ᐅ Narrow KALLAX doors wanted – are there any alternatives?

Hello everyone,

I am currently facing a very specific challenge with furnishing using KALLAX shelving units from IKEA. The standard doors available for KALLAX are practical, but they are simply too wide for my particular use case. Specifically, I am looking for narrower doors that fit individual compartments because I don’t always want to equip entire modules with doors, but rather selectively close off single, narrow sections—ideally with a door system slimmer than the official options.

My question to the community is: Are there any proven, practical alternatives to the original KALLAX doors that are narrower or otherwise suitable for slim compartments? Perhaps custom builds, other manufacturers, or special fittings that can be used? I would appreciate any tips or experiences, especially if someone has already implemented something similar and can share how stable and functional it was.

Thanks and best regards,
Ensar

Hello Ensar,

First of all, I find your question very clear and helpful! I am familiar with the challenge of the standard KALLAX doors – they are indeed often too wide when you want to cover only individual, narrow compartments.

One alternative could be so-called furniture fronts or doors from third-party suppliers that are specifically made for shelves. These can often be ordered as custom single doors at hardware stores or furniture shops, although this involves some effort. A laminate or MDF cut with appropriate hinges can also be a solution. This way, you have the option to choose doors in exactly the width you need.

Moreover, using magnetic catches or small locking systems that take up very little space but hold the door securely is recommended.

Ensar schrieb:
Are there proven, practical alternatives to the original KALLAX doors that are narrower or otherwise suitable for narrow compartments?

As an addition: Some users also build door panels themselves from thin plywood – with a bit of DIY skill, this is not too difficult. Of course, it also depends on the desired design and stability.

If you like, I can send you some sources and instructions. 🙂

Best regards!

Hello Ensar,

I find your question very interesting, especially since KALLAX-specific solutions often focus only on the given dimensions.

Regarding narrow doors:

One option is to make narrow doors yourself from MDF or another suitable wood-based material. It is important to use the exact measurements of the storage compartments, as these are not always precise to the millimeter.

The main challenge is finding suitable hinges. Standard hinges are often designed for door widths larger than the small individual KALLAX compartments. Here, it is advisable to use cup hinges with a small overlay or special folding hinges, which are also used in the furniture industry for tight spaces.

Sliding door systems are also worth mentioning: for example, you could create a custom sliding door that runs over the compartment. This saves space and avoids the swing of a door that is too wide.

You should also consider the furniture’s load-bearing points and the stability of the material. Door frames made from strips can help—this gives the door more stability without making it too heavy.

BeAndrea schrieb:
A laminate or MDF cut-to-size with suitable hinges can also be a solution.

I can only confirm that, especially because you can customize the color exactly, which is not possible with original IKEA parts.

Have you already taken the exact measurements of each compartment? These are the basis for everything else.

Best regards

Hey Ensar and all other KALLAX puzzlers 🙂

So, narrow KALLAX doors? Sounds like a DIY project with great potential for something really cool. I think sometimes it’s a lot of fun to push the limits of ready-made furniture and create a bit of a custom build.

Important: Consider whether you really need a door or maybe clever fabric panels attached with Velcro would work. Or adhesive fabric sheets that you can quickly stick onto the compartments – easy to apply and depending on the pattern, can look very stylish.

Domau0 schrieb:
You could, for example, make a custom sliding door that glides over the compartment.

Sliding doors are a great alternative if you want to save space. Just imagine how cool it could be with narrow sliding fronts that you can move around as you like.

If you have a workbench and tools, try using plywood, painted or laminated, for the doors. The Velcro fabric solution works well if you want to experiment quickly and cheaply.

Looking forward to seeing which solution you choose! Good luck 🙂

Hello Ensar,

There are no original replacement doors available for the narrower KALLAX units. Building them yourself or using third-party options is the only solution.

Recommendation: Have thin MDF cut to size, use small hinges, and add magnetic catches.

This works well and requires little time and money.

Best regards