ᐅ How can I modify Ikea BRIMNES furniture to make it child-friendly?

Hello everyone,

I am planning to modify some Ikea Brimnes furniture in our apartment to make it more child-friendly. The furniture is generally sturdy and practical, but I want to ensure it is safer for young children and reduce potential hazards. I am considering aspects like edge protection, adjusting the handles, stabilizing against tipping, possibly covering screws, or providing better access for the children without risking injury.

Does anyone have experience modifying BRIMNES furniture specifically for use in a child’s room or more generally for families with small children? Which techniques or materials have proven effective? Are there modifications that can be easily reversed if the furniture might be used differently later on?

I look forward to any tips, warnings about potential pitfalls, or recommendations for tools and accessories. Thanks in advance!

Anrifa schrieb:
The furniture is generally sturdy and practical, but I want to make sure it is safer for small children and minimizes potential hazards.

Hello,
I have modified several BRIMNES dressers and beds for children’s rooms, following these trusted steps:

- Edges and corners were covered with self-adhesive edge protectors made of soft foam, preferably in neutral colors to preserve the appearance.
- Handles were redesigned: Original handles are often angular or metal, which can encourage biting or snagging. I replaced some with rounded, flexible rubber handles from the hardware store or added silicone covers.
- Tip-over safety: BRIMNES furniture can tip if children climb on it. Securing it firmly to the wall is essential, using anti-tip brackets with angle fittings. Please remember to always install according to the manufacturer’s instructions and check the wall type carefully.
- Screws and openings: Screw heads can sometimes protrude or have sharp edges. After tightening, I covered all screw heads with plastic caps or applied light padding.
- Accessibility: To give children controlled access, I installed drawer locks that prevent drawers from fully pulling out, reducing the risk of pinching or accidental falls.

Using tools like adjustable-angle drills was helpful to ensure precise fitting. What kind of furniture do you have? Dressers or beds? And how old are the children? I can go into more detail if needed.

Le_kin schrieb:
Securing firmly to the wall is mandatory; tilt locks with bracket mounts are suitable for this purpose.

This is a very important point. Ikea already provides wall fasteners with many BRIMNES models, but these are often underestimated. Failure to install the tilt lock is one of the most common causes of accidents.

For edge protection, I recommend products made from certified EVA foam, as they are non-toxic and durable. Additionally, handles should be designed to be sturdy yet child-friendly, ideally without sharp edges or protruding parts.

Furthermore, it is advisable to keep small loose parts such as screws or nuts out of children’s reach, and to use safety caps if necessary. The furniture’s height and accessibility should also be adjusted according to the child’s age to prevent climbing attempts.

A final note: if the furniture has painted surfaces that show chipping, I recommend a non-toxic paint repair to prevent the release of any harmful substances.

Anrifa schrieb:
I’m looking forward to tips, advice on potential pitfalls, or recommendations for tools and accessories.

Hey, the topic of child-friendliness in furniture is really interesting and important! 😊

Here are a few small hacks I tried with the BRIMNES:
- Soft felt pads under the legs to prevent the furniture from sliding on the floor during play, so it doesn’t hit the kids’ feet.
- You can add extra child safety locks to the drawers to stop little curious hands from pulling everything out (and then having toys scattered everywhere!).
- If you want to be extra safe, just stick some thin foam corner protectors on the sharp edges – they’re cheap at any hardware store and stick surprisingly well.

In terms of tools: a good cordless drill makes assembly a lot easier, especially if you plan to move or rebuild the furniture regularly. Otherwise, adhesive pads and flexible hinge covers are like little everyday heroes! 😉

Maybe you’d like to experiment a bit too? It’s important not only to focus on safety but also to keep the furniture looking nice and practical in the end.

Jonna schrieb:
The missing installation of tilt locks is one of the most common causes of accidents.

I can only confirm this, as I have witnessed it myself. It happens quickly: a child climbs on a drawer and the dresser tips over. Since then, I only have furniture that is securely anchored.

Additionally, with our BRIMNES dresser, I shortened the drawer slides so they cannot be fully pulled out. This prevents children from completely removing the drawers and dropping them on the floor.

Also important: the handles were rounded off because especially with smaller children, there is a risk of bumping into them or getting scratched if they catch on them. In my experience, this has made things much safer.

You might also want to consider fitting certain pieces of furniture with childproof locks right away—especially if important items are stored inside. Safety comes first!