No one wants an accident to happen in their home. A piece of furniture, such as a chest of drawers, that tips over can seriously or even fatally injure a child or an adult. That’s why it must be secured to the wall to prevent tip-overs.
What causes tip-overs?
Instability and tipping accidents can be caused by various factors, such as shifting the center of gravity outside the furniture's base, standing on uneven or leaning floors, as well as the presence of edges from carpets or thick, soft rugs.
Opening several drawers at once in search of something increases the tip-over hazard.
Placing toys or other tempting items on top may encourage a child to climb, using the drawers as a ladder to reach an object.
Pulling or hanging on a drawer for fun can increase the risk of tipping.
Sitting in a drawer during play can cause the furniture to tip over.
Opening all the drawers at once out of curiosity can shift the centre of gravity.
Leaning on a drawer for support or to get up can make the furniture unstable.
The science of tipping
We design our furniture to be as stable and safe as possible, but the laws of physics still apply. If the centre of gravity shifts outside the base, the furniture will tip over unless secured.
Due to the physics of levers, even a small weight can significantly shift the centre of gravity when applied to a pulled-out drawer (or an open door). As a result, standing, sitting, or climbing on an open drawer can cause a large chest of drawers to tip over if it’s not properly secured, even though the weight may be low.
Children safety comes first
Children are naturally curious, which makes those aged 1-7 more prone to accidents, with the youngest (1-4 years) at greatest risk for serious injuries. Children often pull out drawers to climb, hang on, or even crawl inside the chest of drawers, which can cause a chest of drawers to tip over, regardless of its size or model.
It's important for adults, too
We adults are also at risk, not just children. Have you ever opened multiple drawers at once, placed heavy items in the front or leaned on a drawer for support? Well, these actions can cause the furniture to tip over.
Secure your chest of drawers, simple and safe
When you buy a chest of drawers at IKEA, always follow the assembly instructions and secure it using the included safety fittings. They’re easy to install—just purchase screws and plugs suitable for your wall type. If you ever want to move your chest of drawers or relocate, all you need to do is fill the holes with putty for a seamless fix.
For your convenience, we offer sets of screws and plugs for purchase. If you're unsure which ones to choose, it’s best to seek professional advice.
See how easy it is!
Want to know how to secure your piece of furniture to the wall? Watch this short video.
If you’re finished here and want to get back to finding the right chest of drawers for you, use the link below.