ᐅ Is it possible to attach a KALLAX unit to the wall and remove it later without leaving any damage?

Hello everyone, I am planning to secure my KALLAX shelf to the wall to increase stability and prevent it from tipping over. My question is: can this attachment to the wall be removed later without leaving any marks or damage on the shelf or the wall?

I especially want to know if the screws will leave any marks on the shelf (such as through holes, cracks, or visible damage to the material) that cannot be repaired. I am also interested in whether the wall will have any permanent marks or damage that cannot be removed with normal effort.

I have read that KALLAX is made from a type of particleboard with a foil-coated surface, which might make residue-free removal difficult. If anyone has experience with clean removal, please share details such as which screws and wall anchors were used, how deep to drill ideally, and whether the surface should be protected with sealing or other methods.

Thanks in advance for all the tips!

Hello Fakafe,

Your question about removing a KALLAX shelf screwed to the wall without leaving marks is very valid, and I can help you based on experience and technical details.

Basically, the KALLAX is made of particleboard coated with a melamine foil. So, the surface is not solid wood but sensitive to water damage and mechanical stresses. For wall mounting, screws combined with anchors (dowels) are usually used, going directly through the KALLAX shelf into the wall. This creates through holes in the shelf that are not easy to conceal.

Fakafe schrieb:
whether the screwing leaves marks on the shelf (such as through holes, cracks, or visible material damage)

Yes, the shelf definitely gets holes from the screwing process, which are hardly repairable without any trace. Small screw holes can be temporarily treated with wood filler or putty and then painted over, but the melamine foil underneath will be damaged and often still visible.

Fakafe schrieb:
whether permanent marks or damage remain on the wall

Depending on the type of anchor used, there will usually be several holes left in the wall that need to be filled and painted over or, in the case of a major move, possibly replastered. If you use anchors in solid material (concrete or solid brick), residue-free removal is only possible through careful refinishing. For hollow walls, special cavity anchors are usually required, which can be damaged when pulled out, leading to larger holes.

My tip: Use the smallest and thinnest screws possible to minimize weakening of the material. Also, using felt or rubber washers on the inside of the screw head can distribute the pressure and protect the surface from cracking. For the wall, expansion anchors should be used in solid walls, while cavity anchors are recommended for drywall, depending on the wall type.

Do not screw too deep into the KALLAX, as the material becomes brittle there. Drill holes with a small diameter (4-5 mm) are sufficient.

In summary: While the shelf will definitely show marks from screw holes, these can be visually concealed with some effort. The wall, however, often remains damaged, though these marks are usually easy to paint over.

One more question: What type of wall do you have? Drywall, concrete, brick? That strongly influences the choice of anchors.

Thanks in advance for the detailed response; it helps me a lot.

My wall is a solid concrete wall, so it’s not lightweight drywall but sturdy masonry. I originally planned to use metal expansion anchors with 6mm (¼ inch) screws—thin enough but strong enough.

I have an additional question: Would a combination of pre-drilled holes (in the KALLAX) and a wooden plug after removal help to somewhat conceal the visible holes in the shelf? So basically drilling, screwing, then after removal pushing in a wooden or plastic plug, followed by sanding and light painting?

Or is the melamine surface so thin that sanding would immediately roughen the area? I’d like to avoid messy touch-ups as much as possible.

Maybe there are also tips regarding the choice of screw head type? Flat head, round head...? Thanks!

Hello Fakafe,

Regarding your addition: Due to the material properties of KALLAX (particleboard with melamine coating), I advise against heavy sanding because the melamine foil is only a few tenths of a millimeter thick and will become exposed or frayed with too much abrasion.

Filling screw holes with wood plugs is a possible solution, but the plugs should match exactly in color and material, since sanding or extensive repainting can be problematic.

Flat-head screws are preferable because they sit more flush and are easier to conceal with a cover or paint. Round-head screws leave a larger protrusion that is harder to hide.

It is advisable to keep the screw holes as small as possible (4–5 mm (0.16–0.2 inches) drill bit) and to countersink the holes before screwing so that the screw heads sit flush or slightly recessed.

Since it is a concrete wall, metal expansion anchors are suitable; however, these usually come out when you remove the shelf by unscrewing, leaving anchor holes in the wall. These holes should be filled after removing the anchors.

In short, residue-free disassembly without visible marks on the shelf is hardly possible but can be minimized with careful work.

Hello everyone!

I have already mounted my KALLAX several times on a wall (also a concrete wall) and can say: YES, it comes off almost without any residue! 🙂

I always used small wooden plugs that you can find in hardware stores. After unscrewing, I put them into the holes, covered them lightly with some filler, and then carefully colored over the surface with a matching felt-tip pen.

The melamine surface is quite delicate, but with these plugs, it looks really neat. Just make sure to match the color very precisely, otherwise, it will be noticeable.

GOLO42 schrieb:
Drill holes with a small diameter (4-5 mm) are sufficient.

I can confirm that! I usually use 4 mm (0.16 inch) screws, they hold perfectly.

kieran schrieb:
Flat-head screws are preferable

I also agree with that. Flat-head screws, preferably pre-drilled with a countersink, sit nicely flush against the shelf.

If you work carefully, hardly any traces remain after removal, and you only notice them upon very close inspection!

I wish you much success, it’s definitely doable!

Use wooden plugs, insert them after unscrewing; if needed, gently use fine sandpaper (very carefully!), then touch up with matching paint or marker. Use flat-head screws. Fill the anchor holes in the wall with filler.

This results in an almost residue-free finish.