Most of our ranges now come with soft-close drawer runners as standard. Here is what that means, which runner you will get on each range, and how to look after them.
By Andrew Hill, Coastwood Furniture · Last updated: September 2026
A drawer should do three things well: glide out smoothly, stay shut, and close without slamming. The part that decides all three is the runner, the mechanism the drawer sits on. Not every runner is the same, so here is a plain guide to the runners we use, the ranges they are fitted to, and the one upgrade we offer.
We recently moved most of our ranges to soft-close runners as standard. If you bought from us some time ago, your furniture may use one of the earlier runner types below.
Soft-close runners (now standard on most ranges)
Soft-close runners are now standard on most of our ranges, at no extra cost.
They run on full-extension metal ball-bearing slides with a damper built in. The damper catches the drawer in the last few centimetres and draws it closed gently, so it will not slam. The drawer pulls all the way out so you can see everything inside, and it carries a solid load.
For you that means no trapped fingers, no banging, and a drawer front that stays square over years of use rather than being knocked out of line.
Fitted as standard on:
Adventure, Alto, Andes, Andorra, Asher, Barclay, Bayswater, Brook, Bruno (excl. coffee & hall tables), Calais, Chicago, Fawn, Fenton, Hudson, Ivydale (excl. bedsides), Karamea, La Resta, Larry, Lynbrook, Mabel, Maison, Marlborough (selected pieces), McKenzie, Moana, Naseby, Neo, Northville, Nova, Ohope (excl. coffee & hall tables), Plyhome, Portland, Reva, Rhea, Santorini, Tillsdale (excl. small bedsides), Trinity (excl. small bedsides), Vegas, Veniece, Verve
A few pieces within these ranges keep standard full-extension runners rather than soft-close. Those are listed under Standard full-extension runners below.
Wood-on-wood (dovetail) drawers
Our traditional ranges use timber drawers running on timber, with hand-cut dovetail joints.
There is no metal runner here. The drawer is carried on timber rails and joined with English dovetail joints for strength. It is the traditional method and it suits the classic look of these ranges. Solid timber moves a little with the seasons, so in very humid conditions a drawer can tighten slightly.
One practical advantage: because nothing stops the drawer part-way, a dovetail drawer pulls right out. You get to the full depth of the drawer and can see everything in it, rather than the back few centimetres being hidden behind a runner stop.
Fitted as standard on:
Charlton, Ferngrove, Marsden, Metro, Mill-Yard, Nordic, Villager, Waihi
Upgrade: you can upgrade the dovetail drawers on these ranges to soft-close runners for $80 per drawer. This is the only drawer upgrade we currently offer.
Push-to-open runners
The Elm range uses push-to-open runners as standard.
These are full-extension runners with a light-press catch. Press the drawer front and it releases and opens, so the range can run without handles for a clean, modern look.
Fitted as standard on:
Standard full-extension runners (no soft-close)
A small number of ranges and pieces use standard full-extension runners without the soft-close damper.
These are metal ball-bearing slides that pull the drawer fully out and carry a solid load, but do not close themselves. On small, light drawers a damper adds cost and takes up internal space for little benefit, so we leave it off.
Fitted as standard on: Sleepneat (whole range). Also on selected pieces within otherwise soft-close ranges: Ivydale bedsides, Tillsdale small bedsides, Trinity small bedsides, and the coffee and hall tables in the Bruno and Ohope ranges.
A quick comparison
|
Runner type |
How it opens |
Self-closing? |
What it costs you |
|
Soft-close (standard on most ranges) |
Pulls fully out on metal slides |
Yes, closes gently |
Included, no extra cost |
|
Wood-on-wood dovetail |
Timber on timber, pulls out to a stop |
No |
Standard on traditional ranges; soft-close upgrade $80 per drawer |
|
Push-to-open (Elm) |
Press the front, it releases and opens |
No self-close |
Included on Elm |
|
Standard full-extension |
Pulls fully out on metal slides |
No |
Included on the pieces that use it |
How to remove your drawers
Wood-on-wood (dovetail) drawers: pull the drawer straight out to its stop, then lift the front slightly and draw it clear.
Metal runners (soft-close, push-to-open and standard full-extension): open the drawer fully. On each side, near the back, you will find a small release lever on the runner. Press the lever down on one side and up on the other (or as marked), and pull the drawer free.
[VIDEO: short drawer-removal walkthrough for metal runners]
Common questions
Can I upgrade an older Coastwood piece to soft-close?
[VERIFY: can existing/older furniture be retrofitted, and at what cost?]
Do soft-close runners wear out?
They are rated for years of daily use. If a damper ever weakens, the runner can be replaced without replacing the drawer. [VERIFY: state the runner load or cycle rating if we have it.]
Can I take the drawers out to move house?
Yes. Open the drawer fully, press the small release lever on each runner, and lift the drawer clear. Dovetail drawers pull straight out to their stop, then lift and out.
Are soft-close runners strong enough for a full drawer of clothes or linen?
Yes. They run on full-extension ball-bearing slides built to carry a loaded drawer. [VERIFY: quote the rated load per drawer if available.]
Not sure what you have?
If you are not sure which runner your range uses, or you would like to upgrade a dovetail range to soft-close, get in touch and we will help.
Related reading: Furniture Care · Which Type of Fabric is Best for Upholstery
