ᐅ Is it possible to assemble Ikea Brimnes shelves flexibly?

Hello everyone,

I am currently planning to get a Brimnes shelving unit from Ikea, but I’m unsure how flexible the assembly is regarding dimensions and the arrangement of the compartments. Specifically, I’m interested in whether it’s possible to assemble the shelves so that individual sections can later be rearranged or modified – for example, changing the height of each section or adjusting the sizes of the compartments modularly.

Does anyone have experience with whether the Brimnes shelves only work as per the standardized assembly method suggested by Ikea, or if you can actually be flexible with the individual components?

Thanks for your insights!

I find this question very relevant because many Ikea furniture pieces use standardized modules that can be modified to some extent.

However, with Brimnes, I have not yet seen any evidence of genuine modular flexibility. The back panel is usually fixed, and the drill or dowel holes are pre-planned.

Does anyone have concrete evidence or experience that these shelves can be modified without losing stability?

Because flexibility does not necessarily mean a safe and stable construction.

From a technical perspective, the Brimnes shelves are constructed using standardized components. Assembly follows a fixed pattern, with pre-drilled holes that ensure structural stability.

- Adjusting the height of individual shelves is not possible, as the shelves rest in specific slots.
- The back panel is continuously nailed in place, making it difficult to alter the width.

While individual modules can be assembled separately and placed side by side, modifying or changing the size of individual compartments within the same frame is not recommended, as it compromises overall stability.

Thank you for the previous comments.

To clarify: I’m not only referring to the simple rearrangement of entire cabinet units but also to modifications within a cabinet itself, such as adjusting shelves to different heights or occasionally swapping individual components.

I’m aware that IKEA often uses modular systems with fixed holes, but in this case, I’m concerned whether the drilled holes in the wood might degrade with frequent reassembly or if elongated holes might be used — which I have not seen in the Brimnes series so far.

Does anyone have experience regarding how much flexibility is technically and practically available?

The Brimnes shelves are not designed for adjustable shelf heights. The shelves are fixed.

Modifications are only possible by drilling new holes, which may affect stability.

Individual shelves can be repositioned if fixed with dowels and screws, but the standard drill holes are not designed for this.

I would not recommend frequent modifications.