ᐅ KALLAX tends to sink easily into soft ground – how can this be prevented?

Hello everyone,

I have a problem that some of you might be familiar with: My IKEA KALLAX shelving unit is standing on a rather soft floor covering (PVC with some cushioning). The issue keeps occurring that the shelf slightly sinks or tilts, especially when it is loaded more heavily or bumped. The individual feet don’t seem to distribute the pressure well and press into the floor.

My question is: What options are there to prevent a KALLAX shelf from sinking into soft flooring? Are there proven solutions or simple tricks to reduce or better distribute the load on the floor without having to completely modify the shelf?

I look forward to any tips, suggestions, and experiences!

Fetean schrieb:
the problem that the shelf slightly sinks or sags

It almost sounds like you’ve encountered a pure structural engineering issue – but honestly, isn’t this more of a fundamental design flaw with these shelves? The feet are actually tiny, and given the large surface area of the floor, you can’t really expect a stable load distribution!

Why does hardly anyone get creative here and maybe add a larger support surface underneath? Sure, you could experiment with felt pads, wooden strips, or even rubber mats, but in my view: if the floor is too soft, buy sturdier furniture – otherwise, you’re only forcing partial fixes.

At least that’s my opinion: these solutions often feel more like patchwork than real remedies. What do you think?

rebufar schrieb:
If the ground is too soft, buy sturdier furniture

Okay, rebufar, that sounds almost a bit pessimistic, but I see your point 🙂

I would recommend trying this: just place small rubber pads or non-slip furniture pads under the legs of the KALLAX. You can find them at any hardware store, and they are easy to get. They also help distribute the weight much better.

Using a wooden board like plywood or MDF under the entire shelving unit can work wonders as well. It improves weight distribution and prevents the legs from sinking individually.

In my opinion, this whole issue can be solved without having to replace the furniture—you just need to know the right little helpers. ;-)

Hello everyone,

I would like to suggest a structured approach to prevent a KALLAX shelf from sinking into soft flooring:

1. Improve load distribution: Use a more stable and larger base under the feet. For example, attach small wooden or plastic plates about 10cm x 10cm (4 inches x 4 inches) in size to spread the weight over a bigger area.

2. Check height adjustment: If adjustable feet are available, make sure the shelf is level to avoid point loads.

3. Floor protection mats: Special felt or rubber pads act as buffers and help prevent sinking.

4. Analyze flooring characteristics: On very soft floors (thick padding, carpet, etc.), the load is usually higher, so increasing the contact surface is especially important here.

A common mistake is to consider only the feet as contact points and not to distribute the weight appropriately.

In summary: The solution lies in enlarging the support area under the feet to reduce pressure on the floor. This not only keeps the whole structure more stable but also makes it feel more secure.

If anyone is interested, I can gladly put together a small list of materials or sources.

Order wooden or plastic base plates.

Attach felt pads or rubber buffers underneath.

Alternatively, use plastic feet from a hardware store.

LANICOLE schrieb:
The solution is to increase the contact area under the feet to reduce the pressure on the floor.

This is really the key point that is often overlooked. I had exactly the same problem at home: over time, my KALLAX shelf noticeably pressed into the vinyl floor.

What worked really well for me was a simple but effective combination: placing a sturdy plywood board directly on the floor and setting the shelf on top of it. This distributes the weight evenly and prevents localized pressure points that cause sinking. Additionally, I attached small non-slip pads under the shelf feet to prevent sliding and compensate for slight unevenness.

This is a very easy but long-lasting solution, especially for people with sensitive or softer flooring.

Maybe this helps you! 🙂