IKEA IVAR Shelf Assembly and Review | Clueless Dad

Assembly and review of the IVAR shelf unit from IKEA. This is the 175cm tall single shelf version. This is the 50cm deep version, they also have a 30cm version. Official dimensions are - 89x50x179 cm. It's made from untreated pine. Cheap but effective.

Here is the listing from Ikea HK -

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[CluelessDad]

UPDATE: I did the double shelf version, which is the even taller version, check it out here -

[dokigirlproductions]

thank you I've literally used this tutorial for 3 moves and its so helpful.

[fridayhunt]

I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MUCH I LOVE THESE SHELVES!!!
I have been buying them since 2000 and they are some of the best money I've EVER spent.

* The old ones have gone thru 9 moves, and have fit every place I've ever lived in, except that the tallest were too tall by less than an inch in a basement.
* Somehow a combination of narrow and wide shelves have fit absolutely everywhere, sometimes with inches to spare.
* I think that's ^ why some people think they are built in.
* Sometimes I only have 2 or 3 shelves that haven't fit in a new configuration, I put them in a closet and can generally use them in the next place.
* I use them in every room but the bathrooms ( just a preference - you can fit in the ones with narrower shelves). I have used them in very damp apartments with no discoloration.
* The only treatment I've done on the wood is slightly spray them with cedar oil just for the smell and to repel moths. They only barely darken with age.
* It takes a *lot* of weight for them to bow slightly over time. None of mine are noticeably bowed, even the oldest.
* When moving, they break down to nothing. I've had movers say they won't disassemble furniture, but since even taking out the bracing screws takes about a minute, they'll do these.
* Get that drop leaf table. Several of their accessories (like a larger one) have been discontinued.
* I've never actually used the cabinets, most of the Ikea storage bins fit in like a dream.

* They really only need 2-3 shelves (at any almost any height) to be stable.
* The ones with plastic sides are just as stable and possibly more tenacious than the new metal ones.
* The *very* old metal shelves rest on the pegs, they don't grip them.
* The holes on different ages are less than a centimeter off from the new ones.
* Attach the grey leashes at the top.
* Use a square object when leveling the bracing. No need to pre-drill holes.
* Two people are twice as fast as one.
* Put a fabric type furniture foot on the bottom on the wall side and a taller metal one on the front legs to lean them slightly against the wall and compensate for the bottom baseboard on the wall.
* Even the tall ones can withstand small earthquakes (~.4.3 *right on top of the epicenter*) without the leashes (I think that might be because of those feet ^). I use bracing every other unit attached to each other.

* The corner shelves are really difficult to access stuff in, especially the big ones. I keep a slight space between units on the corners and keep brooms and mops and things on hooks in the corners (get those hooks too).

They finally will give you replacement pins!!! I have lost pins in every move.

I've made drawers for the deep shelves by cutting down boxes from Barnes & Noble and Amazon. I wrap them in white duct tape to make them sturdier. I've also used contact paper, but working with that was far more annoying. One fits in the narrow ones (I'm using those in my office), and the wide ones will take 2 with room to spare (those are in the garage). I have trays for some others, but they don't fit in as tightly.

I have several types of hanging file folder boxes (standard by legal size) in the deep ones. The wide take 2, the narrow, just one. The ones with drawers look built in.

[lorddamocles]

Thanks!
Plan to get a couple of these to go in a very narrow space, and needed to check that construction doesn't need screwing in from the ends

[spruharuikar]

Thank you for your video . We assembled the whole shelf but we’re struggling with the fixing of the crossbar in the absence of wholes and clear instructions (our purchase was from Cainz Japan ) your video told us exactly what was needed to be done . Thank you 🙏🏽

[SuperLittleTyke]

I've used IKEA Ivar shelving and drawers since the 1970s in Germany and England. Even in 2024 it's a very cheap solution to get some shelves up quickly. I've just taken delivery of another double unit, but this comes with the side units unassembled. However, it only takes about 15 minutes to assemble the sides and cross pieces. I also built my own shelving unit a few years ago from sawn timber, but it takes forever, and timber is no longer cheap anyway. I firmed up my Ivar shelves with 3" galvanised angle brackets between the shelves and the side pieces. They really add stability to the completed shelf unit. I also fix 3mm MDF sheets on the rear of the unit. They stop items from being pushed right to the back at the wall side and falling down. I just use very small nails to fix the sheets to the frame. Even 3mm sheet MDF adds a lot of stability.

[loisbolton]

Great video. Your tips were just what I needed to give me confidence to add the cross-brace successfully & have it be straight. 🙂

[mbpblue]

This was really helpful. Just bought these shelves secondhand with no instructions and I made the mistake of putting the cross supports on first and then couldn't get the shelves in as it seemed too tight. So will redo as you have shown here. Thank you. Cheers

[LightningBlade]

Thanks for the tips, this is one of the best ikea furniture videos ive seen lol.

[virginiacarlson]

I found that taking the pegs out by inserting the screwdriver from the sides was much easier than then trying to pry it out on the end.

[singinprofessor]

So nice of you to post helping videos👍🏻
1)Please advise how to attach side by side next couple of stands to make a wall of shelves
2)Can you please make a video how to hang hooks and mirror
3) What’s the best way to hang paintings on new wall

[UrraSergio]

You can install the X frame before the middle shelves, which makes everything more stable.

[southboundfreighttrain]

Glad I found this video! Tried to google how to get out the "pins" - of course... a screwdriver...

[iheartmcflii]

thanks a lot, I just purchase the shelf last week the exact same one ! I was stuck and confused this shelf didn't come with instructions

[sebhadx]

Hi! Same thing here in Germany. Some years ago Ikea switched from steel to plastic holders on the shelfs but for some reason they went back to metal holders.

[srikanthsk]

Simple instructions. I am glad you put out this video. I was wondering how to put the shelf together. I had it anchored to the wall by drilling a nail into the wall stud. In Philadelphia the wood built homes make it easy to screw in.
Thanks

[crawmode]

Thanks for the video. Was a great help especially how to get it level with the door. Keep it up!

[MsSpecialA]

Hi, thanks for the video. I couldn't decide whether to buy Ivar since I can't drill holes and connect it to a wall into my rented flat. Looks like it's pretty stable enough even without the connection.

[MorryB]

Just bought this shelf and couldn't figure out how to attach the shelves to the frame as there were no instructions provided in the box. Mine didn't come with the metal cross braces either. Thanks for the video.

[XeniasWorld]

I purchased this 5 yrs ago & love it, but in my recent attempt to purchase I've read the reviews & the new metal portion has horrible reviews 😔 glad you had a good experience