Hackers Help: Expand a Kallax unit to include dividing shelves for DVDs and CDs?

Jules Yap·
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Larger Kallax

A standard Kallax unit can’t fit two rows of DVDs.

I’d like to take one and make each cube section big enough to fit two rows of DVDs and three rows of CDs, with dividing shelves. Any ideas how to do this?

~ BestaPete

Jules Yap

Jules Yap started IKEAHackers.net in 2006 as a personal blog to showcase the most impressive IKEA hacks from all over the world. Since then, she has learned a lot more about power tools and DIY. Her site has helped thousands modify IKEA furniture with step-by-step tutorials, craft projects and home styling. Jules is the author of IKEAHackers.net: 25 Biggest and Best Projects".

6 Responses

  3. I understand your goal, but I have an alternative suggestion.
    Leave the Kallax box as is, and with careful measuring and installation, one can fit one row of DVDs plus one row of CDs.
    The aesthetics would be different, but the gain in practicality might feel like a worthy tradeoff.
    Best of luck!

    Reply

  4. Tricky. You can’t enlarge the vertical pieces, you’d have to replace them.
    How about turning the unit through 90 degrees so it stands on its side. That way, you can position the horizontal shelves wherever you like (with a bit of drilling and filling holes). Might be easier to have 2 rows of DVDs on a taller shelf, with 2 rows of CDs in the corresponding smaller shelf above/below?

    Reply

  5. Rather than modifying the shelf, you might consider doing an offset double-stack to take advantage of the depth of the Kallax shelves. In my Bonde-based entertainment center (see “Big Screen Bonde” here, though I posted that before adding this hack), I cut up some extra as-is shelves to make risers tall enough to stack DVDs atop with enough clearance to pull them out from under the top of the shelf The risers are just two simple verticals under a horizontal (like an inverted U) that’s a fraction of an inch narrower than the interior of the shelf. I put a row of DVDs on the shelf, and then in front of that, I have another row of DVDs inside an Interdesign Linus Medium Stacking Organizer (cheaper elsewhere), which is nearly as wide as the shelf. The offset height lets me see enough of the titles on the back row, and the bin lets me just pull the whole front row off with one hand to pull out the back-row disc I want with the other hand.

    Reply

  6. I think i might have a solution…
    You will have to cut slots on the table saw that are 1/4″ wide (I’m not too sure how deep you should make it but it depends on how thick your material is) on each vertical piece. You will have to know the exact measurmeets on each side based on high from the floor the new shelp will be.
    Do note, you will have to make a cut on opposite sides so the left piece will have a slot cut out on its right and the right piece will have a slot cut on its left.
    After you got the slots cut out then slide a piece of 1/4″ wood or material of your choice and presto, you got a new mini shelf for your CD and DVD.

    Hopefully this helped and if not supported and gave you some ideas/ better solutions.

    Good luck

    Reply

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