Assembling the Iris Plaza tension pole rack
I wanted a slim, inexpensive shelf. The Duende wall rack looked great but cost 20,000 yen plus shipping—too much. This tension-pole rack has three shelves, a hanger bar, only 26 cm depth, and was about 2,780 yen. Reviews said “hard to build” but also “easy once you know the trick.” I assembled it fine.
Product overview
It is a vertical tension-pole rack; pipes are steel, joints plastic. Matte black keeps it from looking cheap. Each shelf holds 5 kg, so think clothes/household goods, not heavy AV gear.
The “hard part” is pressing thin shelf pipes into plastic joints. Here is how.
What you need
- Rubber mallet (100-yen is fine; essential)
- Two thick magazines (e.g., Weekly Jump)
- Small step stool (40-60 cm) helps for ceiling tension
You cannot seat the pipes by hand—use the mallet. The tension-pole ends protrude, so protect them: place thick magazines on both sides so the protrusion does not touch the floor.
The joints are sturdy; hammering did not crack them. You need to seat 6 pipes x 2 sides x 3 shelves = 36 joints. Once shelves are built, you are mostly done.
Installation
Build per instructions, then carry to the spot. It is light enough to handle solo. Stand on a stool, extend the tension poles, then press down from the floor to set them. Step back to check they are straight; adjust shelf heights later as needed.
The simple clamps hold surprisingly well; shelves do not drift.
It does wobble a bit
Long tension poles flex, so expect some wobble. Normal use and a vacuum bump will not topple it; just avoid yanking the middle of a shelf.
Takeaways
- Tension-pole racks are nicer than expected.
- For this Iris Plaza model, a rubber mallet makes assembly trivial.
- Matte finish keeps it from looking cheap; also available in white for lower visual impact.
It feels less bulky than its size suggests. Compared to shiny chrome wire racks (Erecta/Luminous), this is lighter, easier to adjust, and the matte coating avoids the scuffed, rusty look over time. Tension-pole racks started as “over-washer shelves” but have evolved nicely. Recommended.
