Asked on Aug 11, 2017

How to hang Kallax shelves on a wall?

Leanor Vlug
by Leanor Vlug
I'm redoing my home office, and have three Kallax shelf units I want to hang on the wall, over 3 pieces of furniture so I can use the surfaces of the furniture tops. The IKEA directions say not to hang units from the wall, but I have seen examples of Kallax/Expedition shelves installed successfully and safely. The condo's walls in my office are drywall with metal studs.


  5 answers
  • Mamadillo Mamadillo on Aug 11, 2017

    I'd be afraid the units, which are not designed to be hung, would pull loose from their own weight (let alone any weight you add by putting items on the shelves, and fall to the floor. Your room has no usable studs, which makes hanging these shelves even more of a risk to wall damage and/or injury to any one the office. I'm sorry to be so negative, but I personally wouldn't risk this, Is it possible to wall-mount the TV?

    • Leanor Vlug Leanor Vlug on Aug 11, 2017

      That's true about weight of books...and I didn't say there are no useable studs in the wall... I said they are metal studs, as is common with condo unit structures.


      Ive been told and have seen in other u its that TVs can be mounted on the wall...and I plan do have that done by an experienced installer (but on the wall opposite of th Kallax units.


      Thanks for your feedback.

  • Mamadillo Mamadillo on Aug 11, 2017

    Oops! Sorry for the fictional TV that I mentioned; it was from another question.

  • Sharon Sharon on Aug 11, 2017

    If you've seen them safely installed, I would ask who has them how they did it.

    I would use a french cleat on the back of the top.

    Then I would put 2" ledge board the full length of the shelving unit so the casing rests on it. Paint it to match the wall.

    https://www.amazon.com/55316-13-Piece-Hangman-French-Hardware/dp/B003WE9XU4/ref=br_lf_m_2nvtyprnz3523xn_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&s=hi

    I wouldn't overload it with books.

    • See 1 previous
    • Sharon Sharon on Aug 11, 2017

      Well there are 4 videos on YouTube showing how...

      but unfortunately you have no wooden studs.

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvkZQtf56LM

      This guy mounts with plastic anchors, and I don't think that would be adequate to hang it, only secure it to the wall so it doesn't tip over in an earthquate or a kid jumps on it.... I would use toggle bolts ... plastic ones do pull out.

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJLRyORFxmE

  • Leanor Vlug Leanor Vlug on Aug 12, 2017

    I found a better video that shows how to assemble and hang the Kallax square units..... AdamDIY is good at showing and explaining how to fix the issue of having studs every 16" (typical in North America) and the Kallax units having wider spacing for the supports. I also saw that my units (assembled by someone else) were put together incorrectly... so will fix them. https://youtu.be/wEjRsNyXN4E

  • Leanor Vlug Leanor Vlug on Aug 21, 2017

    Hi - thanks for your comments and suggestions. In the end, we decided to simply rest the Kallax units on the Malm dressers, and fasten the Kallax to the walls with anchor units for stability. This also provides the Malm dressers with a counter balance.ments and suggestions. In the end, we decided to simply rest the Kallax units on the Malm dressers, and fasten the Kallax to the walls with anchor units for stability. This also provides the Malm dressers with a counter balance.