Hello everyone!
Some time ago, I bought a Kallax shelving unit from IKEA, and not all of the shelves have been installed yet. Now I’m considering adding the shelves later because my storage needs have changed. My question is: how difficult is it really to add shelves to an already assembled shelving unit?
I’ve read that you sometimes have to partially disassemble the unit or use special tools because some of the drill holes and dowels are partially hidden.
Does anyone have experience with this? How much effort is involved, and are there any tips or tricks to add the shelves more easily without taking the whole unit apart?
I’d appreciate any insight, especially if you can recommend tools or techniques to make the process easier. Thanks in advance!
Some time ago, I bought a Kallax shelving unit from IKEA, and not all of the shelves have been installed yet. Now I’m considering adding the shelves later because my storage needs have changed. My question is: how difficult is it really to add shelves to an already assembled shelving unit?
I’ve read that you sometimes have to partially disassemble the unit or use special tools because some of the drill holes and dowels are partially hidden.
Does anyone have experience with this? How much effort is involved, and are there any tips or tricks to add the shelves more easily without taking the whole unit apart?
I’d appreciate any insight, especially if you can recommend tools or techniques to make the process easier. Thanks in advance!
Hello Fepuge,
In principle, retrofitting shelves in a Kallax unit is not impossible, but it can often be a bit tricky. If the unit is already fully assembled and screwed together, you usually need to disassemble at least part of it to access the connectors and dowels. The shelves typically have small pins that fit into the pre-drilled holes. It becomes difficult if, due to a fixed installation, you can no longer see or reach the appropriate holes.
My advice: Check if you can slightly lift the unit or if you only need to unscrew parts. Sometimes it’s enough to remove just the top panel or one side panel for disassembly. A cordless drill with the right bits is useful, and you might also need a thin screwdriver to pry out the dowels.
Good luck!
In principle, retrofitting shelves in a Kallax unit is not impossible, but it can often be a bit tricky. If the unit is already fully assembled and screwed together, you usually need to disassemble at least part of it to access the connectors and dowels. The shelves typically have small pins that fit into the pre-drilled holes. It becomes difficult if, due to a fixed installation, you can no longer see or reach the appropriate holes.
My advice: Check if you can slightly lift the unit or if you only need to unscrew parts. Sometimes it’s enough to remove just the top panel or one side panel for disassembly. A cordless drill with the right bits is useful, and you might also need a thin screwdriver to pry out the dowels.
Good luck!
Hey Fepuge!
In my experience, installing the shelves afterward can be a bit of an adventure—but don’t worry, it’s not Mount Everest! ;-)
The key is often to slightly loosen the side panels so the dowel holes become accessible. Otherwise, you might end up poking the wall like clockwork 😅. With the right cordless drill and a bit of patience, you can handle it comfortably—and then enjoy a more organized everyday life!
Have fun installing the shelves and feel free to share how it went! 🙂
In my experience, installing the shelves afterward can be a bit of an adventure—but don’t worry, it’s not Mount Everest! ;-)
The key is often to slightly loosen the side panels so the dowel holes become accessible. Otherwise, you might end up poking the wall like clockwork 😅. With the right cordless drill and a bit of patience, you can handle it comfortably—and then enjoy a more organized everyday life!
Have fun installing the shelves and feel free to share how it went! 🙂
nubar schrieb:
Sometimes it’s enough to loosen just the top panel or one side wall.Thanks for the tip, that sounds doable. Do you know if reinstalling the shelf later makes it particularly unstable if it’s only partially screwed in or if some screws are loosened multiple times during assembly?
This is important to me because the shelf will stay in the apartment and needs to withstand some load.
Would you also recommend installing the shelves first and then fully tightening the shelf unit? Or does the assembly work well the other way around too?
Fepuge schrieb:
Do you know if installing the shelf later makes it particularly unstable if it is only partially screwed in?Good question! If you only partially screw in the shelf during assembly, the stability will of course be somewhat reduced. This is especially important for tall or wide Kallax units, as they can wobble without full fastening.
Personally, I recommend preparing the shelves first and then assembling and fully screwing the unit together. This provides the best stability. If that’s not possible, be careful not to apply too much pressure or stress to the unit when loosening it, to avoid damage or deformation.
One more tip: temporarily support the unit during assembly, for example with clamps or sturdy objects, so nothing shifts.
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