ᐅ How can I stabilize Ikea Hemnes furniture that is wobbly or unstable?

Hello everyone, some time ago I purchased several pieces of furniture from the Ikea Hemnes series, mainly dressers and nightstands. Unfortunately, I have the problem that some of the furniture is unstable and wobbly, which is especially noticeable on uneven floors. I have already tried tightening the screws, but that hardly makes any difference. My question is: What effective measures can I take to make Ikea Hemnes furniture more stable? In particular, I am interested in improving stability, possible retrofitting reinforcements, or small adjustments that can be done by myself to eliminate wobbling. It would be great if you could share practical tips that have already been tested or that fit well with the furniture’s construction. Thanks in advance!

The most effective solutions are furniture glides with felt or height-adjustable feet. Make sure all screws are securely tightened; after that, you can use felt pads to compensate for minor floor unevenness. Alternatively, small plastic pads under the feet also work well.

Hello KENTUS, I am familiar with this issue. Hemnes furniture is generally sturdy, but with slightly uneven floors or after extended use, the joints can become stiff or loose. Here is a brief guide to stabilize them:

- First, check all connection screws (especially those at the back and in the furniture legs). These often loosen over time.
- When tightening the joints, use wood glue if possible to make the connections more secure.
- For uneven floors, I recommend adjustable furniture glides or flexible felt pads. The latter cushion and compensate for small height differences.
- If the furniture is wobbly, you can also attach a thin additional strip at the back or inside to prevent the frame from warping.
- Also, ensure that all base feet rest flat on the floor. Sometimes placing a thin rug or non-slip mats under the furniture helps.

A common mistake is tightening the screws firmly when the wood around them is already slightly swollen or damaged – in such cases, a minor wood repair or replacement of the connecting parts is necessary.

giabau schrieb:
Typical mistakes are that the screws are tightened properly, but the furniture wood is already slightly swollen or damaged – in that case, only minor wood repair or replacement of the connectors helps.

I agree with that, but I think the common issue with IKEA furniture in general is that it’s not built to last. Stability is often just a promise on paper. You can tinker, screw, and hack away – but after a few years, many Hemnes cabinet combinations start to wobble like cardboard boxes. The solution is usually not adding more screws, but implementing a complete reinforcement system. You really need to install double-sided metal brackets inside and possibly reinforce the cabinet with metal braces and cross supports if you want long-term stability. Anyone relying solely on the original IKEA assembly methods will be disappointed.

I had the same problem with my Hemnes dressers! 😊 My simple solution: I screwed small metal brackets inside the corners. These provide a lot of stability and hold the frames firmly together. Additionally, I attached adjustable furniture gliders underneath the pieces—this allows easy height adjustment, and the wobbling is completely gone. Important: Do not screw on the outside, but inside, to preserve the appearance. It’s definitely worth it because the furniture becomes much more stable, and you don’t have to worry about it tipping over. Highly recommended!