I want two display cabinets but I am restricted due to gas and electric pipes at bottom of the wall. What risk would I be taking if I did not mount display cabinets to the wall - I would not be putting anything heavy in the display units - just ornament display. Another option I suppose would be to cut bottom of units to fit around the pipes but obviously I would need a carpenter to do this for me. Someone I was speaking to said they had bought wardrobes that had advised should be mounted to wall, but this person had same problem as myself. However, they have not experienced any problems by not mounting unit to walls. Any tips from anyone? The cabinets I am keen to buy are from IKEA.

Are these floor standing cabinets ?

If this is the case I would box in the pipes and finish the boxing in flush with your cabinet, scribe round the pipes and fit the cabinet against the wall, any rough cuts on the cabinet then hidden with boxing in work

Hi Anne,

How tall are the units? How thin? Can you post a link to the Ikea site for the units?

SSM

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Measure twice, cut once!

Thank you for your replies. Sorry it has taken me a while to get back - busy at work. But, the links below show the cabinets I am interested in. I am wondering whether these cabinets / book unit would be okay free standing?

I will take a picture via my mobile of the pipes in living room just to give you an idea when i get home later.

http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/produ ... #/20176343
http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/90176269/
http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/90176274/

You could use a short length of chain to fix them back to the wall, this can be behind the units and out of sight, it's enough to stop them toppling forwards if fitted correctly and definitely safer than leaving them free-standing.

A couple of bags of cement in the bottom drawer would help stabilise them.

I would prefer to see them scribed around the pipes and fitted right back to the wall.

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One day it will all be firewood.

Hi Anne,

If there sitting on a solid floor and not carpet, also, if there aren't kids around, I would risk it

SSM

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Measure twice, cut once!

My mum has that cabinet from IKEA - just the first one you linked to. Its quite stable with a fair bit of stuff in on a level laminate floor. Not sure it would be as stable on carpet, worst case would be thick pile with underlay and the gripper rods under the rear feet throwing the whole thing forward. Heavyest stuff near the bottom is always best with this kind of unit. HOWEVER it is VERY unstable when empty with both doors open as the doors are very heavy compared to the rest of the unit.

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Mike

thanks for your replies. I spoke to my son's g/friend yesterday and she said to ask her dad who could cut back of cabinets to fit around the pipes. I was intending to ask IKEA to assemble the cabinets for me, but now I suppose whoever cuts the back of cabinet could also assemble the cabinets for me?

I do not intend to have laminate flooring - I want carpet although not thick pile but more hardwearing. Would that be safe to have cabinets free standing the fact carpet would not be thick pile?

Piuctures: I took pics of the pipes but don't know how to get them posted on here?

Anne