Furniture legs and castors buying guide

Whether you're looking to replace old table legs or build a custom-made unit for the bathroom, there's a huge variety of choice on the market when it comes to furniture legs. Furniture legs come in a wide range of designs and can be made to support tables, chairs, wardrobes or even beds. It's important to take a few different criteria into consideration when choosing legs to match your furniture. Bear in mind that a good furniture leg should both support the furniture and elevate your pieces in terms of design.

Shape

Furniture legs and feet come in a variety of shapes:

• round: ideal for households with young children;

• rectangular: more contemporary, but beware of sharp edges around children;

• bun: mainly used for low furniture such as beds, chests of drawers, etc.;

• spindle, carved, hairpin, etc. for furniture legs that make more of a statement.

Size and height

Furniture feet and legs also come in different sizes. The size of the legs must be chosen to match the dimensions and weight of the furniture and the needs of the person using it. Some feet are height adjustable meaning they can respond to a wider range of needs and preferences.

Materials

Furniture legs come in all sorts of materials. The material should be selected according to the type of weight the furniture will be expected to support, your preferences in terms of design and so on. They can be made of:

• wood, such as fir, oak or exotic woods, for a touch of elegance;

• aluminium for contemporary design and protection against corrosion;

• epoxy steel for strength, colour and value for money (but be careful since this material will rust once scratched);

• nickel metal: for easy maintenance and more strength than epoxy steel;

• stainless steel: recommended for garden furniture.

Different types of castors

Castor wheels come in a few different types to match various applications:

• fixed castors (without swivel);

• swivel castors;

• braked castors.

Castor materials

Castor wheels are made of different materials depending on the type of floor they will be used on, including:

• rubber for hardwood floors;

• plastic or wood for carpet;

• nylon for concrete floors;

• polyurethane for industrial settings;

• and so on.

Castor fixings

Castor wheels are fitted with a mounting system used to fasten them to the furniture or unit in question. This system may comprise a mounting plate or a threaded stem.

Mounting plates

Mounting plates are best for heavy loads and are usually used for castors designed for material handling.

Threaded stems

Threaded stems are often used for chairs or office furniture.

Castor wheel sizes

The size of the castor wheels must be chosen to match the weight of the furniture. Pay attention to the maximum weight limit of the castor. With regards to aesthetics, the size of the castors should generally be proportionate to the furniture they are expected to support.