ᐅ How can Ikea Pax wardrobes be securely attached to drywall (plasterboard) walls?

Hello everyone, I’m facing the following issue: I want to assemble an Ikea Pax wardrobe and securely attach it to a drywall (gypsum board) wall. Since the wall is not solid, I’m wondering which fixing methods are truly suitable to safely support the weight of the wardrobe and the potential pulling forces from opening the doors over the long term. Are there any special anchors or mounting techniques you would recommend? Also, any tips on how to proceed if the wardrobe feet should not only rest on the floor but also be secured to the wall? I appreciate well-founded advice based on experience or reliable installation recommendations.

Hello Kuchrysant, that’s a really good question! 😄 To be clear: drywall by itself isn’t necessarily the most stable support for a heavy Pax wardrobe. But don’t worry, there are excellent anchors specially designed for hollow walls that distribute the weight very effectively. I recommend Fischer hollow wall anchors or similar ones with metal expansion. It’s important that you don’t fix the cabinet at just a few points, but use multiple attachment points along the hanging rails or side panels. Adding steel brackets for extra safety is also a great idea. This way, everything stays level, even if someone pulls hard on the door.

It is best to use metal hollow wall anchors, 8 mm (5/16 inch) or larger, depending on the weight of the cabinet. Fix the cabinet rails to the wall, ideally distributing the weight along them.

If possible, screw battens behind the drywall, for example, attach wooden blocks in the cavity and then mount the cabinet on them. Hollow wall anchors are only a second choice.

pintra schrieb:
I recommend Fischer hollow wall anchors or similar with metal expansion.

Thanks, pintra, for the tip about the Fischer hollow wall anchors! Could you explain a bit more precisely how you attach the screws to the slats or the wall? Especially with a Pax, there are often relatively thin side panels; I’m thinking more about screwing into the sturdy wooden slats behind them.

ANFIKE schrieb:
Screw slats behind the drywall, for example, by placing wooden blocks in the cavity

Is it still possible to do this on an existing drywall without much effort? Would I need to break open the drywall to fix the wooden blocks?

Sure! Yes, exactly, you shouldn’t just screw directly into the drywall, but try to anchor it more securely behind the studs. Often, drywall panels are attached to metal or wooden studs. With wooden studs, you can screw directly into the wood with long screws – this holds much better than just screwing into the gypsum.

If you use Fischer hollow wall anchors, the actual anchor rotates when tightening and clamps firmly on the back side of the panel.

When mounting a cabinet on the wall, use multiple fixing points and ensure the load is evenly distributed. During installation, you also apply leverage forces by opening the doors, so it’s always advisable to allow for a higher safety margin. 😉