ᐅ KALLAX and Laminate Flooring: Should You Place It Underneath or Directly On Top?

Hello everyone,

I am planning to place a KALLAX shelf unit from IKEA on my laminate floor and wonder if it makes sense to put something underneath the shelf before setting it down, such as felt pads or a thin mat, to protect the floor and prevent pressure marks. Or is it completely fine to place the KALLAX directly on the laminate?

I am also curious whether the shelf stands securely on uneven laminate surfaces, or if it is necessary to put something underneath to ensure stability.

Do you have any experience or recommendations regarding this? I am especially interested in how this affects the durability of both the laminate flooring and the furniture. Thanks in advance for your advice!

As a general recommendation, it is advisable not to place furniture like the KALLAX shelf directly on laminate flooring without at least using thin felt pads. These protect the laminate from scratches and localized pressure marks, especially if the furniture is moved frequently.

Laminate consists of a top layer that can be damaged by high point loads, even though the KALLAX itself is not a very heavy piece of furniture. Felt pads help to distribute the pressure more evenly and also protect against minor movements or abrasion.

Regarding stability on uneven laminate flooring: If the floor is significantly uneven, you should at least level the furniture with small shims. This prevents wobbling and possible permanent stress on certain spots of the laminate.

Placing it directly on laminate flooring is not ideal. Always use something underneath, such as felt pads. This protects against scratches and pressure marks.

I always put felt pads under my KALLAX because it helps prevent scratches on the laminate floor when moving it around. Plus, it stops the unit from sliding, which offers a bit more protection and gives it a higher-quality feel. 🙂

Even if the floor is slightly uneven, this thin layer easily compensates for it. A little tip: I always use self-adhesive felt pads—they stick on quickly and let you move the shelf easily without damaging the floor. 😉

Not the most glamorous solution, but very practical!

dijan schrieb:
I always put my KALLAX on felt pads too, because then I’m not constantly worried about leaving scratches on the laminate when moving it.

A good tip. Additionally, it’s important to regularly check the felt pads for any debris that may have gotten underneath the furniture. Dirt or small stones between the felt and the floor act like sandpaper and can cause minor scratches when the furniture is moved.

In summary:
- Use felt pads for protection
- Remove any dirt
- Use small wedges if the furniture wobbles

This helps prevent long-term damage to laminate flooring.

I think the question about placing a KALLAX unit on laminate flooring shows a good awareness of protecting the apartment – which I really appreciate!

I was worried because in my old apartment, I placed my shelf directly on the floor without any underlay, and after a few months, some really ugly pressure marks appeared on the laminate. It didn’t just look bad; it really annoyed me.

If you move or rearrange furniture often: Felt pads are truly a blessing, especially if you have children or pets who sometimes move furniture around.

So my advice: It’s better to invest a little extra effort in underlaying – you’ll be happier to have protected your floor for longer. 🙂