IVAR Side unit, 11 3/4x70 "
Price $ 20.00
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Since IVAR storage system is so good at what it does, it has faithfully served customers’ needs across the home for over 50 years. Attics, living rooms, pantries and bedrooms – they all love IVAR.
Article Number504.846.51
Product details
Untreated solid pine is a durable natural material that can be painted, oiled or stained according to preference.
Solid pine is a natural material which ages beautifully and gains its own unique character over time.
Designer
IKEA of Sweden
Good to know
Possible to separate for recycling or energy recovery if available in your community.
To be completed with OBSERVATÖR cross-brace 39⅜", sold separately.
For higher stability, add a cross-brace to every second section.
Materials and care
Material
Solid pine, Solid pine
Care
Wipe clean with a dry cloth.
Stains can be removed by using an eraser or fine sandpaper.
Safety and compliance
WARNING! Tipping hazard – to reduce the risk of this furniture tipping over, it must be securely anchored. Use suitable screws and plugs for your home. If you are uncertain, seek professional advice.To build a safe and stable section with 70½" side units, always use at least 4 shelves or 2 shelves and 1 cabinet (drawers do not contribute to the stability of the section).
Assembly and documents
Measurements
- Height: 70 1/4 "
- Depth: 11 3/4 "
Packaging
IVAR
Article Number504.846.51- Width: 3 ½ "
- Height: 1 ¾ "
- Length: 70 ½ "
- Weight: 6 lb 1 oz
- Package(s): 1
Reviews
Not as good as they used to beAliceWe have been using IVAR for decades. It was always our go-to for flexible storage in utility rooms, closets, kids' rooms, college dorms and apartments. We have used every version of shelves, cabinets, and drawers. It was always easy, reliable, and affordable. This is the 1st time we have had to assemble the side frame. We are Ikea veterans and capable, handy people (like actually, not just confident diy-ers, but can build from scratch) I am very disappointed with the new BYO frames. The mortises are messy and full of splinters. The pins don't seat completly. The long pieces aren't completely straight. We had to use the flush cut saw to cut the protruding ends off 23 of 24 pins. AND they kept the price the same, but now we are the labor. I am begging you, IKEA, PLEASE go back to the factory assembled frames!
Love itGabrielaI use it in my brick and mortar store- love how it looks and so easy to build
Used to make a cat tower/treeMayraI needed a customizable and sturdy shelving system to accommodate my tall and heavy cats. I connected 2 units - a total of 3 sides and 8 shelves. I did not used the dowels, based on reviews (I am a senior and not strong). Instead, I drilled the original holes all the way to the other sided I used heavy duty screws with bolts. After adding the cross wire to the back of one of the Ivar, and putting the pine shelves in, the unit is solid. I put carpet squares on the shelves, and we are all happy. It will be easy to add more units as needed. I will stain or paint it when I have time to take the unit outside (to avoid the fumes) so my cat room does not look like a garage.
Oh IKEA, this is not the wayRebeccaThis is my third Ivar shelf unit. I love them so much for their sturdiness and modularity. The side units used to come preassembled, but no longer. The wooden dowels don’t fit, and if you follow instructions not to hammer on them directly they simply won’t go in all the way. For my second side unit assembly, I’m heading to the hardware store to buy screws to replace the dowels. IKEA, this was a terrible idea.
D O N O T B U Y !!!!!!!!! Don’t touch the side units, they are firewood at bestAnnaI lovED Ivar, I’ve been recommending Ivar, I have Ivar shelves in all heights in my house. Been expanding and expanding. Tried the new assembly requiring side units, thinking, “how bad can this be?” I’ve been putting IKEA stuff together for the past 25 years. Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy. I’m never touching Ivar again and I’m telling everyone as well. Now everyone who visits hears about the trauma you put me through with your stupid idea. This is beyond horrible, dangerously so even. IKEA, you destroyed a perfect product. Bring the old concept back please. This new concept is a reputation killer. Trust me.
Normally I LOVE assembling IKEA furniture - NOT THISAshleyI love assembling IKEA furniture that I've thought about becoming a TaskRabbit to do so. I'd rather buy a new IKEA item than get a discounted one near the checkout solely because I love the assembly process.
NOT THIS! The IVAR was such a pain to put together. Instead of the spiffy ikea screw system, it was all hammering. Hammering in pieces that hardly fit together. Oh, and I had to drill pilot holes for the support brace - I like IKEA for making it easy with pre-drilled pilot holes without needing to measure.
I had to have my family leave the house so I could hammer for an hour. Normally my kids like being with me when I assemble. This was a nightmare.
Nice unitThongIt is a nice unit, I didn't have any major issues putting it together. You need a mallet (hammer is fine as well since they give you a scrap piece). One of the dowels didn't go in easily and did not sit flush, so I ended up sanding it down. Tools you probably need: hammer/mallet, sand paper/small saw.
what a nightmare!ErikaI bought my first IVAR unit over 25 years ago and have expanded it and added it to multiple rooms in multiple configuations -- using both depths and all three (?) heights.
I winced when I realized this was unassembled. Quickly I was furious. This is impossible to assemble as the video shows.
At minimum, you need a rubber mallet and multiple c-clamps to get the wooden pins inserted properly.
I this were my first IVAR unit, it would be my LAST. You'd have lost my 25+ years of expansion purchases.
You'll not get another.
Assembly is annoyingChristineI love the IVAR system, and have purchased and expanded what I have over the years. I really disliked assembling this piece--it did not go together easily, and I can't getting the wooden pins to seat flush. I'm really glad I didn't have to put this together in the middle of a humid summer because it would have been impossible. Please switch back to a pre-assembled unit.
No Issue in Putting Together the Side UnitAnonymousI have had the IVAR shelving for over 15 years and needed a new side unit to expand. AFter reviewing all the bad reviews of assembling this side unit, I decided to try it anyhow. As it turns out, it was very easy to put together in about 20 minutes with the no problem. Perhaps I got a good side unit unlike others. I like the old system where you do not have to assemble the parts. However, I must say the new side unit system is very compact to put in your car unlike the old side unit. Perhaps Ikea decided to make it more convenient for customers to haul the side unit by having to assemble it. The unit was only 4 inches wide and was very easy to haul and place in your car. My new side unit looks nice with my old side unit. Best of luck with your assembly
They changed these shelves againJanaVery useful shelving unit for storage. I have bought this shelving unit 3 times. The first was in 2006 and they have lasted perfectly although a lot of screw to get it put together. I then bought them in 2024, easy to put together just tap with a mallet, no screws. Then I bought again in 2025, these were difficult to put together. They need to go back to the 2024 model.
New to IvarLydiaI was hesitant to buy at first because of the dissatisfaction other reviewers have expressed about having to assemble the side unit (which apparently used to come pre-assembled). Nevertheless, I still went for it because I needed a unit that was practical, sturdy, and customizable. Putting together the side unit does require a lot of hammering and I can see how that would be bothersome to anyone used to bypassing assembly altogether. It wasn’t a hassle for me and thankfully I don’t have neighbors that might complain about the noise. For my purposes, it is a 5-star storage unit. I’m okay with doing assembly myself if it means less packaging/waste in the final product.
Horrible. Don't Buy.AprilI have been a constant buyer of IKEA furniture over the last 20 years and actually enjoy assembling their pieces because they are so easy. UNTIL NOW. This unit is impossible to assemble. The wooden pegs will not go evenly into all four holes no matter what you do. They end up sticking out or breaking off. There is simply no way to put this unit together. Why aren't the normal screws provided? Who ever thought up the idea that we would be able to drive wooden pegs through these legs and crossbeams? Geez. Now I have to load up all the items I purchased to go with these and drive all the way back to IKEA, unload them at the store, wait in another line, and return it all. I reiterate. Don't buy this unit even on sale. Even with other reviewers who say it is okay. It is not okay. It is junk at best.
Seriously IKEAKarenI bought these Ivar shelves a little over a year ago for one of my bedrooms and I loved them. I loved how quick and easy they went up, which is why I bought them again for my garage refresh.But these new changes where you have to assemble the side shelves are terrible.I’m assuming this was a cost cutting initiative; but it has made it impossible to use this product. I’ve been sitting on my floor, crying, literally crying, trying to pound these dowels in to assemble the side units. One dowel won’t even go all the way in. This is a horrible piece of crap and I will never buy it again.
The changes are Annoying!PaigeI didn’t realize the system changed so that you have to now BUILD the bracket. Total junk. I buy this system because I live in small apartments and they are so conveniently modular. This isn’t convenient! It’s taken me THREE days to get this together because it is so loud and I have no access to outdoor space to work. Also, it’s not like they are make precisely so everything fits together like a dream, you really have to wrangle it to get together. Now that I have it up, the stability also feels worse than before. Ikea, this sucks!
Sturdy and Easy to Assemble and Configure the shelvesJamesDespite the reviews I’ve read, the unit is not that difficult to put together. Yes, you do have to assemble the side rails now but it’s not that big of a deal if you have a hammer and a solid floor to work off. I’ve been using the Ivar shelves for quite a few years and assembled and disassembled them several times now during different moves. I recently purchased additional units and was surprised the side units needed to be put together (which actually made them easier to transport) but it wasn’t that hard and took me about 15 minutes per side so no big deal. Units are still sturdy and the shelves I’ve used in the past work perfectly with the new units. All in all I like the ease of assembly as well as the versatility of being able to easily reconfigure the shelving when needed.
I’m lazy..,Kariwhen I started buying this system back in 2017ish, quality was great. Easy and quick setup too. But now you even have to put the side units together. Every brace and dowel, I have to pound in. I found this annoying, tie consuming and a zero on the fun scale.
Draw of IVAR is convenience. This is not convenientDavidAssembling the side unit increases the work of assembling the IVAR shelf by 3 or 4x, and it requires some of the loudest hammering. I’ve already made all my new neighbors in my apartment hate me, and I still haven’t completed one damn side unit. Less than half the work. I would’ve assembled 3 full shelves already with the old design. This is a really, really poor redesign which is clearly prioritizing a 30% increase in storage efficiency in exchange for removing 80-90% of the user experience. Extremely greedy decision
Junk.KatyI purchased a set of IVAR sidebars and cabinets after using the tool to design my own cabinet. I put the item together exactly as instructed, and painted the item as advertised. It broke before I even added anything to the shelves or the cabinets, and IKEA refused to refund me because I painted the item, even though IVAR is designed to be painted. Absolutely terrible experience.
Ugh!SamanthaBought these in August, assembly was awful. Old Ivar was great. Come on Ikea, I've assembled pretty much everything you make over the years, nothing should be this hard. I need more, but the price is now double! At this point, I'm just going to build my own. If they weren't self assembly via torture, I'd still buy them.
Customer reviews
2.8Average rating
452Reviews
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Material
What is solid wood?
Solid wood is one of our favorite materials and is part of our Scandinavian heritage. It is also a timeless material with many uses. Regardless of the tree species, it is durable, beautiful and renewable. We strive to use this raw material as smartly and efficiently as possible to avoid waste – and we also invest in facilities and logistics so that we can increase the use of recycled wood.