ᐅ How do you properly secure IKEA Brimnes shelves to the wall?

Good morning everyone, I recently purchased an IKEA Brimnes shelf and now want to securely and properly fix it to the wall. My question is which steps and materials you would recommend to ensure the shelf is especially stable. I am particularly interested in how to best anchor the brackets into the wall, whether the type of wall plugs is important, and what to consider with different wall types (e.g., drywall, masonry, concrete). Are there any special tips or common mistakes to avoid when mounting the Brimnes shelves? I look forward to your experiences and advice!

Hello Zionbau,

First of all, an important point: The Brimnes shelves are fixed to the wall using an angle bracket, which IKEA mostly includes. However, do not cut any corners, especially if the wall material varies!

Step by step:
- First, check the type of wall using an appropriate testing device or by tapping. If it’s drywall, you will need special drywall anchors; for concrete, heavy-duty anchors are better.
- Mark the drill holes precisely using the template or a tape measure, making sure they align with the shelf brackets.
- For hollow walls, use cavity anchors (known as Molly bolts or toggle bolts). For solid walls, expansion anchors (plastic or metal) are recommended.
- The drill hole size should match the anchor exactly; otherwise, the fixation will lose its strength.
- Be careful when pre-drilling: drill straight and not too deep to avoid weakening the wall.

I wonder if you already know what type of wall you have? That would really narrow down the recommendations.

One more tip: Adjust the shelf with two people to minimize stress damage when tightening.

Hello,

I’d like to add some information, as when mounting Brimnes shelves, it’s common to see that the included screws and wall plugs alone are not sufficient, especially on drywall.

My tutorial for a secure installation:

- Prepare the tools: drill, spirit level, pencil, screwdriver
- Analyze the wall: use sherpa or metal toggle bolts for drywall. For concrete walls, use appropriate heavy-duty anchors—never the standard plastic plugs meant for lightweight walls
- Mark the drilling points using the spirit level to ensure the shelf is mounted straight
- Drill holes exactly according to the size of the wall plugs
- Then attach the brackets and shelf with the screws—always pre-assemble first and only tighten fully once everything fits correctly

Common mistakes:
- Drilling holes that are too large, which causes the plugs to be loose
- Not using a spirit level
- Not pressing the brackets firmly against the wall (which can cause instability)

Conclusion: Even though IKEA provides all necessary parts, you should always adapt the fixing materials to your wall type as needed.

Great that you’re bringing up this topic here! Brimnes shelves really have potential when installed correctly. 🙂

I attached mine to a concrete wall last year and had really good results because I used heavy-duty anchors!

My advice: Always double-check multiple times that the screws are really tight. It might feel secure in theory, but test it again by gently shaking before loading the shelf.

And hey, don’t stress—it’s totally worth it in the end. Good luck, you’ve got this!

Only use metal toggle anchors for drywall. For concrete or brick, use hammer drive screws with appropriate anchors. Measure drilling points precisely and drill straight.

Thank you for the detailed answers! My wall is actually a standard brick wall, not drywall or concrete. The package included plastic anchors and screws, but they look like simple plastic plug anchors. Now I’m unsure whether I should switch to metal expansion anchors or heavy-duty anchors, since the shelf will be loaded with books and needs to be stable.

Are there any advantages or disadvantages of these types of anchors for brick walls, or perhaps recommendations for drill hole size? And how important is it that the screws press deeper into the shelf—should I use the longest screws possible? Thanks in advance!