ᐅ Are there transparent alternative doors available for the Kallax shelving system?
Created on: 21 Sep 2022 18:07
Z
zhiki
Hello 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 again,
regarding the mounting of transparent doors:
- Original Kallax doors use simple cup hinges that are attached to the back of the shelf frame with screws.
- You can also use these for DIY doors, as long as the door thickness and material are suitable.
- For plexiglass, it is usually advisable to use small framing strips made of thin wood or aluminum, which you connect to the hinges.
- When drilling into plexiglass, be sure to work slowly with an appropriate drill bit to avoid cracking the material.
Alternatively, there is the so-called "clip-on" system often used by furniture makers. Small mounting brackets are screwed onto the shelf frame, into which the door is then hung. This is convenient if you want to remove the door frequently.
Unfortunately, I don’t have a sketch here, but searching for "cup hinge cabinet mounting" online provides quick visual examples.
If you need a drawing, I can gladly create one for you in a few days.
regarding the mounting of transparent doors:
- Original Kallax doors use simple cup hinges that are attached to the back of the shelf frame with screws.
- You can also use these for DIY doors, as long as the door thickness and material are suitable.
- For plexiglass, it is usually advisable to use small framing strips made of thin wood or aluminum, which you connect to the hinges.
- When drilling into plexiglass, be sure to work slowly with an appropriate drill bit to avoid cracking the material.
Alternatively, there is the so-called "clip-on" system often used by furniture makers. Small mounting brackets are screwed onto the shelf frame, into which the door is then hung. This is convenient if you want to remove the door frequently.
Unfortunately, I don’t have a sketch here, but searching for "cup hinge cabinet mounting" online provides quick visual examples.
If you need a drawing, I can gladly create one for you in a few days.
As an addition:
The Kallax shelves are 38 mm (1.5 inches) thick, which is suitable for installing standard cup hinges. IKEA typically uses 35 mm (1.4 inches) drill holes for the hinges.
For plexiglass, it is advisable to allow a slightly larger gap between the door and the shelf, as plexiglass tends to expand slightly with temperature changes.
A practical tip: use small plastic or nylon washers when attaching hinges to plexiglass to prevent cracks.
If a professional look is desired, some carpenters offer custom-made aluminum or wooden frames with tempered safety glass doors. However, this is usually significantly more expensive.
The Kallax shelves are 38 mm (1.5 inches) thick, which is suitable for installing standard cup hinges. IKEA typically uses 35 mm (1.4 inches) drill holes for the hinges.
For plexiglass, it is advisable to allow a slightly larger gap between the door and the shelf, as plexiglass tends to expand slightly with temperature changes.
A practical tip: use small plastic or nylon washers when attaching hinges to plexiglass to prevent cracks.
If a professional look is desired, some carpenters offer custom-made aluminum or wooden frames with tempered safety glass doors. However, this is usually significantly more expensive.
bupar schrieb:
With acrylic glass, it is advisable to have a slightly larger gap between the door and the shelfThat sounds reasonable. The doors shouldn’t stick or squeak when closing.
klo40 schrieb:
I can design something for you in a few days if you likeThat would be great, thank you!
I will check the material availability and possibly arrange tools for the drilling. If anyone has a tip for an affordable source for acrylic glass, please share.
I recently completed a similar project and can share from experience:
- Quality acrylic glass is crucial. A thickness of 3–5 mm (1/8–3/16 inch) is perfectly sufficient.
- For the frames, I recommend especially lightweight wooden strips, such as spruce or pine, that you can miter-cut.
- Using concealed hinges from furniture making provides good stability if you drill the holes precisely.
- The gap between the door and the shelf should be about 2–3 mm (1/16–1/8 inch) to avoid stress.
Also: Always screw into acrylic glass with pre-drilled holes and use a drill bit designed for plastics.
Not rocket science, but careful workmanship.
- Quality acrylic glass is crucial. A thickness of 3–5 mm (1/8–3/16 inch) is perfectly sufficient.
- For the frames, I recommend especially lightweight wooden strips, such as spruce or pine, that you can miter-cut.
- Using concealed hinges from furniture making provides good stability if you drill the holes precisely.
- The gap between the door and the shelf should be about 2–3 mm (1/16–1/8 inch) to avoid stress.
Also: Always screw into acrylic glass with pre-drilled holes and use a drill bit designed for plastics.
Not rocket science, but careful workmanship.
zhiki schrieb:
I can gladly design something for you in a few daysHere is a brief sketch as promised for mounting plexiglass doors on a Kallax shelf:
1. Build a door frame from strips (e.g., 10x10mm (0.4x0.4 inch) wooden boards).
2. Glue the plexiglass sheet into the frame (using special adhesive or double-sided tape).
3. Attach concealed hinges to the wooden door.
4. Fix the hinges to the pre-drilled shelf frame.
This construction ensures stable support, prevents cracks in the plexiglass thanks to the frame, and uses proven furniture hardware.
Important: Measure the door openings accurately and allow approximately 2 mm (0.08 inch) clearance on all sides.
If you need help with the implementation, just get in touch.
klo40 schrieb:
Glue the acrylic sheet into the frame (special adhesive or double-sided tape)I was wondering the same: Do you have experience using adhesives? Some adhesives are said to damage acrylic (causing cloudiness or cracks). Are there any specific recommendations?
anken schrieb:
Always pre-drill holes before screwing into acrylicThat makes sense! Thanks for the tip.
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