ᐅ How do I install IKEA Metod cabinets on uneven walls and floors?

Hello everyone,

I am planning to install new IKEA Metod kitchen cabinets in my apartment, but I am facing the problem that the walls and floors in my old rental are not perfectly straight. There are slight slopes on the walls, and the floor is also slightly uneven.

Has anyone had experience building Metod cabinets under these conditions so that they stand properly, appear flush, and the doors close well? I am especially interested in tips on alignment, possible use of filler pieces, shims, or special installation methods that help compensate for irregularities. Specifically, how do you measure on sloped walls and uneven floors, and how do you account for these uneven surfaces when installing?

I want to avoid the cabinets standing crooked or loose, or having problems with alignment or stability later on. I would greatly appreciate helpful, detailed recommendations.

First, use a spirit level and a long straightedge to measure the unevenness of the wall and floor.

Place sturdy, thin shims under the cabinet feet until the cabinet stands level. Filler pieces between the wall and the cabinet can improve the appearance.

You can usually adjust the door hinges on Metod to compensate for minor misalignments.

Lidan56 schrieb:
Place stable, thin plates under the cabinet feet until the cabinet stands level.

This is a good starting point, but I would like to go into more detail:

1. Measuring: Use a 2-meter (6.5 feet) spirit level or a laser level tool to accurately determine any wall and floor inclinations. Mark several points to create a height profile.

2. Floor leveling: If the floor is uneven, you can use adjustable furniture feet or special leveling plates to set the cabinets perfectly horizontal.

3. Frame adjustment: For Metod cabinet frames, you can often slightly adjust the vertical profiles so the carcass fits snugly. Caution: Ensure no pressure is applied to the cabinet joints.

4. Fillers and trim strips: For slanted walls, custom-made fillers (e.g., made from wood-based panels) work well; these are later screwed to the cabinets. They must be precisely cut and can be filled or painted for a clean finish.

5. Door adjustment: IKEA Metod doors allow extensive hinge adjustment, which helps to compensate for any unevenness.

6. Caution regarding load: Especially when heavy appliances or countertops are installed, the structure must be absolutely stable. A crooked cabinet can cause stress and damage due to pressure.

I would be interested to know the actual size of the unevenness in your case to better assess the situation.

PIN66 schrieb:
I’m interested in how large the unevenness specifically is in your case, to better assess it.

Thank you for your detailed response! The floor unevenness is about 1.5 cm (0.6 inches) over a length of 2 meters (6.6 feet), and the walls are slanted by roughly 1 cm (0.4 inches) in some areas, sometimes also wavy. The apartment dates from the 1960s, so naturally it’s not perfectly straight.

My thoughts were on how to prepare filler pieces as precisely as possible, and whether it would be better to build a stable base solution with adjustable feet instead of placing the cabinets directly on the floor given such significant floor unevenness.

Also, I’m unsure whether it makes sense to additionally secure the cabinet frames to the wall with mounting strips, even if the wall itself is crooked. That might cause twisted stresses. Has anyone had experience with this?

annaberta schrieb:
Anyone have experience with this?

Yes, I had exactly the same issue during my kitchen renovation last year! 💪

I used adjustable legs – super practical because you can perfectly level the cabinets even if the floor is uneven. I also cut filler pieces from thin MDF panels precisely and screwed them to the walls before installing the cabinets. Important: first tape everything with painter’s tape and fit it, then drill.

As for the mounting strips on the wall: I only attached them to the upper cabinet rails and fixed them lightly to avoid twisting the cabinets, while still keeping them stable.

I was then able to adjust the doors perfectly using the Metod hinges – IKEA has really figured that out brilliantly!

So don’t get discouraged! With a bit of patience, it will turn out great. I love it when everything fits perfectly in the end! 😊

fepau schrieb:
I worked with adjustable feet – super practical, as you can perfectly align the cabinets even if the floor is uneven.

This is a key recommendation. Additionally: For floor irregularities of 1.5 cm (0.6 inches), you should definitely use adjustable furniture feet or leveling screws that can compensate for at least that height difference.

I also recommend a precise prior measurement using a spirit level and an inclinometer to capture deviations in multiple directions (horizontal and vertical).

When attaching to the wall, caution is necessary:
- Screws should only be placed where the wall is still load-bearing.
- To reduce stress, flexible mounting points are better than rigid mounting rails.

Custom-cut filler pieces made of wood-based panels cannot be replaced here, as they ensure a visually clean finish.

In general, IKEA Metod inherently allows for some tolerance, but with uneven walls and floors, precise planning and execution are crucial. Do you already have any special measuring tools at hand?