How to Install a Floating Wall Shelf - Ikea Lack

Learn how to install your #ikea Lack shelf.

Tips for installing the 2-Pronged Shelf Bracket:
When I bought a pair of white high gloss lack wall shelves in July 2012, I noticed right away that they were different from the brackets that came with my black-brown wall shelves purchased 7 months prior. Unlike the older brackets, the new ones only have 4 holes for screws. And if I recall correctly, they are 12 inches apart. That played a major factor in regards to where I placed my shelves. I'd initially wanted to place the shelves on a wall with just drywall and studs, but since the holes were placed so close together, I wasn't able to. I planned on using my shelves as a book display (if you check out my very first video, you can see them in the background), I needed them to hold a significant amount of weight. I didn't want to risk drilling one side into the stud and the other side into the drywall, using just an anchor and a screw. At that point, I wasn't even familiar with toggle bolts, so that wasn't an option. I ended up placing it on another wall that had a concrete backing.

So don't forget to keep in mind both what type of wall you plan on placing your shelf and what type of screws/anchors you have. Read the instructions on Ikea's website so you can figure out how much weight you can put on your Lack.

If you have any questions about the Lack shelf, leave them in the comments section and I'll answer you as best I can!

Royalty-Free Music:
"George Street Shuffle" by Kevin McLeod

#Lackshelf #wallshelf

[krystelmcneil]

thankyou! I had my lack shelves sitting in a closet because my bilding manager and step dad said that I need to have a guy put it in or I would need help, I thought this would be so much more complicated, but now I see they were being dumb asses and underestimating how handy I am! This video definitely let me know that mounting shit on a wall is one less thing I need a man around for!

[GodsChild_]

Thank you!! These handy man vids guys are making are way too extreme like calm down. We needed a simple vid!! Thank you!!

[sepstone]

Like others have said, it’s not recommended to hang the bracket upside down. It’s more prone to sagging and hazardous. Also for anyone who needs to buy the screws, but doesn’t know what screws to use: #12 x 1 1/2 inch flat head Phillips worked for me!

[maribelbeltran]

Omg love to see this. Coming from a divorce always having a man do things for me. About time I learn to do things on my own. Ty and I subscribed ❤️

[andreamccray]

I wish I  had watched this video first! I followed another one and am disappointed with the installation....now I am spackling the holes I made so that I can start over and do it the way you did!!! Thanks for posting this!!! Women DIYers ROCK!!!

[auleileiaualiitiahuntingto]

This is exactly the video I needed! I bought a bunch of different floating shelves from IKEA without knowing how to set them up! Thanks for the expert advice!

[jyounya]

I just bought this exact same one for my study. This was very helpful. Sorry about the drill noise complaints, that sucks.

[jono]

You get a noise compliant for 3 screws? Your neighbour is an confirmed alien.

[Dakota-Rose]

Thanks for your video. I got zero skills whennit comed to fixing things but with this video I might do it myself one day! Thanks again you are so helpful

[iseemelanie]

the77bear yeah, these are the old-school brackets without the dowels. I bought these shelves in November 2011. When I bought another set in the summer of 2012, they came with dowels. Installation is pretty much the same, but admittedly, the dowel brackets hold the shelves up much better. 

[sourwords]

so you can't tell your neighbours to hold tight for 30 minutes? You must be extremely nice to oblige such ridiculous temporary installation noise. They are very lucky to have you as neighbours.

[ThrashWitch]

I tried to install it upside down so I could hide the screws on drywall with anchors but it just sagged. I flipped the bracket and now it's fine. I don't recommend installing it upside down. Maybe some white nail polish on mine will hide the screw heads (I bought white shelves).

[zohrauddeen]

Thank you so much I bought this a couple years ago and totally forgot how to install it. This helped me so much thank u

[Arielbloom]

In the last step, what type and size of screw is used to secure the shelf to the bracket?

[bobbaloooo]

I installed one the other day and noticed that you put yours on upside down.
It will not have the proper support with the shelf upside down and the stress on
the wall sinkers is way more than if you would flip it over. This means the wall bracket
is also upside down. Though it is bracketless, the inner workings are a bracket
and works to support the weight in the same manner. I love these shelves.

[alexfigirova]

Thank you for sharing! I was curious how hard these shelves were to install and you made it look really easy.

[MobyBrickFlicks]

I wouldnt recommend installing it upside down. The design of the metal bracket is actually designed to be the other way around, you can see some flaps that hang down that are designed to distribute the weight against the wall rather than straight down. If you install it upside down, it can probably only hold some pictures or something. Even the weight of the shelf could cause it to sag.

[zarazen]

Thanks hun, it was nice to see how simple it can actually be and no need for a man's help! Go Girls! 💪🏼😃

[DavidsFocus]

Thanks for the video. I just picked these up yesterday and was worrying about it leaning down but mine turned out great. I bought 3” screws and mounted all three into studs. I also picked up some anchors that screw directly into the drywall. So each shelf has three screws to mount it. I’m sure I can’t put anything that weighs 50lbs but seems to work fine without it slanting down.

[dewvoyager]

I'm curious, I installed my shelves but the screws don't prevent any of the shelves from coming out if I pull them. Anyone else have this experience? Also, the instructions I have state not to screw the shelving flush with the shelves. Not sure why or if it would prevent the shelves from coming out or not.