How to attach a piece of furniture to the wall?

Whether it is in a small adult bedroom, a living room, a kitchen, or even a bathroom, you very often encounter wall-mounted furniture.

It must be admitted that they are pleasant to look at. Besides their main role, they serve as a decorative element in the room. If you want to equip yourself with one, this article can serve as a guide to assemble it.

There is no need to take a DIY course to be able to install it like a professional. You just have to apply our advice and techniques, and you’re done.

Why is it important to fix furniture to the wall?

Whether it is a piece of Ikea kitchen furniture, a bookcase or shelves, it is always safer to seal them to the wall. Especially if you have children, they sometimes tend to shake objects including furniture. It is very likely that these will fall directly on them.

For those who are very young, they lean on furniture while learning to walk. To reduce risks, try to immobilize it against the wall, especially those installed in the baby’s room.

If you live in countries most exposed to earthquakes, furniture on legs is strongly discouraged. During an earthquake, even a minor one, this phenomenon can cause serious damage. To avoid this, it is better to suspend the furniture to the wall.

This type of installation is also advantageous as it greatly facilitates cleaning. Remember that dirt including dust gets everywhere.

The space between the furniture and the wall becomes a refuge for cobwebs. Mold also keeps accumulating there. Yet, it seems difficult to clean. So if you want to keep this corner always clean, it is better to seal the furniture to the wall.

What types of furniture should be fixed to the wall?

There are several types of furniture that can be mounted on the wall without any problem. With this placement, they are practical to use. Moreover, they add an aesthetic touch to the room.

Almost all modern kitchens are equipped with wall-mounted cabinets. Stacked shelves can hold plates, cups, soup tureens, and many more items.

Drawers are used for glassware. For backsplash bars, they house your nice utensils. When these pieces of furniture are fixed to the wall, they significantly free up space.

This installation is not only for light and compact objects. You also have the option to mount heavy furniture on the wall. The bookcase is one of them. Despite its imposing shape, its assembly is child’s play.    

The same goes for the wardrobe, which is generally installed in the bedroom. Although it takes up a significant space in the room, it is very functional once you manage to organize your belongings well.

It is also possible to seal furniture directly to the wall in a garage or bathroom. Installing a storage unit or a low cabinet should not be taken lightly. It is worth noting that it weighs dozens of kilos once full.

How to find the best spot to fix the furniture to the wall?

Wall type	Anchor type	Max load (kg)
Drywall (hollow)	Molly bolt (expansion)	20 – 50 kg
Concrete / Solid brick	Nylon expansion anchor	+ 100 kg
Hollow brick	Deformation anchor	30 – 60 kg
Fragile material	Chemical anchoring	Heavy load

The ideal place to receive furniture is the part of the wall that has great solidity and resistance to shocks. If you plan to install a bulky object on a weak wall, it risks collapsing in a short time.

It is recommended to fix it only to a hard, reliable, and stable wall. Among plaster, brick, cement, stone, paneling, and concrete, it is especially the latter that can bear a high load.

As for drywall walls, they are designed to tolerate loads up to 40 kg maximum. If the furniture weight exceeds 20 kg, you must use a battens or a support rail to avoid the risk of tearing out.

What tools are necessary to fix furniture to the wall?

The assembly of a piece of furniture on the wall must be done according to the rules of the trade. Otherwise, either the object collapses and will be damaged or its fall causes a serious accident. To avoid reaching this stage, it is crucial to securely seal it to the wall using the necessary equipment.

A pencil, a tape measure, a small hammer, a spirit level, a flat screwdriver, a Phillips screwdriver, and a ruler are among the essential tools. If the furniture is installed at height, you also need a stepladder or footstool.

Besides that, a drill-driver is very helpful whenever you screw or drill. If the material to be treated is more resistant, it is better to use a rotary hammer or a hammer drill.

Besides that, fixing a piece of furniture requires the use of threaded rods, a resin cartridge, an injection sieve, a wrench, a vacuum cleaner or a blower, marking adhesive, a concrete drill bit, chemical anchoring, an anchor bolt, an extruder gun, pliers, and of course suitable wall plugs.

How to choose the appropriate wall plugs and screws to fix the furniture to the wall?

They must perfectly match the type of wall concerned. Also, it is essential to carefully choose their size.

For hollow partitions which are generally low-resistance materials such as brick, plaster, or cinder block, reinforce the fixing with a batten.

If the wall is hollow but hard like hollow brick or concrete blocks, favor metal plugs such as Molly bolts. They are also suitable for plasterboard partitions.  

For solid and sturdy walls like concrete, solid brick, or stone, you have the choice between 4 types of plugs depending on the weight of your furniture.

If the furniture weighs up to 20 kg, use mesh plugs and brass plugs in damp rooms. For a bookshelf over 20 kg, Fischer plugs are a better option.

If the furniture exceeds 50 kilograms, use ultra-strong plugs such as steel ones. They are widely known as anchor bolts.

The size of the plug can also vary according to the weight of the furniture. For a load between 20 and 50 kg, prefer models with a 8 mm diameter. If the loads exceed 50 kg, favor plugs with a diameter of at least 10 mm.

Once you find the right plugs, now choose suitable screws. These rods must be longer and larger than the plug to ensure the fixing.

If you work with hollow or crumbly materials, the diameter of the plug must be larger than that of the hole. On the other hand, their diameter must be equal for hard materials.

What is the best method to install anchors and screws into the wall?

Whatever technique is used, it is imperative to choose an anchor and screw suitable for the weight of the furniture and the nature of the wall.

Before drilling, use a metal detector to locate the presence of pipes or cables inside the partition. When you dig a hole, make sure its depth is greater than the size of the anchor.

To anchor a hollow wall such as one made of plasterboard or drywall, use a hammer, a drill-driver, and a screwdriver. After drilling the wall, tap the anchor in with a hammer. Then tighten the screw firmly using an electric screwdriver.

In a solid wall, you can install several types of anchors. For a load under 50 kg in stone or concrete, use a universal anchor with wings or made of plastic.

Place this dowel in a hole drilled into the partition. The next step is to tighten the screw while spreading the wings to anchor into the wall.

If the loads are heavy, use bolt anchor anchors which are intended for cinder block, stone, and concrete. Install the rod perpendicular to the furniture to be fixed. After several hammer blows, tighten firmly while screwing the bolt.

How to ensure the furniture is securely fixed and will not fall?

To avoid worrying about the furniture fixation, it is strongly recommended to assemble it properly. A few tips must be followed to the letter:

The anchors and screws to use must exactly match the nature of the wall and the weight of the object. Some rods do not support heavy loads. If you insist on using them, it is normal that the furniture fixing will not last long.

Assembling shelves usually does not pose problems due to their lightness. However, bulky furniture requires the use of strong and resistant anchors. Otherwise, they can fall when least expected.

To ensure the fixation is reliable, use only strong and appropriate fasteners for the weight of the furniture and the type of wall.

Using a wall anchor bracket is an excellent idea. Shaped like an L, it is attached to the wall with anchors or screws. Then the object is fixed to the bracket.

What factors should be considered when fixing heavy furniture to the wall?

Besides the type of screw and anchor, it is important to carefully study the nature of the wall that will hold the furniture. A drywall may prove less sturdy than a concrete one. For assembling a closet or a wardrobe, this furniture requires strong fasteners and a concrete partition.

As with any installation, remember to take measurements before taking action. The wall surface must be sufficient to accommodate the furniture. For a hanging object, consider the available height. Drawers must open and close without any issues.

It is also essential to analyze the finish of the item. If you plan to place it in a humid room, its manufacturing materials must resist moisture.

Otherwise, this phenomenon may shorten its lifespan. Without frequent maintenance, the furniture can be damaged more quickly.

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