Protruding dowels take from appearancePaulWhen assembled, the dowels protrude on opposite sides of the side unit, one on the inside and one on the outside. I think this is because the posts are identical when the hole for the dowels should be drilled on opposite sides. This takes from the appearance of the unit.2
Holes are not centered. CrystinaHave to agree with other reviews. The holes for the pegs in the bars and beams are not centered so getting the pegs in is a huge fight. Not the best construction.1
Surprisingly easy to assemble!Anonymous reviewerYou do need a screwdriver and a hammer, but honestly, the effort is minimal. It's just about connecting the pieces and securing them with the connectors — super straightforward.
I read some of the previous reviews, and to be honest, they felt a bit exaggerated. The instructions are clear, and the assembly won't take more than 5–10 minutes. Overall, it’s a solid product and really easy to put together5
Assembly was not as easyMiriamI thought it would be easier assembling it but you need some effort fixing the wooden parts. Once that's done it's all very practical. Quite useful shelve unit to use in a daily basis4
I love the Ivar systemAnonymous reviewerI love the Ivar System:
- it’s versatile! You can put an Ivar in every kind of rooms. You can leave it as is or paint it, leave it open or put some doors, big, small, large or narrow. It simply can suit every need.
- it doesn’t have a bottom which comes really handy when you live in a humid country. Air circulate better!
- It’s real wood, smells good, sturdier than other storage piece like Kallax. Dowels are hard to put yes, but they will fit perfectly with a good hammer!
- as I mentioned, I found them versatile so if your needs change, you can always dismantle them and built something new with a few extra pieces or less. The quality stays the same. Tired of the look of the wood, just paint!
- Finally, very good price for its quality. You can’t beat real wood! You will need real tools.
I live in a cottage with an uneven floor and yet, my 2 Ivar work great! they don’t feel chip as it is real wood with no paint or shiny stuff on it. No VOC as well!
I am about to order my third set!5
New Design is AWFULAnonymous reviewerSame as the other two reviewers, I was so disappointed to see that the new design for the side pieces means you now have to put them together, and they are IMPOSSIBLE to do properly. The dowels stick out and look terrible, no way to get them to lie flush with the wood panels, and they get in the way when you're trying to get shelves on. Awful, wish they would go back to the original design as the quality is now just bad. 1
Used to be a favourite but now I HATE itMayaI used to use this as my quick go to shelves when I needed them for pop up shelving solutions. Now that you have to build the sides which take HOURS, yes HOURS! It is no longer the value it once was as I spend more time and money building something that should be built for you. GO BACK TO THE ORIGINAL DESIGN!1
Side panels now need assemblyToniLike other reviewers I am dismayed to find that the IVAR side units now need assembly. This involves much hammering, an hour of your time for each side, and in my case, hot tears of frustration. The result looks pretty shabby too, because it is impossible to get the holes and dowels aligned correctly. Listen to your customers IKEA! This is very, very annoying! I would definitely not recommend this product unless you are a skilled wood worker.1
