ᐅ What are some tips for organizing craft supplies using Ikea Besta units?

Hello everyone,

I’d like to start a discussion about organizing craft supplies using the Ikea Besta system. I recently got a Besta shelving unit to neatly and clearly store my various craft materials – from paper, brushes, and paints to glue and very small items. Since it’s quite versatile, I’m wondering: What tips or best practices do you have for using Besta effectively in a craft workshop?

I’m especially interested in ideas for sorting, using inserts or boxes, and how you organize the shelf with modular elements so that everything remains easily accessible without turning into a mess.

I look forward to constructive suggestions and examples of how you’ve solved this in your own setups!

I mainly use flat boxes in the Besta system that fit perfectly into the compartments. This way, I keep categories like paper, tools, and paint strictly separated.
This ensures organization and aligns well with the modular concept.

I’m happy to share a more detailed tip because the variety and different sizes of craft materials can often be a challenge.

- First, sort the contents by frequency of use: frequently used items should be placed at the front or at an ergonomic height.
- Then, plan for different types of boxes within the shelving unit. I recommend clear plastic boxes with lids to keep small parts visible yet protected.
- For brushes and pens, small standing holders that can be mounted on the back or side walls inside the shelf work well. This frees up space within the compartments.
- Another option is to use pull-out trays or drawer inserts, especially if your shelving has multiple levels.

It’s important not to overfill the compartments, as this makes it harder to keep track of items and reduces usability.

In summary, my best results come from a combination of:
- sorting by type and frequency
- modular storage elements (boxes, inserts)
- visibility of materials

If the shelving should remain flexible, stackable boxes are advisable, allowing you to reorganize anytime.

farkin schrieb:
It is important not to overfill the compartments, otherwise you lose track and usability suffers.

This is a key point I fully agree with.
However, I would like to question whether a Besta system is truly the best solution for all types of crafting materials. Isn’t it often the case that, especially with creative hobbies, the variety of materials is so large that a single shelving unit quickly reaches its limits?

Perhaps it would be worth considering more flexible or specialized storage solutions to complement Besta, allowing storage space to be better adapted to specific needs.

What do you think about the idea of using Besta as a basic framework but combining it with external boxes or mobile elements? This might solve the overall organization problem better than just one static shelf.