Hanging IKEA mirror on plasterboard buttress

[milkyway]

Hello

I’m looking for a bit of advice on safely hanging an 80cm IKEA Stockholm mirror in the living room of a 10-year-old new build flat.

The Setup:

• The Mirror: Weighs roughly 6.4kg. It has two factory keyhole mounting slots spaced 58.5cm apart.
• The Wall: A plasterboard buttress/false chimney breast that is exactly 1m wide. It sits directly above the TV unit.
• The Sockets: There is a row of power sockets located dead-centre at the bottom of the buttress (about 40cm off the floor).
  https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/stockholm-mirror-oak-veneer-90591588/
  
  
• Note: The photos I've attached at the bottom will give you a clear sense of what it looks like

My Plan & Findings:

1. Fixings: I was planning to use Fischer DuoPower plugs. I used these a few years ago to hang some heavy jute blinds into plasterboard ceilings and they were brilliant, so I’m hoping they're up to the task here. Centring the mirror means my two drill points will be roughly 25cm in from the left and right edges of the buttress.
2. Cables: I ran a multi-scanner over the wall with the TV running to draw a load. It’s picking up live wire alerts straight up the middle of the buttress, which makes sense given the sockets below. My planned 58.5cm hole spacing means my drill points should land safely outside this central 15-20cm danger zone.
3. Studs: The detector is also picking up metal single points roughly 25-30cm from the both the left edge inside and the right edge inside, on the same horizontal plane (about 60% up the wall). I suspect these might be drywall screws hitting a horizontal noggin or a stud edge.

Someone else in an identical flat in my building has successfully hung the same mirror in this exact spot, though I don't know what method they used. I also don't entirely trust budget electronic wall detectors and want to be sure I don't clip a cable or mess up the plugs if I hit the edge of a stud.

My questions:

• Are Fischer DuoPower plugs the right thing to use for a for a 6.4kg mirror on this type of modern new-build plasterboard?
• If my left drill hole (at 25cm) hits the metal framework/stud that the detector is warning me about at 25-30cm, what’s the best way to handle it?
• Aside from the basic "drill a tiny pilot hole and probe with a plastic cable tie" or USB camera trick, are there any definite ways to verify the void is completely clear of stray cables before opening up the hole to full size?

Any advice from anyone who has tackled these specific new-build feature walls would be much appreciated!

Cheers!

---

Photo 1: empty buttress from a couple of years ago when I moved in

Photo 2: AI edited shot of my friend holding the mirror in position (just removed my friend!)
Photo 3: Markup to show where everything is

Photo 4: IKEA instructions

 

[foxhole]

Just drill to depth of plasterboard, if you hit metal stud a plasterboard screw will self tap into it. If it's clear then use your plugs. I prefer a screw-in plasterboard plastic plug, as if it touches any cable it will push it to one side.

Self Drill Pozi Plasterboard Fixing

Nylon plasterboard fixing for quick installation.• Supplied with pozidrive compatible 4.5 x 35mm round head screws• Finish: Nylon• Specially designed cutting tip to pierce plasterboard skin• Nylon speed plugs can be used in electrical installations• Screw and fixture can be removed for cleaning...

www.toolstation.com

 

[aveatry]

Just drill to depth of plasterboard, if you hit metal stud a plasterboard screw will self tap into it. If it's clear then use your plugs. I prefer a screw-in plasterboard plastic plug, as if it touches any cable it will push it to one side.

Self Drill Pozi Plasterboard Fixing

Nylon plasterboard fixing for quick installation.• Supplied with pozidrive compatible 4.5 x 35mm round head screws• Finish: Nylon• Specially designed cutting tip to pierce plasterboard skin• Nylon speed plugs can be used in electrical installations• Screw and fixture can be removed for cleaning...

www.toolstation.com

They are one of the worst performing plasterboard fixings you can get especially for heavy items.
Theses are better

https://www.screwfix.com/p/easyfix-hollow-wall-anchors-8-16mm-m5-x-52mm-10-pack/12229?tc=JY8&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=19815174909&gclid=CjwKCAjwyOzSBhBTEiwAmxvJ-mmCKMKIPZg5QVaJ8YZB_ubiGLiOjQiT_WjoTogRlp2Xe3mPyRNO8hoCsasQAvD_BwE

 

[Koolpc]

Waw, I fitted exact same mirror several days ago for the ex. But, it was a solid wall though...lovely mirror.

..

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

They are one of the worst performing plasterboard fixings you can get especially for heavy items.
Theses are better

https://www.screwfix.com/p/easyfix-hollow-wall-anchors-8-16mm-m5-x-52mm-10-pack/12229?tc=JY8&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=19815174909&gclid=CjwKCAjwyOzSBhBTEiwAmxvJ-mmCKMKIPZg5QVaJ8YZB_ubiGLiOjQiT_WjoTogRlp2Xe3mPyRNO8hoCsasQAvD_BwE

Each one has to hang 3kg, absolutely no problem here. And I would'nt be surprised if there were two layers of plasterdboard.

 

[aveatry]

Each one has to hang 3kg, absolutely no problem here. And I would'nt be surprised if there were two layers of plasterdboard.

Some more problems with them is that they pull up and bulge the plasterboard if you try and use them as described on the pack. They are better with a pilot hole.

 

[foxhole]

Some more problems with them is that they pull up and bulge the plasterboard if you try and use them as described on the pack. They are better with a pilot hole.

Avealaugh at it again .