ᐅ How can I securely attach IKEA Platsa furniture to plaster and brick walls?

Hello everyone,

I am currently planning to install some IKEA Platsa furniture at my home. The problem is that my walls are partly plaster and in other areas brick, so different materials that, as known, require different fastening methods.

My specific question is: How can I best attach the IKEA Platsa furniture to plaster and brick walls to ensure long-term stability while avoiding damage to both the furniture and the walls?

I am thinking about suitable types of anchors, screw lengths, and of course the proper handling of the materials – especially considering the often rather thin back panels of Platsa furniture and the generally recommended assembly instructions from IKEA.

If anyone has practical firsthand tips or experience with this combination, I would be very grateful!

Thank you very much in advance!

Hello Deoma9,

your question is very practical and important because mounting furniture on different wall materials is not straightforward.

Regarding plaster walls: The plaster is often quite thin and crumbly, so you should avoid drilling directly into the plaster and instead drill into the underlying wall—for example, the bricks or masonry behind it. If the plaster layer is too thick, cavity or expansion anchors are usually not ideal.

For brick walls, heavy-duty anchors or universal anchors that match your screw size are generally suitable. Important points:

- Choose thick anchors depending on the weight of the furniture you are mounting.
- Screw length should correspond to the anchor length and the thickness of the furniture back panel.

If you want to attach the furniture not only at the back but also for additional stability to the wall, you can add an extra hanger on the top or side edges (depending on the model), provided that the IKEA mounting hardware allows for this.

Regarding Platsa furniture back panels: These back panels are often thin and non-load-bearing. I would recommend fastening through the stable cabinet frame structure instead, meaning the wooden parts that extend beyond the back panel.

In summary, my recommendation:

- Use a drill bit with the appropriate diameter and a depth stop.
- Use heavy-duty or universal anchors according to the wall thickness.
- Choose screws at least 6 millimeters (0.24 inches) thick and long enough to engage both anchor and material.
- Avoid drilling directly into the plaster; target the solid wall behind it.

Good luck with your project! If you like, I can provide more details about anchor types and their installation.

Josan schrieb:
If you don’t just attach the furniture to the back panel but also secure it to the wall for additional stability, you can add extra hangers into the top or side edges (depending on the model), provided the IKEA fasteners allow for this.

This is so important, thanks for highlighting it! I had exactly that problem when only the back panel was used for mounting, and as soon as more weight was added, the furniture started to wobble quite a bit.

I installed Platsa units onto plaster walls, where the plaster was quite crumbly in some areas. That’s why I made sure to start drilling carefully and really check the depth and material first.

- I also found it important not to choose wall plugs that are too small, but rather to use the next size up, otherwise the load-bearing capacity suffers.
- Additionally, I recommend assembling with two people whenever possible, to align the furniture properly beforehand and distribute the weight across several points.

At first, I was quite unsure, but with enough care it worked out well, and everything has held securely to this day.

If you need to be especially careful with plaster, it doesn’t hurt to pre-treat the plaster with a stabilizing agent if it’s crumbly.

How have you approached drilling and using wall plugs so far? Any uncertainties you need help with?

Deoma9 schrieb:
How can I best secure the IKEA Platsa furniture to plaster and brick walls to ensure long-term stability without damaging either the furniture or the wall?

Here is a technical and safety-focused answer:

1. Preparation:
- Use an appropriate detector to check for electrical wiring or water pipes at the intended drilling location.
- Examine the condition of the plaster: Is it solid or crumbly? If the plaster is crumbly, avoid drilling only into the plaster and drill into the underlying brick wall instead.

2. Choice of anchors:
- For brick walls, I recommend nylon expansion anchors with a minimum diameter of 8mm (about 5/16 inch) for normal loads.
- Heavy-duty anchors (e.g., impact anchors or through-type metal anchors) should be used for very high loads.

3. Screws:
- Use galvanized or preferably stainless steel screws to prevent corrosion.
- The screw length should be at least the anchor length plus the thickness of the furniture material plus about 10 to 15 mm (0.4 to 0.6 inch) penetration into the wood.

4. Installation:
- Pre-drill holes in the bricks using a hammer drill with the correct drill bit diameter.
- Avoid over-drilling to maintain the anchor’s holding strength.
- Secure furniture preferably through the corner panels of the carcass, not just the thin back panel.

5. Alternative fixings:
- If possible, consider fixing to the ceiling or using additional support battens to better distribute the weight.

It should be noted that IKEA itself does not recommend relying solely on thin back panels for furniture mounting.

In summary: secure and stable mounting means always drilling into solid substrate, using the correct anchors, sizing screws properly, and not relying only on the back panel.

If desired, I can provide a short list of recommended products and their technical specifications.