Books are an important part of every house in Malaysia. We all have different books in our homes and with that comes the need of storing those books somewhere. In Malaysia, IKEA bookcases are widely used because they are durable and easy to use. A lot of people ask us about what is the best way to install in IKEA bookcases.
Do bookcases need to be fixed to the wall? Or you can also install them without fixing them on the wall? Which is the safest and reliable way? What does the IKEA company say about it?
If you are also looking for answers to these questions then don’t go anywhere because you’ll get all the answers here in this article.
Table of Contents
Should I fix my bookcase on the wall?
The answer to this question is yes!
You should fix your IKEA bookcase to the wall because it is better for the safety of people in your house and also for the safety of the bookcase itself.
The IKEA furniture company itself recommends the users secure their furniture items to the wall because it is very crucial for safety purposes.
Reasons why you should secure IKEA bookcase to the wall
Here are all the important reasons that will make you realize why it is important to secure IKEA bookcase to the wall:
1. Danger of earthquake
Earthquakes are not very common in Malaysia but when they occur, they’re just terrifying and cause horrible loss of lives & infrastructure.
If your bookcase is not secured to the wall and an earthquake occurs then it will be at the risk of toppling/falling. It can turn out to be a drastic nightmare if a child or pet is standing below it. The bookcase will fell over anyone standing below it and cause serious life-threatening injuries.
On the other hand, if the bookcase will be fixed to the wall, then it will have fewer chances of falling during an earthquake. It will stay firmly attached to the wall and prevent any unfortunate accident.
2. Danger of windstorm
Intense windstorms often occur in different parts of Malaysia and cause a lot of damage to properties and infrastructure.
If your bookcase is not fixed to the wall and has no support then an extreme windstorm can also make it unstable. Consequently, it will fall and injure someone close to it or it can fall on the other precious items around and break them. Thus, you can suffer from a great loss.
On contrary, if the bookcase will be fixed to the wall, then it will have strong support that will hold it in its place during a windstorm. Therefore, it will be much safe and secure for you.
3. Risk of injury to the children or pets
Many of us have children and pets at our homes that we love more than anything. We do everything we can to keep them safe, healthy, and comfortable.
A bookcase that is not fixed to the wall can be life-threatening for your kids or pets. Many times, the kids or pets are messing with the things around and pushing them here & there. All of a sudden, your children or pet can push the already unstable bookcase (that is not fixed to the wall) and make it fall. The bookcase can fell on the kids or pets and inflict serious injuries.
There was a tragic accident reported in 2014 when an IKEA Malm Chest (not attached to the wall) fell on 2 children in the USA and killed them. Another child was killed in 2016 due to the same reason. Similarly, a child aged 3 in Nottingham had to get 20 stitches after a furniture item not attached to the wall fell on her.
Therefore, we recommend you must attach your bookcase to the wall because it is necessary for the safety of you and your family. When you will fix the bookcase to the wall then it will stay firm in its place and prevent any unfortunate injuries or mishaps like mentioned above.
How to fix a bookcase to the wall?
Now as you have learned the importance of fixing a bookcase to the wall, you are probably wondering how you can fix your IKEA bookcase to the wall. Here is all the information that you need to know.
How to fix ikea bookcase to wall with velcro straps
How we fix ikea bookcase to wall with velcro straps in 5 simple steps
Total Time: 25 minutes
1. Purchase the velcro straps
The first thing to do is to purchase good quality Velcro straps. You can purchase them easily from your local stores anywhere in Malaysia.
2. Secure with velcro straps
Use Velcro straps to fix an IKEA bookcase to the wall. The Velcro straps come with a stud that is fixed to the wall and another strap that you will attach to the bookcase to hold it. Follow these simple steps to do things easier.
3. Mark the location of studs
Next, take a pencil and mark the location of Velcro strap studs that you’ll attach to the wall. Make sure that your markings are perfect and aligned.
4. Drill the studs
Now drill the Velcro strap studs to the marked locations on your wall.
5. Attach the Straps to the ikea bookcase
Remove the cover from the adhesive Velcro straps and attach them to the bookcase. Once you have attached the straps then don’t remove them to realign because the strap may lose its strength and adhesive power.
How to fix ikea bookcase to wall with L-shaped brackets
The second method you can use to fix the IKEA bookcase to the wall is by using L-shaped brackets. Here are the steps you should follow:
1. Buy the brackets
Quickly go to any of your nearest hardware stores and buy L-shaped brackets from there.
2. Mark the location of brackets
Take a pencil and mark the location of L-shaped brackets the height where you want to fix the bookcase. Make sure the markings are perfectly aligned vertically.
3. Drill the brackets
Now drill the L-shaped brackets at the point locations you’ve marked on the wall.
4. Connect the bookcase with the brackets
In the last step, connect the upper part of the bookcase with the L-shaped brackets you just attached to the wall. The L-shaped brackets have two sides; one is attached to the wall and the second is attached to the furniture item to secure it.
This way your bookcase will be fixed to the wall. Now it is safe and stable than before.
Conclusion
Do bookcases need to be fixed to the wall?
The answer is yes!
Why?
Because fixing the bookcase to the wall is good for safety purposes. It will prevent any unfortunate accident and save you and everyone living in your house from sudden life-threatening injuries. It is recommended by the IKEA furniture company itself.
Curious to learn is ikea furniture made in china or is ikea furniture safe for babies too?
