ᐅ How can I make Ikea HEMNES furniture more sturdy than it is from the factory?

Hello everyone, I want to make my Ikea Hemnes wardrobe more stable than it is from the factory. The construction seems generally solid, but especially with wider versions or when storing heavier items, the wardrobe noticeably sways and doesn’t feel as sturdy as I would like. I’m interested in experiences and especially concrete tips on how to improve stability—such as additional fastenings, internal reinforcements, or securing it to the wall. I will mainly use the wardrobe for books and decorations, and want to avoid it sagging or becoming unstable over time. Does anyone have practical instructions or recommendations that go beyond normal assembly? Thanks in advance!

Simply attach a sturdy wooden board at the back or additionally install metal brackets in the corners. Don’t forget the wall fixing.

The HEMNES is solidly constructed, but it is mainly made of engineered wood, which is not ideal for wide spans or heavy loads. Generally, I recommend replacing or reinforcing the back panel. Here are a few points to consider:

- Remove the back panel and cut a 5mm (0.2 inch) thick plywood or multiplex board to size, then screw it on precisely. This helps prevent twisting much better than the thin particleboard provided.
- Add additional metal brackets on the inside, at the top and bottom, especially on the sides where loads occur.
- If possible, reinforce the legs with floor anchors, such as small brackets or extra screws in the base area.
- Definitely use a solid wall fix with either the manufacturer’s metal brackets or generally suitable metal brackets. These should be anchored directly into the cabinet frame with cross screws.

I’m curious: What kind of loads are you expecting? Is the cabinet used mainly for static load or will it be frequently opened and closed? Do you need more advice on material choice for the reinforcements?

lorena schrieb:
I’m curious: What are the approximate loads? Are you using the cabinet mainly for static load, or is there additional stress from frequent opening and closing? Do you need more tips on selecting materials for the reinforcements?

Thank you for the detailed response. I estimate the loads to be around 10-15 kg (22-33 lbs) per shelf, with a total of 4-5 shelves. It will mainly be a static load, as I have books placed on the shelves. However, I do use the doors regularly. There’s no unusual stress from rough door handling. Tips on materials for reinforcing the back panel would be great—multiplex plywood sounds like a good option.

Multiplex plywood is a very good choice for the back panel because it is less likely to warp compared to thin particleboard. I would recommend pre-drilling the panel and securing it with screws to evenly distribute the load. Additionally, it makes sense to reinforce the back panel in several places with wood glue to ensure a firmer fit.

Also, you should place the screws for the back panel not only along the edges but evenly across the surface. This improves stability by increasing the contact area.

One more tip: check the fit of the doors and the hinges, as doors that are too loose can also negatively affect the cabinet if they are frequently used.

I see two possible misconceptions here. First, people often try to strengthen the back panel using only thin boards, but over time this can lead to breakage around the screws. Second, while wall mounting is recommended, the significant impact it has on stability is often underestimated.

Therefore, I would suggest not only reinforcing the back panel but also reinforcing the shelves at the contact points with additional battens or brackets. This prevents sagging.

Also, it’s not clear to me how exactly the wall mounting is supposed to be done; simply screwing into the material often doesn’t provide enough support. You may need anchors with appropriate load ratings and solid substrates.

How do you handle this—what do you do about wall mounting, and how do your shelves hold up, especially under heavy loads?