ᐅ How can Ikea Hemnes wardrobe doors be equipped with soft-close mechanisms?
Created on: 17 May 2020 08:37
P
PuckvinHello everyone,
I currently have an Ikea Hemnes cabinet without soft-close functionality on the doors. I’m now considering how to upgrade them. Specifically, I’m interested in whether there are practical solutions to equip the existing cabinet doors with soft-close mechanisms without having to rebuild the entire cabinet or buy new doors.
I’m thinking of possible retrofit soft-close hinges, or maybe there are special soft-close dampers that can be attached to the inside of the doors. It would also be helpful to know if retrofitting is technically straightforward with Hemnes doors, since the doors are rather solid and not very thin.
Has anyone had practical experience with this? Which products are suitable, and how complicated is the installation? Are there any particular details I should be aware of, for example concerning the existing hinges or door thickness?
I look forward to any tips and feedback!
I currently have an Ikea Hemnes cabinet without soft-close functionality on the doors. I’m now considering how to upgrade them. Specifically, I’m interested in whether there are practical solutions to equip the existing cabinet doors with soft-close mechanisms without having to rebuild the entire cabinet or buy new doors.
I’m thinking of possible retrofit soft-close hinges, or maybe there are special soft-close dampers that can be attached to the inside of the doors. It would also be helpful to know if retrofitting is technically straightforward with Hemnes doors, since the doors are rather solid and not very thin.
Has anyone had practical experience with this? Which products are suitable, and how complicated is the installation? Are there any particular details I should be aware of, for example concerning the existing hinges or door thickness?
I look forward to any tips and feedback!
Hello Puckvin,
I completely understand that you want to retrofit the soft-close function. I bought a Hemnes cabinet myself and found the doors quite loud and prone to sticking without any damping.
At the time, I bought a set of soft-close hinges from Blum (complete hinge sets) that can be installed as replacements. Honestly, it was a bit tricky because not all soft-close hinges fit exactly with the existing screw holes, but with some patience, it worked out well. It’s important to measure carefully beforehand to determine the required hinge depth.
If you don’t want to replace the hinges, as you mentioned, there are also separate dampers that can be attached next to or on the door frame. The advantage is that the original doors can remain unchanged. However, in my opinion, these dampers are often not as effective because they don’t act directly on the hinge and can make the closing process feel somewhat “unusual.”
One thing I also learned: retrofitting these features is less flexible because Hemnes doors are quite solid. The thicker the door, the more complicated it becomes to install hinges or dampers without compromising the fit.
I hope this helps you so far! If you like, I can send you the exact product names and installation tips later—I know how frustrating these modifications can be.
I completely understand that you want to retrofit the soft-close function. I bought a Hemnes cabinet myself and found the doors quite loud and prone to sticking without any damping.
At the time, I bought a set of soft-close hinges from Blum (complete hinge sets) that can be installed as replacements. Honestly, it was a bit tricky because not all soft-close hinges fit exactly with the existing screw holes, but with some patience, it worked out well. It’s important to measure carefully beforehand to determine the required hinge depth.
If you don’t want to replace the hinges, as you mentioned, there are also separate dampers that can be attached next to or on the door frame. The advantage is that the original doors can remain unchanged. However, in my opinion, these dampers are often not as effective because they don’t act directly on the hinge and can make the closing process feel somewhat “unusual.”
One thing I also learned: retrofitting these features is less flexible because Hemnes doors are quite solid. The thicker the door, the more complicated it becomes to install hinges or dampers without compromising the fit.
I hope this helps you so far! If you like, I can send you the exact product names and installation tips later—I know how frustrating these modifications can be.
Hello Puckvin,
I would like to address your question on how to retrofit Ikea Hemnes cabinet doors with soft-close functionality without necessarily having to replace the entire doors or hinges.
Basically, there are two common approaches:
- Using soft-close hinges as replacements for the existing hinges. This is the traditional method and particularly effective since the damping is integrated directly into the hinge. However, this requires removing and replacing the existing hinges, which means precise measurements must be taken beforehand—especially the mounting holes and hinge depth need to match.
- Retrofitting with so-called soft-close dampers or door dampers, which are mounted separately from the hinge on either the door or the cabinet frame. These are more suitable for retrofitting if you want to avoid drilling or changing screws. However, you need to ensure a secure attachment since Hemnes doors are made of solid wood. Also, the closing movement might change slightly and may require some fine adjustment.
For both options, it’s important to consider the door thickness and existing mounting holes—the Hemnes doors are often 18 mm (0.7 inches) thick and come with pre-drilled holes for the hinges, which can be helpful during installation.
Personally, I recommend taking exact measurements before buying any products and checking the load capacity and adjustment options when selecting soft-close hinges. For most users seeking maximum convenience, replacing the hinges is the best solution. For less invasive retrofits, door dampers that can be attached on the inside are a good choice.
If you like, I can also provide a brief guide on a typical installation.
I would like to address your question on how to retrofit Ikea Hemnes cabinet doors with soft-close functionality without necessarily having to replace the entire doors or hinges.
Basically, there are two common approaches:
- Using soft-close hinges as replacements for the existing hinges. This is the traditional method and particularly effective since the damping is integrated directly into the hinge. However, this requires removing and replacing the existing hinges, which means precise measurements must be taken beforehand—especially the mounting holes and hinge depth need to match.
- Retrofitting with so-called soft-close dampers or door dampers, which are mounted separately from the hinge on either the door or the cabinet frame. These are more suitable for retrofitting if you want to avoid drilling or changing screws. However, you need to ensure a secure attachment since Hemnes doors are made of solid wood. Also, the closing movement might change slightly and may require some fine adjustment.
For both options, it’s important to consider the door thickness and existing mounting holes—the Hemnes doors are often 18 mm (0.7 inches) thick and come with pre-drilled holes for the hinges, which can be helpful during installation.
Personally, I recommend taking exact measurements before buying any products and checking the load capacity and adjustment options when selecting soft-close hinges. For most users seeking maximum convenience, replacing the hinges is the best solution. For less invasive retrofits, door dampers that can be attached on the inside are a good choice.
If you like, I can also provide a brief guide on a typical installation.
Nadine schrieb:
Personally, I recommend measuring the exact dimensions before purchasing products and checking the load capacity and adjustability when choosing soft-close hinges.That sums it up pretty well! 😄
I had a Hemnes dresser where I was just curious and mounted the soft-close dampers externally on the door – not a full hinge replacement! It worked surprisingly well, although the closing speed was a bit different than usual. It wasn’t exactly a showstopper, but hey, it made things quieter and the doors finally stopped slamming.
The big advantage: No major modifications, no fiddling with hinges, just a few screws and you’re done! But as Nadine said, you shouldn’t underestimate the door thickness and wood density – either you have really sturdy dampers or... well, eventually it’ll go “clack” instead of closing gently.
My tip: Start with small, inexpensive dampers and see if the mechanism suits your setup. After that, you can still do a proper installation or switch to soft-close hinges.
Good luck, Puckvin, you’ve got this!
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