Let's talk about tipping furniture

One might think that only high, narrow furniture can tip over – not a low, deep chest of drawers filled with heavy things. But, if several drawers are open, the centre of gravity shifts and the chest of drawers tips over. Unfortunately, both children and adults can be seriously injured, even fatally, if they end up under the weight of a falling chest of drawers.

Illustration: A silhouette of a child reaching into a chest of drawers that is tilting forward.

Remember the laws of physics?

When IKEA develops furniture, efforts are made to make it as stable and safe as possible, influencing material choice and construction. However, the laws of nature cannot be outsmarted; for instance, a pulled-out drawer acts like a lever.

Recalling physics lessons on leverage, even a small weight applied to a pulled-out drawer or an open door can significantly shift the centre of gravity. This means a small child standing, sitting, or climbing on an open drawer can cause a large chest of drawers to tip over, even with the child's low weight, if the furniture is not secured.

Illustration: A chest of drawers with a weight inside.

Illustration: A chest of drawers with a drawer pulled out, showing an arrow indicating movement.

Illustration: The chest of drawers tipping over due to the pulled-out drawer.

Illustration: A seesaw with an adult on one side and a child on the other, demonstrating leverage.

Children and tipping chests of drawers

Children are naturally curious and creative, exploring the world around them. This curiosity, however, can make children aged 1-7 more prone to accidents. The youngest, aged 1-4, are at the highest risk of serious injuries. Consequently, a chest of drawers, regardless of model or size, can be a hazard if not secured to the wall.

Globally, there are examples of children pulling out drawers to climb, hanging on them, or climbing into them. Securing chests of drawers to the wall is the most effective way to prevent and minimize these risks for children.

Illustration: A chest of drawers with a teddy bear on top, and a child climbing on it. Text overlay: "Avoid heavy objects or things that tempt your child to climb on top."

Adults and tipping chests of drawers

Accidents involving tipping furniture are not limited to children. Adults can also be at risk. Mistakes include opening multiple drawers simultaneously, especially when in a hurry, or placing too many or too heavy items in the front of drawers. These actions shift the centre of gravity outside the furniture's base, leading to tip-overs. Uneven floors, carpet edges, or thick carpets can also contribute to instability and tipping accidents.

Illustration: A silhouette of a person opening only one drawer at a time. Text overlay: "Only open one drawer at a time."

Illustration: A silhouette of a person leaning on a drawer. Text overlay: "Don't lean on a drawer for support or to rise up from the floor."

Myths and misconceptions

It can be challenging to identify potential hazards in familiar home environments. This section addresses common myths and misconceptions about furniture tipping.

Myth: "My chest of drawers is heavy, there's no risk that it will tip over.”

This is incorrect. All furniture can tip over. They become unstable when drawers or doors are opened, acting as levers that shift the centre of gravity. The force generated during a tip-over can be significant, leading to serious accidents, particularly with heavy loads.

Myth: "My chest of drawers is low, there's no risk that it will tip over.”

Low furniture can also tip and cause injury. Opening multiple drawers simultaneously shifts the centre of gravity. When excessive weight is distributed from the centre of a chest of drawers, it can tip. A child climbing on it similarly affects the centre of gravity. Following assembly instructions for securing furniture to the wall is crucial.

Addressing Common Concerns

"I rent my home and can't drill holes in the wall."

Most landlords permit securing furniture to create a safe home. It is advisable to discuss this with your landlord and explain the risks. Sharing this knowledge is encouraged.

"My children are older, they know not to climb the furniture."

Children may forget instructions when playing. Being older does not guarantee safety. Furthermore, many adults, especially the elderly, suffer severe or fatal injuries from furniture tip-over accidents.

"The chest of drawers is in a room where the children never play."

It is difficult for parents to supervise children constantly. Many accidents occur due to a lack of foresight. Securing chests of drawers and other furniture to the wall minimizes risks, even in rooms not frequently used by children.

"I have latched all drawers and doors."

While latching drawers and doors is a good practice, it does not replace securing the furniture to the wall and does not eliminate all risks. A child learning to walk might pull on a drawer handle for support, potentially causing the furniture to tip.

What causes tip-overs?

Tip-overs can occur in various ways, but all are preventable by securing furniture to the wall.

Illustration: A silhouette of a person opening several drawers at the same time, in search of something.

Illustration: A child using drawers as a ladder to reach an object.

Illustration: A silhouette of a person pulling or hanging in a drawer for fun.

Illustration: A silhouette of a child sitting in a drawer during play.

Illustration: A silhouette of a child opening all the drawers at the same time out of curiosity.

Illustration: A silhouette of a person leaning on a drawer for support or to rise up from the floor.

Note: Placing heavy objects on top of chests of drawers increases the tip-over hazard. Additionally, be mindful of soft carpets and uneven or leaning floors, as they can cause instability.

Secure your chest of drawers, simple and safe

When purchasing a chest of drawers from IKEA, always follow the assembly instructions and secure it using the provided fittings. These are easy to mount, and screws and plugs are included. To remove the fittings when moving, simply fill the holes with putty.

The plugs and screws supplied with IKEA products are suitable for most solid and hollow walls. For solid wood walls, use screws without plugs. If additional screws or plugs are needed, sets are available within the IKEA range. Seek professional advice if unsure about the correct fittings.

Illustration: Screws and wall plugs for solid walls.

Illustration: Screws and wall plugs for hollow walls.

Illustration: A screw and plug secured in a wall.

See how easy it is!

Want to know how to secure your piece of furniture to the wall? Watch a short instructional film.

Scan the QR code or visit: www.IKEA.com/secure-it