ᐅ What are some effective hacks to make Ikea Brimnes furniture more sturdy?

If you use thicker panels for the back wall and add brackets at the joints, you can significantly increase the stability. Also, choose slightly longer screws.

A methodical improvement of the Brimnes furniture can be achieved through the following measures:

- Replacing the factory-installed thin back panels (usually 3 mm chipboard) with 6–8 mm thick MDF panels, which are securely screwed to the side panels.
- Installing metal angle brackets in the internal corners to reduce shear forces and wobbling.
- Optionally reinforcing the shelves with narrow battens to prevent sagging under loads up to 30 kg (66 lbs).
- Inspecting and, if necessary, replacing the connecting screws with longer screws of a larger diameter to increase joint stability.

These reinforcements have no significant negative impact on the visual appearance, as they are installed on the inside.

I simply added a few wooden strips inside my Brimnes dressers for reinforcement and replaced the back panels with sturdier ones – this results in a really solid stand with no more wobbling! Also, it hardly affects the appearance since it’s barely visible inside.

A little tip: if you attach glides to the feet, you can easily move the furniture without it rocking.

In addition to the back panels, you should also check whether all the anchor connections are secure. Sometimes these can loosen over time with use, which reduces stability.

KAULIS schrieb:
Optional reinforcement of floors with narrow battens to prevent sagging under loads up to 30 kg (66 lbs)

Very interesting, I hadn’t seen this before. Could you please explain this floor reinforcement in more detail? Which battens are suitable exactly (material, dimensions), and what is the best way to fix them without significantly reducing the interior space?

It would also be helpful to know whether this measure noticeably increases the weight of the furniture and how much DIY or professional experience is recommended.

Kiralf schrieb:
Could you please explain this floor reinforcement in more detail?

Certainly. The idea is that the wide particleboard shelves of the Brimnes can slightly sag under their own weight. To counter this:

- Use a wooden strip made of beech or spruce, approximately 20 x 30 mm (height x width), with a length matching the depth of the shelf.
- Position the strip centrally along the underside of the shelf and secure it from below with wood screws. Remember to pre-drill to avoid splitting the material.
- For heavier loads, a second strip can be installed parallel to the first.

This adds minimal weight and keeps the interior space largely unaffected, as the strips are fixed underneath.

If you have no experience with woodworking: with some patience, a measuring tape, and a drill, this is quite manageable.