Hello everyone, I am considering buying a Kallax shelving system from IKEA but am unsure which compartments are really recommended. There is quite a variety – from boxes, doors, and drawers to baskets. My main use is a combination of decorative display and practical storage for books, smaller electronic devices, and some files. I am therefore interested in which types of compartments are best suited for the long term to combine stable functionality, design, and flexibility. Are there any recommendations or experiences regarding which compartments are the most durable and easy to maintain? Thanks in advance for your insights!
GUSTAVO56 schrieb:
How exactly do you plan to use the space? Are you thinking of storing mostly lightweight items that can be moved easily, or things that will stay there permanently?Thanks for asking! Generally speaking, books and folders are intended to be stored permanently, while electronics like a small power bank, cables, and remote controls are more mobile but should still be stored securely. Additionally, I plan to display a decorative plant and possibly a picture frame in one compartment to prevent the shelf from looking too sterile.
Taking these usage scenarios into account, I recommend a combination of open and closed compartments. Open compartments are suitable for decorative items, as visibility is important and they provide easier access to, for example, books. Closed compartments or boxes are practical for electronics and documents to protect them from dust and damage. The choice of material is also important: plastic boxes are easy to maintain and durable, while felt boxes are generally lighter and offer more flexibility in handling.
K
Karsten452 Jul 2021 11:22I have a Kallax unit myself with a mix of different compartments – doors at the front, fabric boxes, and open sections. My tip: For books, I find the open compartments very practical because they keep everything visible and you don’t have to keep pulling out drawers. 🙂 The fabric boxes are great for small electronics; they protect everything and also look tidy. Plus, I use the doors for items I don’t need all the time or for documents, as they really make the area look neat and organized.
Hey, this discussion is really amazing! I love my Kallax with the colorful boxes and doors because it lets me arrange everything flexibly! 🙂 For electronics, I definitely use the boxes – that’s where all the cables and chargers go, and it looks a lot neater. I also think that the boxes help reduce dust buildup. For books, I always use the open shelves, because what you can see, you tend to use more often. So my tip: don’t hesitate to mix and match! 🙂
Khalil schrieb:
Go ahead and mix & match!I generally agree with this advice, but I also want to highlight the practical aspect: especially with heavier books, it’s important to ensure that both the Kallax shelf itself and the inserts used are sufficiently sturdy. Plastic boxes can easily deform if overloaded. So, if durability is a priority, it’s better to opt for the original wooden doors or separate, robust inserts. A functional mix is certainly desirable, but it should not come at the expense of durability.
Similar topics