ᐅ Are there transparent alternative doors available for the Kallax shelving system?
Created on: 21 Sep 2022 18:07
Z
zhikiHello everyone,
I’m new here and have a specific question about the IKEA Kallax system: Are there any transparent alternative doors available that can be used instead of the typical Kallax doors?
I want to make my Kallax appear more open and see-through without completely removing the doors—mainly for decorative storage or room elements that should be visible but still protected behind a door.
The official Kallax doors usually have opaque materials, often wood or MDF with a finish, but I haven’t seen clear transparent doors that fit perfectly and are of good enough quality to be worth purchasing.
Does anyone have experience with such transparent alternatives? Are there third-party suppliers offering doors made of glass or acrylic, for example? Or DIY solutions using special materials that are sturdy enough?
I’m also open to tips regarding the mounting since the doors need to fit snugly on the Kallax shelves. Thanks in advance for any information!
I’m new here and have a specific question about the IKEA Kallax system: Are there any transparent alternative doors available that can be used instead of the typical Kallax doors?
I want to make my Kallax appear more open and see-through without completely removing the doors—mainly for decorative storage or room elements that should be visible but still protected behind a door.
The official Kallax doors usually have opaque materials, often wood or MDF with a finish, but I haven’t seen clear transparent doors that fit perfectly and are of good enough quality to be worth purchasing.
Does anyone have experience with such transparent alternatives? Are there third-party suppliers offering doors made of glass or acrylic, for example? Or DIY solutions using special materials that are sturdy enough?
I’m also open to tips regarding the mounting since the doors need to fit snugly on the Kallax shelves. Thanks in advance for any information!
Hello zhiki,
Regarding your question: "Are there any transparent alternative doors that can be used instead of the typical Kallax doors?"
Basically, IKEA does not offer transparent doors for Kallax. The doors are almost always made from wood-based panels or MDF boards with a matte or glossy finish, which are not transparent.
However, there are several options:
1. Glass or acrylic panels as DIY doors: If you have some DIY skills, you can build suitable frames to insert transparent glass or plexiglass panels. This requires precise measuring and possibly drilling/screwing.
2. Third-party suppliers: Some online retailers or carpenters offer custom-made doors that may be made of real glass or polycarbonate. These are usually less practical because special hinges are required.
3. Modifying existing doors: Some people remove the original doors completely and attach plexiglass sheets with clips or magnets to the openings.
It is important to measure very precisely since Kallax uses relatively thick panels (about 3.8cm (1.5 inches)). The doors must then be constructed to be stable enough to avoid warping.
For mounting, I recommend hinges that can be attached to the outside of the shelving unit’s frame — a hinge system from a hardware store might be suitable, which you can then slightly modify.
If you want more details or an example setup, feel free to ask!
Regarding your question: "Are there any transparent alternative doors that can be used instead of the typical Kallax doors?"
Basically, IKEA does not offer transparent doors for Kallax. The doors are almost always made from wood-based panels or MDF boards with a matte or glossy finish, which are not transparent.
However, there are several options:
1. Glass or acrylic panels as DIY doors: If you have some DIY skills, you can build suitable frames to insert transparent glass or plexiglass panels. This requires precise measuring and possibly drilling/screwing.
2. Third-party suppliers: Some online retailers or carpenters offer custom-made doors that may be made of real glass or polycarbonate. These are usually less practical because special hinges are required.
3. Modifying existing doors: Some people remove the original doors completely and attach plexiglass sheets with clips or magnets to the openings.
It is important to measure very precisely since Kallax uses relatively thick panels (about 3.8cm (1.5 inches)). The doors must then be constructed to be stable enough to avoid warping.
For mounting, I recommend hinges that can be attached to the outside of the shelving unit’s frame — a hinge system from a hardware store might be suitable, which you can then slightly modify.
If you want more details or an example setup, feel free to ask!
klo40 schrieb:
However, there are several optionsThis is brilliant! I've always wanted something like this and never even considered DIY 🙂
Anyone with a bit of handyman skills can probably manage it and end up with a real one-of-a-kind! Thanks for the inspiration!
BOMILAN schrieb:
I recommend custom-cut acrylic sheets fitted in a frameThanks for the tip! How do you usually attach the acrylic doors to the shelving unit? Screws directly into the carcass material or clip-on frames? The original Kallax doors have special hinges, don’t they?
klo40 schrieb:
Regarding attachment, I recommend hinges that can be mounted on the outside of the shelving unit’s carcassCould you maybe provide a more detailed sketch or example for that? I often have trouble determining drill points on these kinds of shelves because of the material thickness and internal structure.
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