ᐅ Are IKEA Brimnes furniture pieces frequently modified or expanded?

Hello everyone,

Over the past few months, I have been increasingly interested in IKEA’s Brimnes furniture series because I like its simple design and functional construction. However, before making a larger purchase, I would like to know whether Brimnes furniture is often rebuilt or expanded.

My question to the community is: Are IKEA Brimnes pieces frequently repurposed, meaning rebuilt or modularly extended multiple times to adapt to changing space and usage requirements?

I am particularly interested in experiences regarding the stability after repeated rebuilding, possible expansions using IKEA accessories or custom modifications, as well as the practical flexibility in daily use.

Does anyone own Brimnes furniture and can share whether the series adapts well to different needs in everyday life, for example by adding drawers, shelving parts, or transforming a bed into a sofa or something similar?

I look forward to your experience reports and as detailed assessments as possible, so I can make an informed decision. Thank you in advance!

Hello Renchase,

Regarding the topic "Are IKEA Brimnes furniture pieces often modified or expanded?" I can share some insights from my experience, as I own several Brimnes items and have modified them multiple times.

The furniture series is generally designed to be modular, but its expandability is rather limited compared to true modular systems. That means there are individual components, such as additional drawers or shelves, that can be purchased separately and added.

Modifying the furniture can definitely be done, especially if, for example, you use the lower bed with drawers and later move those drawers to another room or use them as storage under a different Brimnes unit. Technically, modifying is straightforward, but you should be careful not to take the furniture apart and reassemble it too often, as the cabinet hinges and wooden panels could lose stability with too much handling.

An important point is that the furniture is assembled with standard screw fasteners—so if you are careful and avoid over-tightening screws, it can withstand multiple rounds of modification.

Add-ons through IKEA accessories are quite limited with Brimnes. Usually, individual modules are sold, and there are no special plug-in or extension systems like those found in other IKEA series. Therefore, I would recommend thoroughly checking the dimensional compatibility before planning any expansions.

Overall, Brimnes handles everyday modification and expansion fairly well, but it should not be considered a highly flexible system. If you plan to make frequent changes to your furnishings, a more modular series might be worth considering.

I’m curious—do you plan to modify it often or are you looking for a one-time expansion? And how much space or what room dimensions do you have available?

I hope this helps you so far!

FeAndreas1 schrieb:
Extensions using IKEA accessories are somewhat limited for the Brimnes series.

That's true, I have a Brimnes bed with drawers and once I attached the drawers to a dresser. It worked without any issues, but the series doesn't offer many more options.

In short: You can modify it, but mostly with simple additions.

Hello Renchase,

I’d like to address your question as well, since I have been using Brimnes furniture myself for several years and have also modified and expanded it a few times.

Basically, the furniture is sturdy enough to withstand multiple assembly cycles, provided you work carefully. The most important thing is to be patient during assembly and disassembly and to make sure all screws are properly fastened.

Regarding extensions: While the series doesn’t necessarily offer specific accessories, the individual pieces are usually well compatible within the series. For example, I added storage boxes to a Brimnes bed that I originally bought separately, and they fit perfectly because the dimensions are coordinated.

What I personally like is the possibility to use individual drawers and shelving units as separate elements in other parts of the room – for instance, drawers as a storage box under a different piece of furniture, or a shelf as a room divider.

If you’re planning flexibility, my advice would be:
- Consider how often you actually want to reconfigure, since frequent disassembly can stress the material.
- Plan small extensions like drawers or shelving parts, as these can be integrated fairly easily.
- Use the same series for more uniformity and fewer compatibility issues.

I’d be glad if you shared your experiences later after you acquire or modify something. The community always benefits from feedback like this.

Best regards!