ᐅ Are there suitable storage boxes for Ikea BRIMNES shelving units?

Hello everyone,

I recently purchased several IKEA Brimnes shelves and would like to equip them as efficiently and space-savingly as possible with suitable storage boxes. My specific question is: Are there any storage boxes that are either specially designed or at least well suited in terms of dimensions and appearance to fit nicely into the compartments of the Brimnes shelves? It is important to me that the boxes are not only functional but also aesthetically match the rather simple, modern look of the Brimnes series.

I have already done some research myself, but either the dimensions are not right or the boxes look quite bulky. Does anyone have any experience or recommendations for suitable products or alternatives that work well specifically with these shelves?

Thanks in advance for your tips and advice!

Hello Jalulis,

the IKEA SKUBB storage boxes fit well with the BRIMNES shelves. The dimensions are similar, and they don't look too large. Alternatively, you can look for boxes with a base area of 35 x 25cm (14 x 10 inches), which usually fits well.

sarGabriel schrieb:
The IKEA SKUBB storage boxes fit well with the BRIMNES shelves.

That’s definitely a good tip. I had the same issue once because I was looking for that exact combination. What I also liked was the fabric quality of the SKUBB boxes—they are lightweight but sturdy enough for everyday use.

However, what bothered me at the time was that the boxes tend to lose their shape a bit over time if they are not completely full. So if you want to store heavy items, that could be a minor drawback.

Maybe it’s also worth considering plastic alternatives if you want something more durable and dimensionally stable. But of course, the aesthetics sometimes suffer. What do you think about that, Jalulis?

elgla schrieb:
Maybe it’s also worth considering plastic alternatives if durability and shape retention are important.

Thank you for your honest opinion. It is actually important to me that the boxes keep their shape since I mainly want to store books and folders that should not get bent. Although purely functional plastic boxes often bother me visually, if they fit well and are sturdy, they would be a viable alternative.

Do you or anyone else have experience with specific plastic boxes that fit BRIMNES compartments exactly without looking too bulky? Preferably with a subtle design? The size of BRIMNES shelves is somewhat unusual – about 60 x 35 cm (24 x 14 inches) per compartment, if I measured correctly.

Jalulis schrieb:
Do you or anyone else maybe have experience with certain plastic boxes that fit exactly into BRIMNES compartments?

Hey Jalulis,

your search sounds almost like my spring mission! I think BRIMNES doesn’t really go well with fancy boxes, but rather with simple, practical solutions. I experimented a bit with IKEA VARIERA boxes—they fit well in size, are made of plastic, and look neat without being overwhelming.

If you want to add a bit more personality, you can choose light colors, which match BRIMNES’s look nicely. Honestly, just sliding a box like that onto the shelf improves the mood moderately without ruining the overall appearance.

That said, finding something that’s both attractive and practical is always a bit of a balancing act.

Otherwise, try checking out the VARIERA series—you might like it.