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!
Regarding your point about adhesive:
You are right, many aggressive adhesives like instant glues (cyanoacrylate) or certain solvent-based adhesives can damage or cloud acrylic glass.
I recommend:
- Special acrylic adhesives such as "Acrifix" (well-known in model making and display construction), or
- Clear double-sided adhesive tape, for example "3M VHB" (very strong bonding without clouding).
Alternatively, you can also use small clips or screws if you want to avoid adhesives.
To be safe: test first on a scrap piece.
You are right, many aggressive adhesives like instant glues (cyanoacrylate) or certain solvent-based adhesives can damage or cloud acrylic glass.
I recommend:
- Special acrylic adhesives such as "Acrifix" (well-known in model making and display construction), or
- Clear double-sided adhesive tape, for example "3M VHB" (very strong bonding without clouding).
Alternatively, you can also use small clips or screws if you want to avoid adhesives.
To be safe: test first on a scrap piece.
This is a really interesting discussion! 🙂
I just wanted to add that with any DIY project, the appearance also matters: Plexiglass is very practical, but make sure to choose scratch-resistant types, otherwise it quickly ends up looking like a scratched mirror.
You can lightly buff out small scratches with some fine sandpaper. And for those who prefer an easier solution: there are transparent films you can apply to doors — but these aren’t hard and serve more for visual effect than actual protection.
Have you ever considered whether transparent resin doors might be feasible in the DIY field? It sounds complex but could look quite stylish.
I just wanted to add that with any DIY project, the appearance also matters: Plexiglass is very practical, but make sure to choose scratch-resistant types, otherwise it quickly ends up looking like a scratched mirror.
You can lightly buff out small scratches with some fine sandpaper. And for those who prefer an easier solution: there are transparent films you can apply to doors — but these aren’t hard and serve more for visual effect than actual protection.
Have you ever considered whether transparent resin doors might be feasible in the DIY field? It sounds complex but could look quite stylish.
Wow, these are great tips! Thanks to everyone, especially @klo40 for the detailed explanations!
I recently tried a version using glass, but for safety reasons I used tempered safety glass (ESG), which is noticeably thicker and heavier. It works great, but is a bit more expensive and requires precise installation.
For anyone planning to do something similar: always use plastic gaskets with the glass to ensure the door closes properly over time and the glass does not come into direct contact with the wood.
Happy DIY!
I recently tried a version using glass, but for safety reasons I used tempered safety glass (ESG), which is noticeably thicker and heavier. It works great, but is a bit more expensive and requires precise installation.
For anyone planning to do something similar: always use plastic gaskets with the glass to ensure the door closes properly over time and the glass does not come into direct contact with the wood.
Happy DIY!
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