ᐅ How do I attach Ikea PLATSA furniture to drywall or plasterboard walls?

Hello everyone! I am planning to mount Ikea Platsa furniture on a drywall or plasterboard wall and am looking for a reliable and secure method to do so. The wall is made of gypsum board panels, which usually are not very load-bearing, and I want to avoid any damage to the wall or the furniture falling down later. What options are there for safely installing PLATSA shelves or cabinets? Are there special anchors or techniques that have proven effective? I am especially interested in tips for preparation work, suitable fasteners, and advice on load distribution. Thank you in advance for your experiences and recommendations!

Wow, a great question for everyone using drywall partitions! 😊 In my experience, heavy-duty anchors, especially so-called "molly bolts," are extremely helpful with gypsum board. They distribute the load very well and are easy to install. This is important for IKEA PLATSA furniture, as it can often get quite heavy. Just pre-drill at the designated spots and insert the anchors, then you can securely screw in the screws. Important: If possible, fasten the furniture at multiple points to spread the force and provide more stability. Good luck with the assembly, it will surely turn out great!

GLALEO schrieb:
Heavy-duty anchors, especially so-called "Molly bolts," are extremely useful for drywall.

I'm not sure if that's the best recommendation. Molly bolts are good for lighter loads, but depending on the weight of the PLATSA furniture, they can quickly reach their limits. In my opinion, it's better to specifically locate the wooden studs or metal profiles within the drywall and screw directly into them. Otherwise, there's a risk that the entire structure won't hold up over time. The idea of attaching screws only into the gypsum board is quite unstable. What do you think?

matthewon schrieb:
In my opinion, it’s better to specifically locate the wooden beams or metal studs inside the drywall and screw directly into them.

Thank you, that makes sense. Unfortunately, I don’t know whether the wall contains wooden or metal studs, and more importantly: How exactly can I find them? Are there special tools or methods that reliably indicate where the load-bearing profiles are located? Additionally, I’m interested to know if it’s possible to secure furniture directly to the wall using tension fittings or something similar without fixing it permanently, in case I don’t want to damage the wall.

Good question, Kasekar! Here is a simple step-by-step guide to ensure your PLATSA furniture is securely mounted on drywall:

- Use a "stud finder" or a "metal and wood detector" that reliably locates small metal studs or wooden framing behind the drywall.
- Mark the spots where the studs are located. For metal studs, make sure to use drill bits with a metal tip.
- Attach the IKEA PLATSA furniture directly to the studs or metal profiles using long screws. This provides the best load-bearing capacity.
- If you cannot access the studs, use plastic expansion anchors suitable for drywall (e.g., Fischer Duopower) for light loads, or metal cavity anchors for medium loads.
- Distribute the weight by using multiple fastening points.

Common mistakes include using screws that are too short or drilling only into the drywall – this usually does not hold! If you like, I can send you a list of suitable anchor types later.

Once you have located the studs, pre-drill with a 4 mm (0.16 inch) drill bit and screw in 5x60 mm (0.2x2.4 inch) wood screws. Make sure the screws penetrate deep enough into the stud. For hollow drywall, hollow wall anchors are suitable. Consider the weight of the furniture and use appropriate anchors according to the specifications.