ᐅ How can I secure IKEA Hemnes furniture to prevent tipping?

Hello everyone,

I recently bought an IKEA Hemnes secretary desk and want to make sure the piece of furniture is secured against tipping over. Since it is relatively tall and narrow, I am concerned that especially with small children or in the event of an earthquake, tipping safety must be ensured.

My question is: What is the best way to secure an IKEA Hemnes against tipping? Are there specific wall anchors, safety kits, or installation methods you would recommend? I’ve heard that most Hemnes models come with securing rails, but I’m looking for a solution that feels as sturdy and durable as possible, while being easy to implement.

It would also be great if anyone has direct experience with different mounting methods, such as double wall hooks, brackets, or other technical aids recommended for Hemnes.

I look forward to your advice and thank you in advance for your help!

The easiest way is to use the included anti-tip safety kit from IKEA. It contains a metal bracket and anchors that you attach to the wall. Simply screw them in, connect the bracket to the cabinet, and you’re done.

Additionally, a corner brace opposite the back can provide extra stability.

Litono schrieb:
How can I best secure an IKEA Hemnes against tipping over?

The issue of tipping safety for furniture like the IKEA Hemnes is very important, especially when there are children in the household. In general, I recommend fastening the furniture to the wall using the original safety fittings provided by IKEA, as these are specifically designed for that piece of furniture.

Here is a detailed procedure that I recommend:

- First, check whether the wall has a load-bearing surface (concrete, solid brick, etc.), since for drywall I would use additional special anchors.
- Then attach the supplied metal bracket to the back of the Hemnes using the included screws.
- Next, mark the corresponding position on the wall and pre-drill pilot holes.
- For heavy furniture, it is advisable to use screws with metal wall plugs, which I know from hardware stores as “universal anchors” or all-purpose anchors.
- Finally, screw the bracket securely to the wall; this prevents the furniture from tipping or being easily pulled away.

I would advise against relying solely on adhesive strips or loosely fixed internal brackets, as the load will not be safely transferred.

If you want, I can also provide specific measurements or drill point positions if that would be helpful. What is the structure of your wall?

I know many people worry about the stability of furniture from IKEA’s modular range. That said, don’t stress too much as long as the wall attachment is done properly. I once had a Hemnes wardrobe myself, which I secured using IKEA’s wall anchoring kits.

For me, it’s important to be able to use the furniture comfortably while still feeling confident it will hold up. I also found it reassuring to know that my young son couldn’t just pull the piece down.

However, it can be annoying if you want to rearrange more complex furniture multiple times because the anchors have to be redone each time. Does anyone have experience with more flexible solutions?

RATAR schrieb:
Sometimes it can be frustrating when you want to rearrange complex furniture multiple times because the anchors have to be redone each time.

That’s true. I have often rearranged furniture myself and had to reattach the anchors. Still, this is an essential safety measure, especially when there are children in the house.

Here are a few tips to make the process easier:

- Mark the drill holes on the wall with a small sticker or pen so you can quickly measure when rearranging.
- Use metal brackets that can be relatively easily unscrewed and reattached when moving furniture.
- Pay attention to the appropriate wall plug material; special cavity anchors work better for drywall and plasterboard.

Overall, I believe secure wall mounting is indispensable. Furniture tipping over is genuinely dangerous.

If anyone feels unsure about installing the anchors themselves, they can also get help from a professional tradesperson.

nepeo66 schrieb:
The easiest way is to use the supplied anti-tip kit from IKEA.

That may often be recommended, but my experience shows that IKEA kits can sometimes be under-dimensioned, especially for tall and heavy Hemnes models.

I would suggest checking the load capacity of the wall anchors and the wall itself. Especially in older houses with partly fragile walls, standard wall plugs may not be sufficient.

Also, I wonder how many of you actually perform tension or force measurements during installation? It would be interesting to assess the tip-over safety through a small technical analysis.

Just as a side note: Additional internal reinforcement, for example with metal brackets inside the cabinet, can increase stability even if IKEA does not explicitly provide for this.

Has anyone tried this before or has detailed knowledge about the maximum load capacity of such Hemnes wall fixings?