Hello everyone, I bought an Ikea Besta shelf unit and would like to equip it with custom-made handles because I don't like the standard handles and want to give the furniture a more personal touch. My idea is that the handles should not only look good but also feel comfortable to hold and be durable, as the shelf is used daily. Does anyone have experience with the best way to attach such custom handles? Are there specific materials that work particularly well, and what should I be careful about when drilling or fastening to avoid damaging the shelf? I would really appreciate any tips and suggestions!
Thank you very much for the tips so far. I was mainly thinking about wooden handles, where I can experiment with the surface finish – for example, left natural or painted in color. I really like the leather idea, but it seems difficult for me to implement since I don’t have much experience with it. My main concern is the attachments: I have read that the doors and drawers of the Besta are particularly thin, which makes me worry that drilling could cause cracks or that the screws might not hold. How have you solved this with your homemade handles without damaging the furniture’s structure?
E
edisondan7 Sep 2021 09:33For fastening: Ikea Besta doors are usually made with a thickness of 15 mm (0.6 inches), some are even thinner. To avoid cracks when drilling, I recommend the following procedure: - Pre-drill with a smaller drill bit than the screws to prevent splitting the material - Use appropriate flat-head screws so they don’t apply too much pressure - If possible, use screws with anchors or washers to better distribute the load - Alternatively, you can glue handles (e.g., with two-component adhesive), but this is less durable - A drilling template makes installation easier and more precise
J
JEREMIAH387 Sep 2021 11:05I also wanted to make custom handles for my Besta and was initially quite uncertain. I then built recessed wooden handles and screwed them onto the doors. This worked well because the load is distributed over a larger surface area, putting less stress on the door material. However, I had to be very careful when drilling and used a fine saw guide along with clamps to ensure clean holes and a secure fit. For me, the result is a nice compromise between personalized design and functionality.
mahmood schrieb:
My main concern is the fastenings: I read that the doors and drawers of the Besta are particularly thin, which makes me worry about cracks forming when drilling or the screws not holding properly.Regarding fastenings, here is an additional note: The Besta doors are indeed not very solid. For this reason, thinner screws with a wider thread pitch are better suited because they provide more grip and are less likely to cause splitting. Additionally, you can attach small reinforcements made of plywood or thin MDF on the inside, which you fix with the screws to better distribute the load. These reinforcements will be invisible from the inside later.
G
Genevieve7 Sep 2021 14:53JEREMIAH38 schrieb:
I then made recessed handles out of wood and screwed them onto the doors. This worked well because the load is distributed over a larger surface area, putting less stress on the door material.That’s a good point, as it minimizes stress on the furniture surface. In your view, do the recessed handles also offer an aesthetic advantage? I often notice that the design tends to look almost minimalist, which fits well with Ikea styles.
Similar topics