ᐅ Has anyone combined two Kallax units at a right angle?

Hello everyone,

I have a question and hope to benefit from your experience: Has anyone here ever joined two Kallax shelves at a corner? I mean placing two Kallax units so that they meet and form a kind of corner solution—in other words, an L-shape. I’m especially interested in how stable such a construction is, whether there are special connectors from Ikea or third-party accessories, and if the appearance remains cohesive. I’m also wondering about the assembly process—whether you have to improvise to securely connect the shelves or if there are smart tricks I might have overlooked.

The shelf is mainly intended to serve as a room divider in the living room, and I want to prevent it from wobbling or coming apart. Looking forward to your tips and experiences, especially if you have built or modified something like this yourself!

Dagnon schrieb:
Has anyone here ever combined two Kallax shelves at a corner? I mean placing two Kallax units so they meet and create a kind of corner solution – basically an L-shape. I’m especially interested in how stable such a construction is, whether there are any special connectors from Ikea or accessories available, and if the look stays consistent.

Hey, great question! I have exactly that at home – two Kallax shelves combined at a corner using simple metal brackets I got from a hardware store. They really stabilize the whole thing well, and you don’t notice that the shelves weren’t originally designed as a corner unit. The look stays neat if you attach the brackets on the inside, so they’re barely visible.

When assembling, just make sure the back panels are well secured, as that adds extra stability. Using the shelf as a room divider works really well – it makes the space feel cozy and inviting without looking bulky :-)

raulso schrieb:
I have something exactly like that at home – two Kallax units combined at a right angle, using simple metal brackets that I bought at the hardware store.

That sounds practical, but how about the load-bearing capacity? A construction using only brackets without additional reinforcements can become problematic under heavy loads.

Dagnon schrieb:
I am mainly interested in how stable such a construction is, and whether there are special connector pieces from Ikea or accessories available[..]

As far as I know, Ikea does not offer specific corner connector profiles for Kallax units. Therefore, I would recommend reinforcing the construction with so-called “clamps” or special furniture fasteners. Additionally, the shelving should definitely be fixed to the wall to prevent tipping. From an aesthetic perspective, I am cautious about forcing stability using rough hardware-store products – this can quickly look untidy.

I would like to add that when combining two Kallax shelving units at a right angle, precise planning is crucial. As Dagnon describes, the goal is a stable and visually appealing corner solution serving as a room divider.

It is important to align the back panels of the units accurately and reinforce the connections inside with, for example, metal brackets or sturdy wooden battens. Additionally, I recommend securing the units to the wall or floor if possible. This prevents unintended shifting or tipping forward.

BAUEVA schrieb:
From a visual perspective, I’m skeptical when stability has to be forced using rough hardware store products

That is a valid point. For example, you can use flat, as small as possible, and color-neutral brackets or look for more elegant connectors from furniture suppliers.

If the corner combination is assembled correctly, it can be both stable and attractive. It also depends on the intended use: light decorations are no problem, but for heavier loads such as bookshelves, more caution and additional reinforcement are advisable.