ᐅ What to do if your IKEA Hemnes furniture is uneven or wobbly?

Hello everyone, I have an issue with my IKEA Hemnes wardrobe: it does not stand level and gives way slightly when touched, or rather it has a slight wobble, which feels unstable. It seems that one or more of the four legs do not sit properly on the floor, or the material might be warping. Despite carefully following the assembly instructions multiple times and retightening all the screws, the problem has not improved.

I’m particularly interested in what methods you use to fix this: Do you need to use special shims, furniture glides, or other leveling elements? What is the best approach for uneven floors? And are there long-term solutions to permanently prevent this give or wobble?

I look forward to your tips and experiences!

Hello, it often helps to place small felt pads or additional wooden washers under the feet to compensate for unevenness. It is important that all screws and fasteners are really tight.

The issue often arises from a combination of slightly uneven floors and the relatively simple construction of the Hemnes wardrobe. The legs are not adjustable in height, which can cause rocking on laminate flooring or uneven parquet. A proven solution is to use self-adhesive furniture shims or to retrofit adjustable furniture feet.

Additionally, I recommend systematically checking the screws—make sure the joints have no play. Sometimes, carefully readjusting the back panel helps to stabilize the piece of furniture.

Oh yes, I know that from my Hemnes! 🙂 For me, the trick was to stick small rubber pads under one or two of the legs – now it stands rock solid and doesn’t wobble at all! Just give it a try, it doesn’t have to be complicated! Good luck 🙂

That sounds really frustrating, especially when you rely on a stable cabinet. I had a similar situation, and what helped me was taking the piece of furniture out of the room and checking the legs with a spirit level. Sometimes it’s just the floor that is slightly uneven. I understand that these small issues can quickly become annoying in daily life. I hope you find a simple and lasting solution.

To accurately identify the causes, it is helpful to approach the issue in a structured way:
- First, measure the exact floor condition, for example, using a digital level.
- Next, check each leg of the Hemnes. These are usually fixed feet without height adjustment on standard IKEA models.
- Then, it is advisable to lift the cabinet and place thin wooden wedges or plastic shims under the feet to compensate for height differences.

It is important to check all screws in the corners and on the back panel, as loose connections can also reduce stability. The “rocking” usually results from a combination of uneven flooring and twists in the cabinet frame.

Alternatively, adjustable furniture legs (such as those from hardware stores) can be installed to precisely level the cabinet. Another good option is to retrofit anti-slip pads, which increase stability and compensate for minor unevenness.

In conclusion: On very uneven floors, a larger base plate under the furniture can provide greater stability.