ᐅ How can IKEA Hemnes furniture be made child-safe?

Hello everyone,

I am currently looking into how to make our IKEA Hemnes furniture childproof. Specifically, I am focusing on cabinets and dressers, as our little ones are often curious, and I want to prevent accidents. The Hemnes series is well-known for its sturdy solid wood and classic style, but I am wondering how to best address the following points:

- How can I prevent the furniture from tipping over without constant anchors or brackets disrupting the appearance?
- Which child safety locks for drawers and doors are compatible and easy to install?
- Are there specific surface treatments or protective measures relevant to safety (for example, to prevent pinching or sharp edges)?
- What should be considered when anchoring the furniture to the wall, especially with different wall types (drywall versus solid walls)?

I would greatly appreciate any experiences or tips on how to systematically and sustainably increase safety for Hemnes furniture. Thank you in advance!

Hi finnren,

First of all, a very well thought-out concern. The safety of your children should definitely be a priority, and the Hemnes series does have several specific features that need to be considered.

Regarding anchoring: I always recommend using the wall mounting kit supplied by IKEA. Keep in mind that drywall requires special anchors—cavity metal anchors work best. For solid walls, expansion anchors or heavy-duty anchors are ideal. Measuring the walls correctly and choosing the appropriate anchor is essential; otherwise, the cabinets won’t hold securely.

For drawers and doors, adhesive child safety locks usually do not last long because children can remove them. Mechanical child safety locks made of plastic or metal that can be screwed in are better—for example, special magnetic locks that remain invisible and do not affect the appearance.

To prevent tipping, you can also screw floor brackets or small angle brackets behind the furniture. I understand you don’t want to spoil the look—using discreetly colored metal brackets attached under the furniture frame is a good solution. They are barely visible.

Surface treatments: Hemnes furniture has a white paint finish that is relatively smooth. You can attach edge protectors made of soft plastic on the edges to protect against pinching. Alternatively, narrow felt strips on sharp corners or small cushions also help.

Have you measured how stable your furniture actually is? Even slight unevenness in the floor can greatly affect tipping risk.

Let me know if you want help choosing the exact accessories.

FABIAN_DEO schrieb:
Self-adhesive locks on drawers and doors usually don’t last long because children can remove them.

I can only agree with that – adhesive doesn’t hold up well, especially once the little ones figure it out. 😄

For our Hemnes dressers, I installed simple clips that require two hands to open, so the doors and drawers are secured without affecting the appearance. They’re really quick to install and usually quite discreet.

Regarding tipping prevention: I’m not a fan of complicated setups. A small trick that has worked great for us is anchoring the furniture to the wall with a thin steel cable behind it. It’s basically invisible and reliably prevents the dresser from tipping over.

Besides that, it often helps not to overload the furniture and to store heavy items on or near the bottom. This keeps the center of gravity low. In my experience, there’s not much more you can do with Hemnes without completely rearranging the interior.

Overall, keep it simple – it makes everything less stressful! 😊

Hello finnren,

I would like to share a few additional tips that you might consider incorporating into your planning.

First, regarding anchoring: Ikea usually provides suitable mounting kits, but depending on the type of wall, it might be helpful to use special anchors, as Fabian_DEO has already mentioned. It’s worth asking at your local hardware store about the appropriate anchor for your specific wall type.

For drawer locks, I recommend choosing adjustable systems. This way, you can make adjustments later if the children get used to the mechanism or if any issues arise. Magnetic solutions that are almost invisible from the outside are also an elegant option if you want to keep the design unaffected.

Furthermore, edge protection is very useful, especially for furniture with sharp edges like the Hemnes dressers. There are transparent as well as colored edge protectors that you can stick on or attach. Make sure to check whether the adhesives are suitable for painted surfaces to avoid damage.

Regarding tipping hazards: I advise not only securing the furniture to the wall but also regularly checking that the fixings are still tight. Especially with uneven floors or frequent use, screws can loosen over time.

If you have any more questions, I’m happy to help, including recommending suitable products based on my experience.