Hello everyone,
I have a small issue with my Kallax shelving unit from IKEA. I use a wooden insert that slides into the compartments to better organize small items. Unfortunately, this insert rattles quite a lot whenever I touch the shelf or move something inside it. The noise is quite annoying, especially because it sounds like a loose fit or too much play.
I suspect that the wooden panels are not sufficiently cushioned, and I might need to add some kind of padding or damping material between the shelf and the insert to reduce the rattling.
My question to you: Which materials or solutions have you tried to dampen the rattling of KALLAX inserts? Are there simple and affordable methods that work well in the long term? I would prefer not to rebuild the insert completely but rather modify the contact points.
Thanks for your advice!
I have a small issue with my Kallax shelving unit from IKEA. I use a wooden insert that slides into the compartments to better organize small items. Unfortunately, this insert rattles quite a lot whenever I touch the shelf or move something inside it. The noise is quite annoying, especially because it sounds like a loose fit or too much play.
I suspect that the wooden panels are not sufficiently cushioned, and I might need to add some kind of padding or damping material between the shelf and the insert to reduce the rattling.
My question to you: Which materials or solutions have you tried to dampen the rattling of KALLAX inserts? Are there simple and affordable methods that work well in the long term? I would prefer not to rebuild the insert completely but rather modify the contact points.
Thanks for your advice!
Klakar schrieb:
Attach felt pads or self-adhesive foam strips to the contact surfaces.That’s a good approach; I would add the following:
Make sure the cushioning is thin enough so that the fitting doesn’t get stuck, but thick enough to compensate for any play or movement.
Alternatively, silicone tape can be used, as it is more durable and elastic.
It is important to identify the exact spots where the rattling occurs. Sometimes, it’s enough to attach dampers only on the wide sides or the upper edges.
Thanks for the quick responses so far.
I took a closer look: the rattling mainly comes from the insert having some play in the compartments and hitting the side walls with minimal movement.
Do you think that self-adhesive foam or silicone tape as a seal between the frame and the insert would provide a good balance?
Has anyone had experience with these materials specifically in the context of wooden shelves? How long do the adhesives last, and do they become brittle?
I took a closer look: the rattling mainly comes from the insert having some play in the compartments and hitting the side walls with minimal movement.
EMILIO schrieb:
Make sure the cushioning is thin enough so the insert doesn’t get stuck, but thick enough to compensate for any movement play.
Do you think that self-adhesive foam or silicone tape as a seal between the frame and the insert would provide a good balance?
Has anyone had experience with these materials specifically in the context of wooden shelves? How long do the adhesives last, and do they become brittle?
I have the same issue with KALLAX inserts. I recommend using fixed, self-adhesive foam rubber strips with a thickness of 1–2 mm (0.04–0.08 inches). They are inexpensive, easy to cut, and remain stable for several years.
Silicone is very flexible and durable, but it is often more expensive and can be somewhat harder to handle if you need to cut it yourself.
Important: The material should provide some resistance so that the insert fits snugly in the shelf without rattling. A little bit of clearance is fine, but too much will cause noise.
Conclusion: I would start with foam rubber because it offers a good balance of cushioning, durability, and cost.
Silicone is very flexible and durable, but it is often more expensive and can be somewhat harder to handle if you need to cut it yourself.
Important: The material should provide some resistance so that the insert fits snugly in the shelf without rattling. A little bit of clearance is fine, but too much will cause noise.
Conclusion: I would start with foam rubber because it offers a good balance of cushioning, durability, and cost.
I can understand how annoying rattling noises can be— even small sounds often bother us more in everyday life than we expect.
It might help if you lightly dampen the inserts before installing them and then let the wooden surfaces dry for a few hours. Sometimes the wood swells slightly and fits more snugly.
I noticed that tightly fitted wood creates much less noise compared to loose inserts.
In addition, I used felt strips— for me, the combination of moisture and felt worked best.
Maybe you can gradually try this approach to reduce the rattling.
Wishing you good luck!
It might help if you lightly dampen the inserts before installing them and then let the wooden surfaces dry for a few hours. Sometimes the wood swells slightly and fits more snugly.
I noticed that tightly fitted wood creates much less noise compared to loose inserts.
In addition, I used felt strips— for me, the combination of moisture and felt worked best.
Maybe you can gradually try this approach to reduce the rattling.
Wishing you good luck!
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