ᐅ How can IKEA Pax wardrobes be installed without damaging the wall?

Hello Panagiotis, with your wall made of concrete and plaster, you are already in a better position since the wall is very stable. However, you are absolutely right to be concerned about plaster cracks.

I have some practical tips for you:

- Use a hammer drill with a suitable concrete drill bit and a depth stop function to avoid drilling too deep. This minimizes the risk of unnecessarily damaging the wall.

- Before drilling, I recommend taping the drilling area with painter’s tape. This prevents the plaster from chipping when you place the drill bit.

- Use anchors that are suitable for concrete, such as nylon or metal expansion anchors. These provide a secure hold.

- Screws with a sufficiently long thread are important so they go in deep enough.

- Once you no longer want the cabinet fixed, you can fill the holes with filler compound. It is important to slightly moisten the plaster before applying the filler to ensure good adhesion.

- A tip for the future: if you want to paint the area white, you may need to lightly sand the filled spots to smooth them out.

Panagiotis schrieb:
Gibt es da Tricks, um den Putz möglichst zu schonen und beim Entfernen der Schrauben wenig Spuren zu hinterlassen?

Painter’s tape is my secret tip. Possibly, before placing the drill bit, lightly score the surface with a nail – this prevents chipping.

If you have any further questions, feel free to ask!

Thank you, Gustavo56, your tips are very helpful.

I have another question regarding IKEA wall brackets themselves: IKEA offers metal wall anchors that are screwed onto the back of the Pax wardrobe and fixed to the wall with a screw. Do you use these, or are there better alternatives to improve stability? I ask because I sometimes read that these brackets are quite small and don’t provide the best weight distribution.

Would it be better to install additional cross braces or adapters along with the original brackets?

Panagiotis schrieb:
IKEA offers metal wall anchors that can be screwed onto the back of the Pax wardrobe and then fixed to the wall with a screw. Do you use these, or are there better alternatives to improve stability?

The wall anchors from IKEA are specially designed for Pax and are sufficient in most cases when installed correctly.

Important points:
- Use appropriate wall plugs suitable for the wall material
- Secure the anchors at multiple points, not just at the top

Panagiotis schrieb:
Would it be better to install additional cross braces or adapters along with the original brackets?

That can definitely help, especially if you have several wardrobes placed side by side or if the floor is uneven. A horizontal wooden batten or metal profile on the wall helps distribute the forces more evenly and reduces wobbling.

I have often combined the following:
- Attaching the Pax wardrobe system directly to the wall using the original brackets
- Installing a wooden batten that also compensates for minor unevenness

This also protects the wall somewhat by minimizing twisting movements that can cause marks.

In summary: Yes, the original brackets are sufficient, but an additional cross batten increases convenience and safety.

I always appreciate taking the risk of tipping seriously, especially when children are involved.

A small idea to minimize damage to the wall: How about using self-adhesive foam pads where the cupboard touches the wall? They won’t support the weight but will prevent friction and minor scratches.

Then do the main anchoring as described by Guyju. This way, you can protect the wall a bit and keep the cupboard stable.

Securing the cupboard is a must. Protecting the wall is a bonus. 😉

Always secure Pax to the wall using appropriate anchors and screws. If the wall is concrete, use the corresponding concrete drill bit and anchors. Do not use self-adhesive solutions as the primary fixing method.

If you don’t want to make holes, you can also use special tension rods between the floor and ceiling. They prevent tipping without drilling but are less stable than screwed solutions.