’t tell my wife.)

Then, I had a brainwave (or maybe it was just desperation). I remembered seeing these furniture gripper pads online –- they’re like little felt circles with a rubbery backing. The idea is that the felt side goes against the furniture (or cushion, in my case), and the rubber side grips the floor.

• Result: Bingo! These things actually worked! I just stuck them on the bottom of each cushion, and they stayed put. No more sliding, no more creeping, no more sticky residue. The cushions finally behaved themselves.

The felt pads are working like, they are not moving, my friends have sat down several times and I no longer pick them up every day. It is a very good solution.

So, there you have it. My journey from cushion chaos to cushion calm. It took a few tries, but I finally found a solution that works. If you’re battling sliding cushions (or anything else that won’t stay put on your hardwood floor), give those furniture gripper pads a try. You might just save yourself a whole lot of frustration (and maybe a few sticky fingers, too).