ᐅ Why do the doors in the Kallax sometimes close by themselves?

Hello everyone, I have a somewhat unusual question: Why do the doors in the Kallax shelving unit sometimes close by themselves, even though there is no apparent force acting on them? I feel that it’s not just due to incorrect adjustment or a defect, but perhaps related to physical or mechanical properties that I don’t fully understand yet. It would be great if someone could explain this phenomenon, ideally with advice on how to influence or prevent this behavior. Thanks in advance!

This often happens when the Kallax unit is not perfectly level or the floor is slightly uneven. The doors then close on their own due to gravity. Check the alignment and whether the floor is horizontal.

Elijah42 schrieb:
This often happens when the Kallax unit is not perfectly level or the floor is slightly uneven.

Exactly, that is actually the main reason. Kallax doors are hinge-mounted and do not have soft-closing or magnetic catches. If the furniture is slightly tilted, gravity affects the doors. Even small gaps can cause the doors to close softly on their own.

It is also important that the doors are installed correctly and that the hinges are tight. Over time, if screws loosen, this can worsen the issue.

Have you checked whether the cabinet itself is slightly warped? Sometimes there are problems caused by wood warping or temperature fluctuations that slightly change the material properties and can cause the doors to move unintentionally.

BENBI schrieb:
Have you already checked if the cabinet itself is slightly crooked?

Thanks, that makes sense to me. I actually haven’t measured yet whether the cabinet is perfectly plumb. However, my Kallax is standing on laminate flooring, which is relatively level, but I will check it more carefully with a spirit level.

Additionally, I noticed that the issue occurs more often with my left door than with the right one. I’m wondering now if this could be related to the hinges or the hinge screws. Could a loose screw alone cause the door to behave as if it wants to close by itself?

This can actually happen. If the hinges or their screws become loose, the alignment of the door changes slightly. This causes the door to hang not perfectly vertical but slightly tilted. As a result, gravity acts in one direction, and the door appears to close on its own.

My advice: unscrew the screws, apply some wood glue or a strong hammerite spray to the screws, and tighten them again. This increases adhesion and stabilizes the screw holes.

If that doesn’t help, you can also stick on felt pads or small door stoppers to mechanically prevent the door from slamming shut.

It is also worth considering the impact of air currents in the room. Doors that seem to close by themselves can be caused by drafts, for example from open windows, ventilation systems, or warm heating that moves the air.

trakla schrieb:
I am now wondering if this might have something to do with the hinges or the door hinge screws.

My view is this: Besides mechanical causes, environmental factors should not be underestimated. Before focusing too much on a screw, you should ensure that the room itself is not affecting the door's movement.