Share
I’m planning to mount two Ikea Besta TV units (two-shelf models) to the wall, but it’s proving to be more challenging than I anticipated. Here’s the situation:
- Each unit has three mounting points where screws are required to secure it to the wall.
- I don’t plan to store heavy items in the shelves, and the TV will be wall-mounted separately.
- Tried reaching out to Ikea , but they were not able to help
The problem is the mounting points on the units don’t fully align with the wall studs. I can get one stud per unit, but the other two mounting points will have to be fixed into drywall. After doing some research, I’ve come up with a few potential solutions, but I’m unsure which is the best approach.
1. Use hollow wall anchors:
- Attach two mounting points with heavy-duty hollow anchors in the drywall.
- Secure the third mounting point into the stud.
- I’m unsure if this would provide enough support over time.
2. Mount a wooden beam across the wall studs:
- Secure a long piece of wood (mounting board) to the wall by screwing it into all available studs.
- Then, attach the TV units to the mounting board.
- The downside is that it might not look great from the sides due to the visible gap under the board, but I could add extra wood pieces to make it look flush.
2. Use a dovetail mounting system:
- Install one part of the dovetail bracket on the wall and the other on the TV unit.
- This would allow the TV units to be hung securely onto the wall-mounted bracket.
- However, I’m less familiar with this method and whether it’s suitable for this setup.
So Im looking guidance on the below.
- Which of these approaches would you recommend?
- Are there specific types of anchors or hardware that would work best for the hollow wall mounting?
- Any tips for making the wood mounting board solution look more polished if I go that route?
I’d appreciate any insights or suggestions from those who’ve dealt with similar projects. Thanks in advance!
Hello @SouthFieldSnoop
For this particular project, I propose using your second method of attachment. By mounting a wooden beam across the studs, you can be confident that the cabinet is secure and is capable of taking on weight. There will no chance of a catastrophic failure unlike when mounting on just plasterboard where the chances of plasterboard failure is significant.
The wooden beam can be painted to the colour of the wall or the cabinet thereby disguising its purpose. This also allows you to install more anchor points for the cabinet instead of just relying on the 3 brackets provided.
If you need further assistance, please let us know.
Eric
Hello @SouthFieldSnoop
I propose using 42 x 19mm 1.8m DAR Pine Premium - 1.8m. There is a 2.4-meter length available, but I suggest checking your local store if it has stock. On the condition that the studs are 450mm apart you should theoretically be able to anchor to at least four of the studs, but if you get lucky then you'll be able to anchor to all five studs at 450 centres.
I suggest using a stud finder to make sure that the studs are positioned correctly in your wall. I recommend putting one for top of the cabinet and one for the bottom. I also suggest adding extra angle brackets such as the Hafele 23 x 23mm Angle Bracket to secure the bottom of your cabinet.
I recommend using Zenith 10G x 65mm Gold Passivated Countersunk Rib Head Chipboard Screws - 50 Pack to anchor the timber to your stud wall. In regards to fitting the wood in your car, I suggest lowering the front back and leaning the rear seats back as well. You can then slide the wood from the back into the footwell of the front seat. However, if you only have a regular car and not an SUV, I suggest cutting the timber down to fit into your car.
If you need further assistance, please let us know.
Eric
