Hello everyone,
I have a Kallax shelf unit from Ikea at home, which I mainly want to use for storing manga. However, I noticed that the individual compartments are much too tall and wide for most of my manga volumes, which are usually in the typical size of 13 x 18 cm (5 x 7 inches). Because of this, the books tend to move around or don’t stand securely, which I find neither attractive nor practical. Do you have any tips on how to reduce the size of the compartments or use suitable inserts to adapt the shelf perfectly to the manga format? I would also appreciate solutions that don’t require expensive accessories and might even help organize series or reading order. 🙂
Thanks in advance!
I have a Kallax shelf unit from Ikea at home, which I mainly want to use for storing manga. However, I noticed that the individual compartments are much too tall and wide for most of my manga volumes, which are usually in the typical size of 13 x 18 cm (5 x 7 inches). Because of this, the books tend to move around or don’t stand securely, which I find neither attractive nor practical. Do you have any tips on how to reduce the size of the compartments or use suitable inserts to adapt the shelf perfectly to the manga format? I would also appreciate solutions that don’t require expensive accessories and might even help organize series or reading order. 🙂
Thanks in advance!
Vin_ba schrieb:
How precisely can you really make a shelf divider to exact measurements without professional tools?The simple answer: Even with basic tools, you can achieve sufficiently good accuracy if you measure carefully and work slowly. It’s important to cut straight lines using a sharp knife (for thinner wood panels) or a handsaw with fine teeth. A simple woodworking or miter box is very helpful to ensure straight cuts; you can often borrow one at hardware stores.
Laukau5 schrieb:
Surface treatment is important – painting or sealing protects against moistureThat also prevents the panels from warping.
If you prefer a quick solution, suitable plastic boxes or ready-made shelf dividers are great alternatives, especially if you don’t want to spend a lot of time.
A quick note on ready-made inserts versus DIY solutions:
Ready-made inserts have the advantage of fitting perfectly and usually look very neat. This saves you time and provides a clean result. However, they can be more expensive and offer less flexibility in terms of size.
DIY solutions are more affordable but may require effort and can lead to inaccuracies. On the other hand, they allow you to customize them to your collection and modify them at any time.
If your manga collection is continuously growing, I would recommend flexible options, such as adjustable shelf dividers or modular expandable insert boxes.
In any case, I wish you the best of luck with your project! 🙂
Ready-made inserts have the advantage of fitting perfectly and usually look very neat. This saves you time and provides a clean result. However, they can be more expensive and offer less flexibility in terms of size.
DIY solutions are more affordable but may require effort and can lead to inaccuracies. On the other hand, they allow you to customize them to your collection and modify them at any time.
If your manga collection is continuously growing, I would recommend flexible options, such as adjustable shelf dividers or modular expandable insert boxes.
In any case, I wish you the best of luck with your project! 🙂
Thank you all for the numerous and valuable tips!
I think I will first try having MDF boards cut to size at the home improvement store and then treat them with a matte paint. Using them as partitions for the individual compartments seems like a good compromise between effort and stability.
Additionally, I’m looking at bookends that I can place flexibly to compensate for small tolerances in certain rows.
I also found TARAON’s suggestion to use paint very interesting, as it could give the whole setup a fresh look, especially if I find a design that fits the manga theme.
I’ll be happy to share my progress and experiences once I get started!
I think I will first try having MDF boards cut to size at the home improvement store and then treat them with a matte paint. Using them as partitions for the individual compartments seems like a good compromise between effort and stability.
Additionally, I’m looking at bookends that I can place flexibly to compensate for small tolerances in certain rows.
I also found TARAON’s suggestion to use paint very interesting, as it could give the whole setup a fresh look, especially if I find a design that fits the manga theme.
I’ll be happy to share my progress and experiences once I get started!
Similar topics