ᐅ Moving a KALLAX unit on laminate flooring – will it leave marks?

Hello everyone, I recently bought a KALLAX shelf from IKEA and want to move it on my laminate floor because the space wasn’t ideal and I want to rearrange it. My question is: How likely is it that the shelf will leave marks or scratches on the laminate when moving it? I don’t have furniture pads under the feet, and the floor is quite sensitive. Are there any special tips or materials I can use to make moving it as gentle on the floor as possible? Thanks in advance for your experiences and advice!

Ligala schrieb:
How likely is it that the shelf will leave marks or scratches on the laminate floor when moved?

The risk largely depends on the weight of the KALLAX, the texture of the laminate floor—whether it’s rough or smooth—and, of course, the material of the shelf’s feet.

Moving it without any protection is almost careless, as even small stones or dirt can cause abrasion. Have you already cleaned the floor? Additionally, felt pads or special furniture protectors can be quite effective if applied correctly. These prevent hard edges from making direct contact with the floor.

It would also be useful to know whether you plan to move the shelf completely empty or already loaded with books or decorations. The weight plays a major role.

I once just pushed my KALLAX without much thought – well, we ended up with a few small scratches on the laminate flooring :/ Since then, we always put felt pads under the legs, which makes things a lot easier and safer :-)

You can also check if you have plastic furniture sliders; they’re great for short moves and save you from having to improvise.

Oh, and don’t forget to clean the floor beforehand! Otherwise, it can get really unpleasant.

Genevieve schrieb:
Moving without any protection seems almost negligent to me

I understand, but I wasn’t sure how well the laminate surface would handle it. The floor is a medium-hard vinyl with a wood look, and the KALLAX is half filled, so not completely full.

marcosku52 schrieb:
Felt pads under the feet

Good tip, adding those pads might be the best option. I wonder if there is any improvised solution if you don’t have pads available? Maybe cardboard or something similar? Or would that be more likely to cause damage?

Ligala schrieb:
Is there any improvised solution if you don’t have furniture sliders on hand?

Improvising can work, but be very careful. Cardboard only works on very smooth floors and usually only for very light furniture. With KALLAX and some weight, there is a high risk that the cardboard will tear or slip, causing scratches.

Alternatively, you can use fibrous carpet scraps or a piece of cloth as protection, placing it under the feet and slightly moving it while pulling. However, this increases friction, so more force is needed and you might end up lifting or bumping the furniture.

My suggestion: If it’s just a short-term solution, carefully slide the furniture using a damp cloth under the feet, or better yet, get two people to lift it.

Felt pads are the best option. Simply stick them under the edges. If there are no pads available, lift the furniture instead of sliding it.