ᐅ What to do if IKEA HEMNES cabinet doors don’t close properly?

Hello everyone,

I recently assembled an IKEA Hemnes wardrobe and noticed that the doors do not close properly. Specifically, the doors are sometimes slightly misaligned, one spot sticks a little, or the door swings open slightly after closing. The hinges are installed as instructed, and I have already checked that the screws are not loose, but that does not seem to be the issue.

I suspect the problem might be related to the hinge adjustment or possibly the wood or alignment of the doors. Before making random adjustments, I would like to know which steps are most effective for correctly aligning the doors. I understand that IKEA hinges are usually adjustable, but which screws affect height, depth, or lateral positioning exactly, and what sequence is recommended?

Does anyone have experience with this specific issue on the Hemnes wardrobe or useful tips to fix the problem permanently?

Thanks in advance for your help!

Hello,

first try adjusting the side screws on the hinge. This allows you to move the door horizontally. If the door sticks, check whether the screws are tightened. The height adjustment is usually done via the upper screw, and the depth adjustment via the screw behind it.

Hello TAUKE0,

Here is a brief guide on how to properly adjust the IKEA HEMNES doors:

- First, locate the two main screws on the hinge: The side screw (near the door panel) moves the door horizontally, and the rear screw adjusts the distance of the door from the cabinet body.
- The height adjustment is usually done by loosening the fastening along with the hinge plate on the cabinet wall, then sliding the door up or down.
- I recommend aligning the door horizontally first, then adjusting the depth, and finally correcting the height.
- Do not tighten the screws too much, as this can block the adjustment mechanisms.

A common issue with HEMNES is that the hinges are easily over-tightened, which causes problems. Also, make sure there are no wood shavings or dirt in the hinge assembly that could interfere with closing.

If the door still slightly pushes open, adding a magnetic catch might help if one is not already installed.

I hope this helps you.

First, I would check if the cabinet carcass is level. If the floor or wall is uneven, no perfect hinge adjustment will help. You might want to check this with a spirit level.

If there is any binding, check the hinges at the top and bottom positions of the door. You can often make slight adjustments there with a screwdriver until the door closes properly.

Thanks for the tips so far.

An update: The spirit level shows that the cabinet is relatively straight. All screws are tight as well. When adjusting the side screw, the door shifted noticeably, which improved the opening.

However, there is still a small issue: The left door now closes almost flush, but at the upper corner, it sits slightly too low, causing slight contact with the cabinet frame when closing. I suspect I need to adjust the height more precisely, but I find it difficult to loosen the hinges without changing everything else.

Is there a trick to adjusting the height on HEMNES cabinet doors without affecting other settings? Or do you have to follow a strict sequence and make readjustments each time?