ᐅ What should I do if Ikea HEMNES furniture starts to become wobbly after several years?

Hello everyone,

A few years ago, I bought furniture from the Ikea Hemnes series – including dressers and cabinets that I really like. After about five to six years, some wear and tear is normal. However, I have recently noticed that some parts are starting to become loose, especially the drawers and doors no longer fit as firmly as before, and there is some instability when opening and closing them.

What can I do if Ikea Hemnes furniture starts to wobble after several years? Are there proven methods for repairs or adjustments that provide a long-term solution? Should I replace screws in certain areas, or are there other tips to restore stability?

I would also appreciate any advice on common weak points that tend to affect Hemnes pieces, as well as the best approach for disassembly and potential reassembly.

Thanks in advance for your tips!

Hello Prisca48,

Your question is very well phrased and shows that you have already thought the topic through carefully. Wobbling in HEMNES furniture after several years is actually not uncommon, as solid wood furniture can experience natural material expansion or slight wear at connection points.

Here are some tips that might help you:

- First, check all screws and joints: Wood screws or dowels often loosen over time. Tightening them or even replacing old wood screws with new ones can quickly improve stability.
- The back panels or drawer runners are often particularly vulnerable. If the back panel is made of thin material, it can warp and contribute to instability.
- If you can remove the drawers, also inspect the runners and mechanisms; sometimes dust or small deposits accumulate and intensify the wobbling effect.
- For more extensive repairs, it might be useful to reglue the joints lightly—please use appropriate wood glues and possibly clamps in this case.

If you are unsure, you can systematically work through the steps to identify which areas have the most significant issues.

I hope this already helps you!

Prisca48 schrieb:
What can I do if Ikea HEMNES furniture starts to wobble after years? Are there proven methods for repairs or improvements that provide long-term stability?

Honestly: Ikea furniture isn’t built to last forever. I think people often expect too much. The HEMNES series is sturdier than some other budget options, but after years, almost everything will wobble unless you reinforce it.

My advice: simply redo the assembly properly, replace the screws, and it doesn’t take much imagination to stabilize the furniture with some wood glue and a few extra brackets – the Ikea design almost forces your hand.

Otherwise: have the furniture professionally rebuilt or just let it go. If you keep something that long, you should be willing to do some maintenance yourself. Complaining alone won’t help.

Tighten screws and secure damaged wood areas with wood glue. If drawers are loose, check the slides and replace if necessary. Inspect the back panel, as it is often the cause of instability. Simple, effective, and usually lasts for years.

matthewon schrieb:
Ikea furniture is simply not built to last forever.

I have a more nuanced view. Sure, it’s not as solid as furniture made from solid hardwood, but the HEMNES series is mostly made of solid pine wood, which is quite sturdy.

What’s important is to consider the mechanics and connection points carefully: wobbling often occurs due to repeated stress and the resulting material fatigue.

Simply replacing the screws doesn’t always help. Sometimes the pre-drilled holes have become enlarged, so the screws no longer hold – in such cases, you need to use wood filler, glue, and re-drill to secure the joints permanently.

I also recommend checking whether the furniture is placed on an even surface and not wobbling due to uneven load distribution.

Basically, it’s not just a matter of “new screws” but requires a thorough analysis of the problem areas.