ᐅ Overhanging Edges on KALLAX – How to Fix the Appearance?

Sure, here is a simple step-by-step guide to cover protruding edges with a trim strip:

1. Gather materials: Thin strips made of plywood or beech wood, about 2 mm (0.08 inches) thick and as high as the shelf board. You can often find small trim strip sets at hardware stores.

2. Cut the strips: Trim them to the appropriate length of the protruding edge, preferably with a fine cut.

3. Clean the edges: Remove grease or dust from the protruding surface so the glue adheres better.

4. Apply wood glue to the strip and carefully press it onto the protruding edge.

5. Secure with clamps or weighted objects until the glue dries (at least 12 hours).

6. After drying, gently sand the transitions with 240-grit or finer sandpaper. Be careful not to damage the surrounding surface.

7. Apply paint or clear varnish as needed to visually match and protect the strip.

This way, you get a clean, defined edge that visually evens out the overhang without damaging the shelf.

If you have any questions about sanding or suitable finishes, feel free to ask!

sarlo schrieb:
This way, you get a clean, defined edge that visually balances the overhang without damaging the shelf.

Thank you, the instructions make a lot of sense.

I just have a small question: Which paint would you recommend if I want to make the trim almost invisible in color? The shelf is white and rather matte – in general, I have no experience with paints but definitely want to avoid the trim being glossy or noticeable.

Thanks again!

kimru schrieb:
Which paint would you recommend if I want to make the trim almost invisible by color?

For a matte finish and good coverage, I recommend water-based acrylic paint. These have low odor, are easy to apply, and dry to a satin to matte finish.

Important: Before painting, treat the trim with a white primer (e.g., white acrylic primer) to ensure better and more even coverage of the paint.

Alternatively, you can use matte spray paint, which often gives an even smoother edge.

One more tip: Test the paint first on a piece of plywood to see how it looks when dry, so you’re sure the level of mattness suits your shelf.

This should make the trim almost invisible when the color matches well.

Hope this helps!

Great, thanks for the tip about the primer and the spray technique.

I guess I’ll go with that approach. I’m actually starting to feel like not only saving the shelf visually but also improving it a bit.

Do you maybe have any advice on how to proceed if the edge is slightly uneven? For example, if the wood profile was cut just a little off or the board is slightly warped?

Thanks and best regards!

kimru schrieb:
Do you have any tips on how to proceed if the edge is a bit uneven?

Yes, that’s an important point that is often underestimated. Here is my advice:

Before gluing the molding, try to smooth the edge with fine sandpaper to even out larger irregularities gently.

If the unevenness is minor, you can also use wood filler – a white acrylic wood filler is ideal for filling small dents or waves. Apply it with a small putty knife, smooth it out, and lightly sand once it’s dry.

Always work in thin layers and check the result after each step.

This way, you’ll achieve a clean and straight surface to install the molding.

And please avoid sanding too aggressively to prevent damaging the melamine surface.

Regards, nubar

nubar schrieb:
Use wood filler – a white acrylic wood filler is ideal for evening out small dents or waves.

Very well explained, thank you! Additionally, I would recommend cleaning the surface with a damp cloth after filling and sanding to remove any dust residue before attaching the molding.

If the edge is very uneven, you can also adjust the molding with fine sandpaper or even gently rasp the side slightly before gluing it to ensure a perfect fit.

It is important to keep everything dry and clean before final bonding, as small dust particles can reduce adhesive strength.

After the glue has dried, a fine sanding can be done if necessary before applying the finish.

Perfection is in the details 🙂