ᐅ After remodeling, the old Kallax no longer fits in the corner – how can it be shortened?

Hello everyone,

I recently redesigned my apartment and noticed that my old Ikea Kallax shelving unit no longer fits in the intended corner. The corner is now significantly narrower because I moved the wall, and the shelf is about 10cm (4 inches) too wide. Since I don’t want to replace the shelving unit, I’m considering how to shorten the Kallax to fit without losing stability or having to completely take it apart.

Does anyone have experience with safely cutting down a Kallax shelving system? Should individual boards be trimmed, or are there other tricks to adjust the width? It’s also important to me not to damage the usual slots and connection points.

I look forward to your ideas and tips!

Hello Jordi65,

First of all: I’m familiar with your problem, as I have customized a Kallax to size myself.

There are several ways to shorten it:

1. Cutting individual boards to length: This method is precise, but requires very accurate sawing, for example with a table saw. The joint groove must not be damaged in the process. Usually, the stability is hardly affected if the side panels are cut cleanly.

2. Completely rebuilding: Disassemble the shelf, shorten the side panels, and reassemble. Since the parts are glued or screwed, this is more labor-intensive.

3. Alternative: Notch the shelf slightly on the side and extend it with a custom-built construction. This is more complex, but preserves the original shelf entirely.

My advice: Measure how much you want to shorten, then check if you can saw it with a good handheld circular saw or a multitool. Important: use a fine-tooth saw blade for a clean cut and neat edges.

Also, after cutting, you should reinforce the cut edges with wood glue and possibly an edge banding strip to ensure stability.

If it’s only 10cm (4 inches), I would simply shorten either the right or left side panel and then reassemble the shelf. This way, the internal dimensions remain almost the same and the shelf stays stable.

I hope this already helps you!

You can shorten the side walls individually using a fine saw. Work carefully to avoid damaging the joint grooves.

Hello Jordi65,

to finalize klabe’s explanation: It is important to disconnect all joints before shortening, meaning you need to remove the wooden dowels.

Step-by-step:

1. Disassemble the shelf, especially the side panels.
2. Secure the side panels on the workbench.
3. Use a guide rail to make the cuts.
4. After cutting, smooth the cut surfaces with sandpaper.
5. Finally, reassemble all parts.

Common mistake: Cutting inaccurately or working without a guide rail – this results in uneven edges.

Conclusion: You can definitely shorten a Kallax if you have enough patience and some basic DIY skills.

I would only shorten the side panels, not the shelves. They need to fit precisely, otherwise everything will be out of alignment.

If you don’t have a saw, you could ask a local carpentry company. They often cut wood more affordably than you might expect and can do clean work.