ᐅ Kallax doors with opposite opening direction – looking for instructions!

Hello everyone,

I recently bought an IKEA Kallax shelving unit and want to add doors to it. However, I noticed that the standard Kallax doors are always designed to open in one specific direction – usually to the right. My problem is that the room where the shelving unit is placed requires the doors to open the other way (to the left) so that they don’t hit adjacent walls or furniture.

So far, I haven’t found clear instructions on how to modify or adjust the Kallax doors to work with a reversed opening direction. Is there a way to convert the doors to open to the left without having to buy new doors or special hinges? What steps are needed, and what should I watch out for to ensure the doors still close and open securely and smoothly?

I’m looking forward to advice, guides, or experiences from those of you who have already solved this issue.

Thanks and best regards!

Hello Foreo5,

First of all, a few basic points: The Kallax doors are indeed generally designed for a specific opening direction, which cannot be easily reversed because the hinges and locking system are specifically made for that. However, modifying them is possible, but it requires some technical understanding and patience.

The first step is to carefully remove the door from the existing hinges. You should keep in mind that the hinges are usually fixed in one position – they are mounted on the inside of the door and the frame. To change the opening direction, you need to move the hinges to the opposite side. This means drilling new holes in the frame and the door on the left side and filling or covering the old holes.

It is important to also pay attention to the handle positions – these also need to be moved to make them functional on the new door side. Additionally, you must relocate the magnetic catch or locking mechanism so that the door closes securely.

A common challenge is that the hinge screw holes may not fit exactly when moved to the other side because the anchoring points in the wood can vary slightly. In this case, using wood filler before drilling new holes can help. Also, I recommend not drilling too deep to avoid compromising the stability of the shelf unit.

In summary:

1. Remove the door and unscrew the hinges
2. Move hinges and handles to the opposite side
3. Fill and smooth the old holes with wood filler
4. Drill new holes for hinges and handles
5. Reattach the door and check alignment

What does your shelf unit currently look like? Do you already have hinges and handles installed, or are you just planning to install the doors? This would help provide more targeted advice.

Nathanaelk schrieb:
The Kallax doors are indeed generally designed for a specific hinge orientation

I agree with that. IKEA does not officially offer a version of Kallax doors with reversed hinge orientation. Therefore, any modification is always a custom adjustment.

I recommend the following procedure:

1. Check if the shelf itself has enough space on the opposite side for the hinges and door opening.
2. Remove the original hinges and fill the holes with high-quality wood filler. Allow it to cure completely.
3. Transfer the hinge positions precisely to the other side of the door and the shelf using a suitable measuring tool.
4. Use a small diameter wood drill bit for the new holes to ensure accuracy.
5. Install the hinges and handles on the new side.

Important:

- The door is asymmetrically constructed, especially if there are cutouts for handles and magnets.
- When attaching the handles, keep in mind that they may need to be positioned closer to the edge than on the original side.

If you are unsure about drilling or adjusting the door, specialized hinges with adjustment features or overlay hinges might be an alternative.

Additionally, it may help to search in IKEA-specific accessory shops or the Kallax forum for ready-made left-handed doors if the modification seems too complex.

Nathanaelk schrieb:
What does your shelf currently look like? Have you already installed hinges and handles, or are you just planning to attach the doors?

Thank you for the detailed response! So far, I have only assembled the shelf; the doors and hinges are not yet installed. My goal is to attach the doors myself and set the desired opening direction — that is, left.

That means I can still easily take precise measurements and drill holes. Still, your warning about the drill holes and stability is important. I originally wanted to avoid sanding down or filling in material as much as possible, and now I’m unsure if it even makes sense to simply reverse the doors instead of buying the IKEA doors that already open from the right.

Is there any advice on whether the Kallax doors from the standard range are generally adaptable for such a modification? Or are the edges and construction of the doors strictly asymmetrical, making it impractical to do this yourself?

If I get doors from the hardware store, I’d have other options. But the advantage of the Kallax doors is, of course, the perfect fit and appearance. That’s why I’d really like to solve this myself.

Which alternative types of hinges are best suited if you want the doors to open in the opposite direction without major modifications to the door frame?

Hello Foreo5,

I’ll give you a step-by-step guide on how to try converting Kallax doors to open in the opposite direction, based on my own experience and common methods:

1. Preparation:
- Measure the Kallax door completely: thickness, edge profiles, handle position
- Check on-site with the shelving unit which side has enough space for the door to open

2. Remove handles/hinges (if already installed)

3. Plan the new position:
- Mirror the hinge positions and handle cutouts onto the other side of the door
- You will likely need to adjust the holes for hinges and handles – Kallax doors are not perfectly symmetrical

4. Fill old holes:
- Use wood filler to fill the old holes and let it dry thoroughly

5. Drill new holes:
- Ideally use a drill stand for vertical drilling to avoid inaccuracies
- Test first on a scrap piece of wood

6. Installing special hinges:
- Usually, standard butt hinges are used, but for left-hand opening, overlay or flap hinges with 180° opening are recommended
- These make the conversion much easier since they don’t need to be mortised fully into the door

7. Door alignment:
- After mounting, carefully adjust the door so it doesn’t rub and closes properly

8. Final check:
- Perform functional tests and make fine adjustments with appropriate tools if necessary

Summary:

The conversion is definitely doable, but requires precise work and patience. If you build or buy completely new doors, you can freely choose the opening direction, but for IKEA Kallax doors, you need to modify as described.

If this effort seems too much, I recommend attaching the doors with simple hinges (e.g., flap hinges) that sit on the outside—this way you avoid drilling further into the door frame.

If you have any more specific questions, feel free to ask.