Hey there, my name’s Joe and I’ve got a funny story to tell ya. So, I was at IKEA one day and I saw this Kallax shelf unit just chillin’ on the showroom floor.
I thought to myself, “Hey, that’d be a perfect bench seat for my living room!” So, I bought it, brought it home, and sat on it.
But, as soon as I did, I heard a big ol’ crack and the next thing I know, I’m on the ground with a broken Kallax and a bruised ego.
Lesson learned: just because something looks like it can hold your weight, doesn’t mean it can.
But, that got me thinkin’, can you actually use a Kallax unit as a bench seat? Can it hold the weight of a human?
Are there ways to make it stronger? Well, I did some research and I’ve got the answers for ya.
Table of Contents
Can You Use Kallax as a Bench Seat?
IKEA, the manufacturer of Kallax, states on their website that the shelving unit is “designed to be used as a room divider, bookshelf, or storage solution.”
Nowhere on their site do they suggest using it as seating.
Using it as seating could damage the shelf unit, and also it’s not recommended as it’s not designed to withstand the pressure of weight bearing and the overall design of the Kallax is not suitable for seating.
And, as I experienced firsthand, Kallax units are not designed to hold the weight of a person. The shelves are made of particleboard, which isn’t known for its strength.
The particleboard shelves are thin, lightweight, and made of small particles of wood that are fused together under heat and pressure. They tend to bend or crack with weight applied to them.
That being said, if you’re feeling crafty, you could potentially reinforce a Kallax unit to make it strong enough to hold your weight.
But, it’s not recommended and you do so at your own risk. It would require adding support brackets, laminating the surfaces, and using thicker boards, among other things.
It would take a lot of time, money, and effort to properly reinforce a Kallax unit and even then, it’s not guaranteed to hold your weight.
It’s always best to use the product for its intended purpose and keep safety in mind.
How Much Weight Can a Kallax Hold?
The weight capacity of a Kallax unit varies depending on the size and configuration. But, in general, it’s not recommended to load the shelves with more than 13 lbs (6 kg) of weight per shelf.
It’s always better to be on the safe side, and not to overload the shelves with too much weight. This is especially true if the Kallax unit is placed in an area where it’s likely to be leaned on or sat on by accident.
That means, if you’re going to use a Kallax as storage and not seating, it’s best to keep the weight of the items on the shelves to a minimum.
Or consider using alternatives such as wooden shelves, metal shelves, or even a solid wood bench if you’re looking for seating options.
Can You Put Legs on a Kallax Unit?
Yes, you can put legs on a Kallax unit. But, again, that doesn’t necessarily mean it will be able to hold the weight of a person.
IKEA does offer legs for Kallax units that can be purchased separately, but these legs are mainly for aesthetic purposes and not for increasing the unit’s weight capacity.
Adding legs will give the unit a more furniture-like appearance, and it could raise the unit off the ground, which could help keep it dry and clean if you’re placing it on a damp or dirty floor.
However, it doesn’t change the fact that the shelves are still made of particleboard, which means it will not hold weight as much as solid wood bench would.
It’s important to note that adding legs will not make the unit any stronger or safer for seating.
The Bottom Line
In conclusion, Kallax units are not designed to be used as seating and may not hold the weight of a person.
It may be possible to reinforce a unit to make it stronger, but it’s not recommended. It’s always best to use the product for its intended purpose and keep safety in mind.
If you’re looking for a bench seat, consider alternatives such as wooden benches, metal benches, or even a solid wood bench.
FAQ
What is a Kallax unit?
A Kallax unit is a shelving unit made by IKEA. It can be used as a room divider, bookshelf, or storage solution.
What are the alternatives for seating instead of using Kallax?
If you’re looking for seating, consider alternatives such as wooden benches, metal benches, or even a solid wood bench.
Can I reinforce a Kallax unit to make it strong enough to sit on?
While it may be possible to reinforce a Kallax unit, it’s not recommended. Reinforcing a unit would require adding support brackets, laminating the surfaces, and using thicker boards, among other things.
It would take a lot of time, money, and effort to properly reinforce a Kallax unit and even then, it’s not guaranteed to hold your weight.
It’s always best to use the product for its intended purpose and keep safety in mind.
How much weight can a Kallax unit hold?
The weight capacity of a Kallax unit varies depending on the size and configuration. But, in general, it’s not recommended to load the shelves with more than 13 lbs (6 kg) of weight per shelf.
It’s always better to be on the safe side, and not to overload the shelves with too much weight.
Are Kallax units designed to be used as seating?
No, Kallax units are not designed to be used as seating. They are designed to be used as room dividers, bookshelves, or storage solutions.
Using them as seating could damage the unit and it’s not recommended due to the unit not being designed for weight bearing.
Can I add legs to a Kallax unit to make it stronger for seating?
Adding legs to a Kallax unit will give it a more furniture-like appearance and it could raise the unit off the ground, but it does not change the fact that the shelves are still made of particleboard and will not hold weight as much as a solid wood bench would.
The legs are mainly for aesthetic purposes and will not make the unit stronger or safer for seating.
What materials are Kallax units made of?
Kallax units are made of particleboard, which is a type of engineered wood made from small particles of wood that are fused together under heat and pressure.
It is a lightweight and inexpensive material but not known for its strength.
My Quick Conclusion
In the end, using a Kallax unit as seating is not recommended, due to the unit not being designed to hold the weight of a person.
The particleboard shelves are not strong enough, and reinforcing it may not be safe.
Consider safer and more durable alternatives such as wooden benches, metal benches or solid wood bench for seating options. Always be safe and use the product for its intended purpose.