ᐅ After installing new laminate flooring, the KALLAX shelf is no longer level.

Hello everyone,

I recently installed a new laminate floor in my apartment. Since then, I noticed that my KALLAX shelf no longer stands level. More precisely, it wobbles in some spots because the surface underneath seems uneven. Before replacing the floor, the shelf was completely straight and stable.

I suspect that the new laminate floor was not laid perfectly flat, or there may be slight height differences caused by underlayment or impact sound insulation. The shelf is standing on a tile floor, and the surface was absolutely even beforehand.

Has anyone experienced furniture not standing straight after installing laminate flooring? What could be the possible causes? And what solutions are there to make the KALLAX shelf stable and level again without damaging the laminate floor?

Thanks in advance for any tips!

Erwin33 schrieb:
Since then, I’ve noticed that my KALLAX shelf no longer sits level. More precisely, it wobbles in some spots because the surface underneath seems uneven.

This is a common issue often caused by very slight unevenness in the new floor surface. Laminate flooring is usually installed as a floating floor, meaning it is not fixed directly to the subfloor but laid over an underlayment or acoustic insulation layer. These layers can have small height variations or fluctuations (sometimes only 1-2 mm (0.04-0.08 inches)) that are hardly visible to the naked eye.

Another factor is that the floorboards themselves can sometimes expand or contract slightly, especially depending on temperature and humidity, which can result in subtly uneven surfaces.

To stabilize your shelf, you can try supporting its contact points with small furniture pads made of felt or plastic. Alternatively, adjustable shelf feet are available that you can attach under the base to compensate for these fluctuations.

Have you checked whether the underlayment is compressing or if any small bumps are forming? Such spots can often be improved by adjustments (e.g., pressing down, smoothing out small folds).

Minor unevenness of up to 1-2 mm (0.04-0.08 inches) can usually be disguised quite well, and this often allows you to achieve maximum stability. Are you sure the laminate was installed completely flat, with no boards sticking up or binding?

kaubi schrieb:
Laminate floors are usually installed as floating floors

This is often the cause. The KALLAX shelf is not a particularly demanding piece of furniture – if it wobbles now, it is usually because the floor is not completely level or because the impact sound insulation is slightly thicker in some areas.

Erwin33 schrieb:
What solutions are there to make the KALLAX shelf stable and level again without damaging the laminate floor?

A simple and durable solution is to use furniture wedges or pads, which are usually made of plastic or cork. Small felt glides can also work if the height is right.

It is important to exactly compensate for the unevenness, otherwise the weight is not distributed properly and you still risk damaging the laminate. I would also recommend checking the floor first with a spirit level or even a long straight edge to precisely locate the uneven spots.

If the problem is only in one corner or on one side, you can address it locally. If there are several uneven spots, it might be worth checking the impact sound insulation.

If the shelf wobbles and rocks, you might also consider fixing it to the wall – this prevents accidents and sliding on the floor, which is especially common with KALLAX.

I would like to add some technical details to the previous posts, as this topic can be quite complex.

It is important that laminate floors are installed on a perfectly level and clean subfloor. If the floor was not precisely leveled beforehand, this can become noticeable and perceptible even after installation, even if the laminate appears visually fine.

kaubi schrieb:
Is the impact sound insulation compressing or are there slight bulges forming anywhere?

This is a key point: impact sound insulation can sometimes have uneven thickness or may not have been applied completely flat, leading to local height differences. Some insulation materials can also absorb moisture and deform. I recommend carefully checking which insulation was used and whether it is suitable for laminate flooring.

Regarding the furniture – the KALLAX shelf has a flat base without adjustable feet. That’s why small unevenness is problematic since it immediately causes wobbling.

Suggested solutions:
1. Place thin, non-slip felt pads under the shelf feet, about 1-2 mm (0.04–0.08 inches) thick.
2. Alternatively, small plastic wedges can be used and cut to fit exactly.
3. If possible, slightly adjust or additionally stabilize the shelf feet.

The most important thing is to identify the cause of the unevenness: Is it the floor, the insulation, or perhaps the shelf itself (slightly warped)?

Have you checked whether one side of the shelf is actually higher or if the unevenness is more evenly spread? A simple method is to place a spirit level along the bottom of the base.

Erwin33 schrieb:
What solutions are there to make the KALLAX shelf stable and level again without damaging the laminate flooring?

In brief: Use adjustable furniture feet that you can attach to the KALLAX shelf. This allows you to precisely compensate for unevenness and keeps the shelf stable without putting pressure on the laminate floor.

If the shelf doesn’t have feet, retrofit sets with screw-in adjustable feet are also available. These can be found at hardware stores or online.

Alternatively, small plastic or felt wedges can help to balance out individual wobbles. However, adjustable feet are the best and most permanent solution.

You should only check the impact sound insulation if the problem is quite pronounced. Often, small adjustments to the furniture supports are sufficient.