ᐅ KALLAX too small after family grows – any remodeling tips?

Hello everyone,

Over the past few months, I’ve noticed that our IKEA KALLAX shelving unit is starting to become too small after our family grew. We initially had the 4x4 model placed in the living room, which worked well for books, toys, and a few decorative items. With the new baby and related items like changing supplies, blankets, and smaller toys, the storage space has unfortunately become quite tight.

I don’t really want to replace the existing shelf completely, as it’s sturdy and matches the room’s colors nicely. Does anyone have practical tips or ideas on how to extend or modify a KALLAX shelving unit to provide more storage while still looking neat?

For example, I can imagine equipping individual compartments with additional elements like boxes or drawers, or combining the shelf differently with other units. Maybe there are also top-mounted solutions?

Looking forward to your experiences and suggestions, including links to products or instructions are welcome.

Thanks in advance!

The KALLAX system is modular and flexible, allowing storage space to often be expanded through various modifications.

A common approach is placing a second KALLAX unit next to or on top of the existing one to double or increase the number of compartments. Stability should be taken into account when doing this. IKEA offers mounting hardware to securely connect KALLAX units.

In addition, inserts like drawers or boxes are useful. You can purchase these separately or get ones designed to fit the KALLAX system from IKEA. For smaller baby items, fabric boxes with dividers are helpful.

Another option: KALLAX can be enhanced with doors or shelves to better organize the storage space. There are universal add-on shelves that can be placed on top as an extension.

It’s important to observe the weight limits of the shelves, especially when storing heavy items such as books or electronic devices.

Overall, it is advisable to take inventory of your actual storage items to plan expansions effectively. The modular nature of KALLAX allows for many combinations, so switching to entirely different shelving systems is not necessarily required.

tra_nina schrieb:
The KALLAX is modular and flexible, allowing the storage space to often be expanded through various modifications.

I would definitely agree with that. Some time ago, I expanded my 4x4 KALLAX with a 2x4 unit because our growing family simply needed more storage.

But it doesn’t just feel like an expansion—it also feels like a refinement in organization. Before, things were often mixed up. Now we have assigned different boxes and compartments to specific areas—from toys to baby items.

If you decide to stack the units, be sure to use wall anchors, especially in homes with toddlers, to prevent tipping. Safety should always be a top priority.

It might also be a good idea to equip the lower shelf with sturdy casters so you can easily move it if needed, for example, if it’s used as a changing station with storage.

Don’t worry—after a few rearrangements, the shelf will fit your needs again without having to buy a completely new one. I hope this helps you a bit :-)

Joe52 schrieb:
If you decide to stack them, make sure to use wall anchors

Exactly, wall anchors secure the shelving.

You can also install shelves to create more compartments.

Alternatively, use boxes and bins to organize small items.

Another option is to buy a taller shelving unit directly, if space allows.