ᐅ How can I equip Ikea Besta furniture with handle strips?

Hello everyone, I am considering adding handle strips to my Ikea Besta furniture, since I’m not very fond of the usual recessed handles or individual knobs. However, I’m unsure about the best way to do this. Specifically, I’m wondering about the mounting method because I don’t want to damage the fronts or carry out complicated modifications. I’m also interested in which materials or dimensions have proven effective so that the handle strips fit well with the furniture’s design. Does anyone have experience with this or can offer advice on how to properly equip Ikea Besta furniture with handle strips? Thanks in advance for your opinions and tips!

It’s best to use flat aluminum handle strips that you attach to the front panel from the inside with small screws. Advantage: No visible screws on the front and the cabinet face remains undamaged. Just cut the strips to size, drill, and install.

Your question is very well formulated and important, as handle rails for Ikea Besta units serve both practical and aesthetic purposes. Generally, it is advisable to approach the installation of handle rails with the following steps: - First, take precise measurements of the fronts, since Besta fronts come in various heights and widths; a caliper can be useful here - Handle rails must be compatible with the front thickness, typically around 18 mm (0.7 inches) for Besta - For fastening, internal screws are recommended to avoid holes or visible screws on the front surface - Pre-drilling is essential to prevent damage or splitting of the wood panels - Countersunk screws or special blind rivets can be used to keep the front appearance clean - In terms of material, I recommend aluminum, as it is both durable and lightweight - It is important to carefully plan the alignment and positioning of the rails so they look consistent across all fronts I am curious whether you already have specific rails in mind and what type of surface your fronts have? Are they painted, laminated, or smooth? This also plays a role in fastening and aesthetics.

TYRELL schrieb:
Your question is very well formulated and important, as handle strips play a practical as well as aesthetic role in Ikea Besta units.

I fully agree and would like to share my experience with a brief guide on how I approached the renovation:

1. Planning: I first measured the exact dimensions of the fronts and decided on the desired width and height of the handle strips. Typical sizes are 2–3 cm (0.8–1.2 inches) wide and 1 cm (0.4 inches) deep.
2. Material: I chose aluminum because it is lightweight and sturdy. However, MDF strips that can be painted are also an option.
3. Preparation: The strips were cut to size and all drill holes were pre-drilled with a drill bit to avoid splitting.
4. Installation: I screwed the strips to the inside of the fronts, which works well as long as the hinges and mounting hardware on the back are not obstructed.
5. Finish: A smooth surface on the strips was important to me, so I sanded and painted them where necessary.

This method allows for a clean and stable attachment that also looks good. One tip: avoid using pre-drilled holes in the Besta fronts, as they often do not align correctly for handle strips.

jelite schrieb:
I screwed the strips to the fronts from the inside, which works well as long as you don’t interfere with the hinges and mounts on the back.

Thanks for the detailed instructions. I have a question about the hinges: With some Besta systems, the hinges are already fixed in specific positions on the back, so it would be problematic if the screws for the handle strips collide with them. Is there a trick to avoid this? I’d rather not compromise the function or stability of the doors.

gaus57 schrieb:
How do you handle the hinges? In some Besta systems, the hinges are already positioned on the back, so it would be unfortunate if the screws for the handle strips collide with them.

When installing handle strips on Ikea Besta units, the hinge position is crucial and should definitely be considered in advance. The hinges usually occupy an area of about 6-8 cm (2.5-3 inches) in height and width on the back. Therefore, I recommend:
- When planning the drill holes for the handle strips, be sure to mark the hinge mounting area on the back
- Screws should be placed outside this area, either above, below, or offset to the side of the hinges
- Alternatively, shorter screws can be used if space is tight, to avoid drilling into the hinges
- Sometimes it helps to extend the handle surface slightly to have fastening points outside the hinge zone
- Double-check all measurements before drilling and, if necessary, start with a smaller drill bit as a pilot hole

This way, you can prevent damage to the hinges and maintain proper functionality.