3 EFFECTIVE METHODS TO HELP YOU ANCHOR BOOKCASES TO THE WALL

Moving to a new home can be exhilarating, but it also comes with its share of tricky challenges. A common hurdle in that situation is rental agreements that restrict drilling into walls. 

This can be a major headache, especially when it comes to securing your tall bookcases and DVD storage shelves.

Luckily, however, there are still a variety of effective solutions to help you anchor bookshelves and other large structures to the wall while ditching the drill. In this simple guide, I’ll walk you through some of the best options!

HOW TO ANCHOR BOOKSHELF TO WALL WITHOUT SCREWS

Anchoring your tall bookcases to the wall is a critical step to secure it, so you shouldn’t skip it.

Consumer Reports recommends kits with straps made from nylon webbing or braided steel cable. 

The anchoring kits typically consist of two brackets tethered by a strap or cable. One bracket screws directly into the piece of furniture; the other fastens into a stud in the wall. 

The connecting strap or cable is typically attached to each bracket and then tightened in place. The point of an anchoring kit is to prevent furniture tip-over accidents.

IKEA also recommends screwing one part of the bracket directly to the wall and the other end onto the furniture with their provided wall anchor kits. You can request one here.


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It’s understandable that most landlords won’t like having holes punched into their walls after a tenant leaves. 

However, many of them would be okay if the tenant patch up the holes and paint the walls when they move out. 

Before proceeding with any of the following, always check with your landlord to see if that’s possible.

However, if that is not an option, there are still some alternative anchoring kits that don’t require screws or punching holes in the walls. Let’s check them out:

1. FURNITURE ANTI-TIP KIT

Furniture anti-tip kits feature strong brackets that can hold furniture up to several hundred pounds of weight. The best news is that they don’t use any screws at all!

A good example of these anti-tip kits is Qdos, which is also available on Amazon. That being said, the kit still leaves a picture hook-sized pinhole with minimal damage to dry walls. This makes it easily patched up when you’re moving out.

2. BABY SAFETY STRAP LOCKS

Another solution that might work for you is baby safety straps. Reddit user Nextstopplease says “I have used these baby safety locks on a thin bookcase and lightweight bathroom cabinet. 

After one year, they’re still holding up! The adhesive is very strong and I can tighten the straps to ensure the furniture doesn’t wobble or move.”

Photo: Nextstopplease

If you’re interested in trying this one out, I’d suggest checking them regularly as the adhesive stickers and straps may deteriorate over time. 

Also, keep in mind that the adhesive stickers may come off if the bookcase is tipped over, as they won’t be able to stop the force of a heavy bookshelf falling forward.

3. STABILISE THE BOOKCASE

Another factor that may help is to always place heavy books and items on the bottom shelves to keep the bookshelves stablisied.

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As for Command strips, I don’t think the adhesive stickers have what it takes to anchor a bookshelf to the wall. 

If it’s just to stop them from wobbling when you open the doors, perhaps they’ll work. But as a safety measure, it is not what I would use.

Other methods like glue actually leave more damage on the wall and are harder to clean up when you want to move out.

Yet, the safest bet here would be the IKEA wall anchor kits, especially if you have kids. Attach them directly from the BILLY bookcases to the wall with suitable hardware, then patch up the holes when it’s time to move out.


Hacking may compromise the structural integrity of the item, so please be aware of the risks involved before modifying or altering any IKEA product. Alterations and modifications will also void any warranties or return policies you may have received from IKEA. IKEAhackers.net is not liable for any product failure, injury or damage resulting from the application of suggestions, ideas and hacks featured on this site.