Best way to "reinforce" the upper cabinets

[Victorbeck]

Hello!

I am building a storage solution in the bedroom where I have IKEA's method overhead cabinets between pax wardrobes.
The overhead cabinets are mounted on the wall, but I also plan to reinforce them a bit more by placing some form of beam or similar on top of the cabinets and wardrobes.

My current plan is to use a 75x45 beam that is 240 cm to secure everything together. However, my knowledge here is limited and I am wondering if it's enough for the beam to extend 20 cm on each pax wardrobe (240 cm beam - 200 cm overhead cabinet), or if that's too little (i.e., do I need to find a longer beam?), or if I should skip the wooden beam and use something entirely different, such as metal, to reinforce.

All tips are warmly welcomed!

 

[Dilato]

I think that's really overkill, they're stuck anyway.

If you also screw them together and into the wardrobes sideways, it will take dynamite to get them loose.

 

[Fairlane]

The idea is to put a screw down through the stud into the upper cabinets, right? I guess the stud will handle that without any problem, even if you have a lot of load in the upper cabinets. However, the top of the cabinet might not hold, and then you haven't gained anything. A strip under the cabinets would be more useful, so that the cabinet "rests" on the strip, in addition to being attached to the wall. It doesn't have to be a large, ugly strip; a simpler one, perhaps painted in the same color as the wall, will still be useful.

 

[Victorbeck]

The idea is to put a screw down through the beam, into the upper cabinets?
I guess the beam can handle it without any problem, even if you have a lot of weight in the upper cabinets, but the top of the cabinet might not hold, and then you gain nothing.
A support under the cabinets would probably be more useful, so the cabinet "rests" on the support, in addition to being attached to the wall. It doesn't have to be a big, ugly support, but a simpler one, perhaps painted the same color as the wall, would still be helpful.

This is not a bad idea; I am going to put up drywall/plywood between the wardrobes since there will be electricity running behind, so I can hide such a beam there. However, I had planned for 2 cm depth there as I only need to fit conduits, but maybe it would still be useful even if the beam I place there is only 2cm?

 

[Victorbeck]

I think it's quite advanced, they're stuck anyway.

If you also screw them together sideways and into the wardrobes, it will take dynamite to get them loose.

Haha yes I understand that I might be overdoing it, but considering that we will be sleeping under the overhead cabinets, it might be okay to be a little paranoid 😅

 

[PappasHammare]

What are you planning to put in those overhead cabinets? Keep in mind that overhead cabinets in kitchens likely contain quite heavy items and they typically don't collapse.
If you're going to set a rule on top, why not extend it all the way? And screw it from underneath... it's a bit easier... Why only 2.4? Was that what you had at home?

But actually, if you're worried, make sure you have something sturdy to attach the cabinets at the back and for extra safety, place something at the back/lower edge instead.

 

[Victorbeck]

What are you planning to have in those upper cabinets? Keep in mind that upper cabinets in kitchens usually contain quite heavy things and they don't typically collapse. If you're thinking of adding a board on top, why not run it the whole way? And screw from underneath... it's a bit easier that way. Why only 2.4? Was that what you had at home?

But actually, if you're worried, make sure you have something solid to secure the cabinets at the back and for extra safety, add something at the back/bottom instead.

240 was simply the length of the boards I brought home from Hornbach... But I'm thinking maybe I'll do as some of you here suggest and add something at the bottom. And of course, also secure the upper cabinets to each other and to the wardrobes!

Thanks everyone for the input!