Level wobbly furniture on an uneven floor using packers or adjustable feet, then check and protect the floor.
LF-01Clear the area and gather your toolsEmpty shelves, drawers or cupboards to make the piece lighter and safer to tip or shuffle. Lay a dust sheet down and move rugs out of the way. Get everything together before you start: spirit level, tape measure, shims or a levelling kit, and felt pads.
LF-02Check how uneven the floor really isRest the spirit level on top of the furniture and note which corner sits highest. Measure the gap under each low corner with a thin card or feeler gauge, in mm. Most dips are under 10mm; anything over 15mm needs a proper packer rather than folded card.
LF-03Check for adjustable feetLook underneath for feet that twist up or down — common on kitchen units, wardrobes, washing machines and some sofas. If you have them, use step LF-04a. If the legs or base are fixed, skip to LF-04b and use packers instead.
LF-04AAdjust the feet to level the pieceTurn the feet at the low corner clockwise to extend them, checking the spirit level after each turn. Adjust a little at a time on all feet touching the ground, not just the lowest one, so the piece sits evenly rather than tilted onto one leg.
LF-04BPack out low corners with shimsSlide a thin shim under the low corner, thin end first, until it sits snugly and the spirit level reads level. For gaps over 5mm, stack two or three thin shims rather than using one thick wedge, which is more likely to rock. Trim any shim that sticks out past the foot.
LF-05Secure the shims in placePut a small dab of wood glue between the shim layers and under the bottom shim, especially on hard flooring where shims can skate about. Leave it to cure for the time stated on the tube before putting weight back on the furniture.
LF-06Recheck the level and rock-test itPlace the spirit level across the piece in two directions — front to back and side to side — to catch any twist you might have missed. Push down firmly on each corner in turn; a properly levelled piece should not rock or click on any corner.
LF-07Fit felt pads to protect the floorStick a self-adhesive felt pad under each foot or shim stack. This spreads the load, stops scratching on hard floors, and makes any future fine adjustment easier because the piece slides rather than grips.
LF-08Tidy up and put everything backVacuum up any dust or offcuts from trimming shims. Remove the dust sheet, put shelves and drawers back in, and slide the furniture back against the wall or into position. Give it one last push-test once it's fully loaded again.
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