ᐅ How can I prevent damage to walls and floors when assembling and installing Ikea BESTA units?

Hello everyone, I am planning to assemble an Ikea Besta furniture unit in my living room, but I am quite concerned about causing damage to the walls or my hardwood floor during installation. I especially want to avoid scratches from improper handling or moving, as well as incorrectly placed wall anchor holes.

My question is: How can I prevent damage to walls and floors when installing Ikea Besta units, both from a technical standpoint and regarding the procedure? Are there specific tools, preparation tips, or steps that should definitely be followed? Any experiences with the wall mounting options would also be very helpful.

Thanks in advance for your advice!

The most important thing is to carefully check the wall before assembly to ensure it is suitable for anchors. It is best to use felt pads under the feet of the BESTA units to protect the floor. I also recommend not moving the furniture alone to avoid scratches on the floor and walls.

The question of how to avoid damage to walls and floors when assembling Ikea BESTA furniture deserves a detailed explanation in my opinion. First, I would recommend preparing the workspace carefully: remove small objects and cover the floor extensively with a thick blanket or specialized laying fleece to prevent scratches when positioning the furniture.

When attaching to the wall, it is important to choose the appropriate plugs and screws depending on the wall type (e.g., concrete, drywall, brick). For heavy cabinets on drywall, for example, special cavity anchors are necessary.

Before drilling, use a cable detector to check for cables or pipes behind the wall. If uncertain, you can test with a small hole in an inconspicuous spot to better assess the material.

The assembly itself should be done by two people if possible, to carefully position the units without bumping into anything. Place felt pads under the furniture legs to protect the floor from scratches. Additionally, I recommend not sliding furniture directly on the floor but lifting slightly or placing on small furniture dollies.

Could you also tell me what type of floor you have? Hardwood, laminate, or tiles? That would help refine the recommendations.

Gafiel schrieb:
Can you also mention what type of flooring you have? Hardwood, laminate, or tiles? That would help refine the recommendations.

Thank you for the detailed response! I have hardwood flooring, which is especially important to me. Is any special protection needed for this? Are there felt pads with specific adhesion or thickness that you would recommend?

Parquet flooring requires especially careful handling when setting up furniture like Ikea BESTA. Soft felt pads are best because they distribute the weight and prevent localized pressure marks or scratches.

I would recommend attaching these to the furniture before assembly – this will save you trouble later. You can also temporarily lay protective mats on the floor if you need to move the furniture around frequently.

For mounting on the wall: If you plan to use wall plugs, be sure to measure and mark precisely with a spirit level. If possible, avoid drilling multiple holes in the same spot. Drilling carefully with a hammer drill on a low setting can also help protect the wall.

If you’re concerned about large holes, there are also special adhesive systems from Ikea as an alternative, although their load capacity is lower and they are more suitable for lighter items.

If you like, I can also give you tips on how to prevent the furniture from moving later, for example by using rubber buffers that reduce the risk of slipping.

Gafiel schrieb:
When attaching to walls, it is important to choose the anchors and screws based on the wall type (e.g., concrete, drywall, brick).

This is a very important point. For the BESTA series, I strongly recommend identifying the wall type. Use suitable expansion anchors for concrete or special anchors for hollow walls.

Additionally, I suggest calculating the exact load before drilling – Ikea provides maximum mounting weights which should not be exceeded. Properly aligned and level furniture distributes weight evenly, reducing the risk of cracks and chipping on the wall.

Although it seems obvious, always insert screws slowly and carefully, especially in drywall, to prevent the surface from crumbling.