ᐅ How do I install Ikea Pax wardrobes in rooms with uneven walls?

Hello everyone, I am currently facing the challenge of assembling our new Ikea Pax wardrobe system in a room with very uneven walls. The variations in the walls are several centimeters (inches), which makes attaching the wardrobes directly to the wall difficult and prevents proper alignment during installation. My question is: What proven methods or special techniques can you recommend for installing Pax wardrobe systems securely and neatly when the room has uneven walls? Are there any adjustments for wall mounting, the use of spacers, or special leveling of the wardrobe feet that help to compensate for irregularities? I am looking forward to your practical tips and experiences that will help me complete the assembly professionally and safely.

Hey, great question! I dealt with this myself a while ago and can encourage you right away: uneven walls don’t have to be a problem! :-) The key is to take your time with preparation and measure and adjust several times. I used some thick wooden spacers between the cabinet and the wall, which I cut to size. This way, I was able to fill the gap precisely and still secure the cabinets firmly and straight. Also, adjustable feet on the cabinets are invaluable, as they let you perfectly level the cabinet from the floor. Keep your chin up, it works out great—you can do it! 🙂

Regarding the installation of Ikea Pax wardrobes in rooms with uneven walls, there are several established approaches. First, it is advisable to accurately measure all wall irregularities before installation and record the points using a digital level and laser distance meter. Second, securing the cabinet frame with washers or spacer strips made of wood or plastic can compensate for unevenness. Third, additional reinforcement with screws into the wall studs is recommended, as they provide greater load-bearing capacity than the plaster layer. Load-bearing attachment solely to plaster should be avoided. Additionally, adjustable feet are recommended to compensate for uneven floors and ensure stability.

To ensure precise installation of the Ikea Pax system in rooms with uneven walls, I would like to explain some technical details that are often underestimated. First, it is essential to analyze the wall structure: Are the walls, for example, drywall with a subframe or solid masonry walls? This determines the choice of fastening materials. For significant wall irregularities, I recommend the following procedure:

- Use a precise spirit level and metal strips to measure the local unevenness and transfer these measurements to a support framework.
- Create spacer profiles from wood or MDF, exactly adapted to the wall, to serve as a substructure.
- Attach these profile rails to the wall using heavy-duty anchors, depending on the wall material.
- Then mount the Pax carcasses onto this substructure.

It is important that the Pax cabinets do not press or warp between the wall and floor. The adjustable leveling feet of the individual cabinets should definitely be used to visually and functionally compensate for floor unevenness. I wonder how significant the variations are in your case and what condition the floor level is in?

pauPierce schrieb:
I'm wondering exactly how strong the fluctuations are for you and what the floor level is like?

Thank you for the detailed response! The wall irregularities range between 1.5 and 3.2 cm (0.6 and 1.25 inches) at the widest points. The walls are made of solid masonry with plaster, which has partially come off in some areas, so I definitely don’t want to screw directly into the plaster. The floor is covered with laminate and is quite level; the unevenness is really almost entirely on the walls. Do you think MDF profiles are the best solution in this case, or is it worth considering metal profiles? How should I best fix the posts when the wall is uneven and part of the plaster is loose?

If the wall unevenness is this severe, it is definitely advisable to use a stable substructure, for example made of MDF or wooden battens, to mount the Pax cabinets securely and evenly. MDF has the advantage of being easy to work with and adapt, while metal profiles are very sturdy but require more effort for cutting and installation. Since your plaster is partly loose, it is especially important to ensure that the fixing is done only into the masonry and not the plaster. Heavy-duty metal anchors are recommended here. It is essential to remove or at least repair all loose plaster spots beforehand so that the anchors can bear the full load. The substructure also offers the advantage that you can later easily align the cabinets perfectly without having to adjust them to the uneven wall.