ᐅ How do I mount IKEA PLATSA cabinets on drywall (e.g., gypsum board or plasterboard)?

Hello everyone,

I am planning to install an IKEA Platsa shelving system in my room, but the walls here are made of drywall (plasterboard). Now I am wondering how to securely attach these relatively heavy pieces of furniture to drywall without them eventually falling down or damaging the wall.

I am especially interested in which anchors or fasteners you would recommend and if there are any special procedures when mounting on drywall – particularly regarding load distribution or finding additional sturdy points (e.g., wall studs behind the drywall).

Has anyone had experience with IKEA Platsa and drywall and can provide reliable guidance? Are there differences in the installation depending on whether the drywall is single-layer or double-layer, or if the screws go directly into the studs?

I look forward to detailed tips and also any advice on potential problems that might arise when attaching to drywall.

Thank you in advance!

In general, attaching heavy furniture to drywall (gypsum board) can be tricky if you don’t hit the wall studs directly.

- First, it is important to locate the studs behind the drywall using a stud finder, as they provide the most secure anchoring point.
- If possible, PLATSA furniture should be screwed directly into the wooden or metal studs, since standard drywall anchors are not reliably strong enough to support the weight in the long term.
- For areas without studs, high-quality hollow wall anchors (such as metal anchors, toggle bolts, or specialized cavity wall anchors) can be used as an alternative. However, these are only moderately load-bearing and better suited for lighter loads.
- When mounting, pay attention to the correct number and placement of anchors to distribute the load as evenly as possible.

As a general rule, since PLATSA furniture can be quite heavy, it makes sense to mount the construction as much as possible on the studs. A second option is to reinforce the drywall itself (for example, with a substructure or special mounting panels).

Whether the drywall is single- or double-layered does not affect the load-bearing capacity, as this depends on the underlying support (studs). Without anchoring into studs, there is always a risk that the anchors will eventually pull out over time.

zarJody68 schrieb:
If possible, PLATSA furniture should be screwed directly into the wooden or metal studs, as standard drywall anchors cannot reliably support the weight over time.

I fully agree and would like to describe the practical installation process in more detail:

1. Stud locating: Use a reliable electronic stud finder capable of detecting both metal studs and wooden beams. Measuring multiple times at different heights helps mark an accurate line for mounting.

2. Preparation: PLATSA furniture imposes point loads – therefore, the mounting rail and wall hooks should always be fixed to the structural studs. If only drywall is present, I strongly advise against permanent attachment unless reinforcements are installed beforehand (e.g., plywood panel behind the drywall).

3. Anchor selection: If no studs can be reached, high-quality, tested metal toggle anchors are the best option. Low-quality plastic or simple expansion anchors usually only hold temporarily in drywall.

4. Screws: For studs, use long and sturdy chipboard screws that secure deeply into the substrate.

5. Load test: After installation, test the stability before hanging the full weight.

6. Safety: If the wall construction is very thin (e.g., only a single layer of drywall), improve safety by adding battens or place the furniture freestanding on the floor to avoid relying solely on the back panel for support.

If you know your wall structure in more detail, I would appreciate further information so I can provide more targeted advice.

Kauskend69 schrieb:
Are there differences in installation depending on whether the panel is single- or double-sided, or if you’ve screwed directly into the wall studs?

Yes, definitely.
A double-sided drywall panel is more stable and can distribute loads better. However, the most important thing is to screw into the studs. If that’s not possible, you’ll need special strong hollow wall anchors.

For mounting IKEA PLATSA, you should definitely aim for the wooden or metal studs. Drywall alone can only support very limited weight.