ᐅ Why Does the Ikea Hemnes Squeak and How Can I Fix It?

I have been having an issue with my Ikea Hemnes bed frame for some time now. It starts to creak as soon as I move or lie down in the bed. The squeaking noises mainly come from the joints where the wooden slats connect to the frame. Although I seem to have assembled everything correctly, these annoying sounds keep occurring, which is especially frustrating at night. My question is: Why does the Ikea Hemnes bed squeak so often? What are the most common causes of squeaking with this model, and what measures are recommended to resolve this problem permanently and with minimal effort? I would appreciate any tips and practical experiences, including suggestions for tools or suitable lubricants that can reliably eliminate the squeaking.

Squeaking usually comes from wood rubbing against wood or from loose joints. Check all screws and tighten them. Then you can treat wooden joints with wax or graphite powder, but not oil, as it attracts dust.

It’s interesting that many people expect an Ikea piece of furniture to be completely silent – I would even argue that the slight creaking of the wood is almost part of the design for a model like Hemnes. It’s not solid wood, but rather veneered and glued, which means the individual components always shift slightly under load. Of course, it can be annoying, but perhaps the creaking should be seen as a kind of expression of the furniture’s life. You can try using PTFE spray to counter it, but whether that really solves the issue remains questionable.

I understand the problem very well; I had the exact same squeaking with my Hemnes. It’s really annoying, especially in the evening when everything is quiet. I feel like the wood is shifting, and it makes quite a difference how carefully you tighten the connecting parts. In the end, gently rubbing the joints with beeswax helped me a lot. Maybe that’s worth a try for you as well? A little patience is needed, as the effect often lasts for several months.

theota schrieb:
It’s interesting that many assume an Ikea piece of furniture should simply be quiet – I would even argue that the slight creaking of the wood, typical for a model like Hemnes, is almost part of its design.

I have to disagree. In my opinion, a piece of furniture that creaks is always a design flaw or the result of poor material connections. Design aside, a bed needs to be practical and functional. Ikea just delivers cheaply assembled products. Instead of settling for philosophical explanations, the issues should be addressed: loose screws, missing glide pads, better fastening materials.

In addition to the screws, I would recommend checking the wooden battens carefully to ensure they lie completely flat. If there is a gap, friction can occur. A thin felt or cork underlay can help if wood is rubbing against wood.