ᐅ Are there any tips for placing the IKEA Brimnes furniture more effectively in small rooms?

Hello everyone,

I recently bought the IKEA Brimnes bed and the matching wardrobe for my very small bedroom. Since the space is limited, I’m finding it difficult to arrange the furniture in a way that is both practical and doesn’t make the room feel overcrowded.

Does anyone have tips or experience on how to best position IKEA Brimnes furniture in small rooms? I’m thinking about strategic placements, such as how to best use drawers and doors, or whether it makes sense to include additional space-saving solutions to keep everything functional in a compact area.

I appreciate any specific suggestions, especially regarding the best use of space or hidden features that the Brimnes range might offer.

Thanks in advance!

frank5 schrieb:
Does anyone have tips or experience on how to optimally arrange IKEA Brimnes furniture in small rooms?

In general, I recommend considering the following aspects during the planning process:

- First, accurately measure the dimensions of the individual Brimnes modules and compare them with the room measurements.
- In a small room, it is important to position furniture so that drawers and doors can open freely without obstruction. Allow at least 50 cm (20 inches) of clearance in front of the furniture.
- Ideally, place the wardrobe in a niche or against a wall that is not affected by windows or doors.
- The bed with storage function can preferably be placed along the longer wall to ensure access to drawers from both sides.
- If possible, use corners for the wardrobe to maximize space efficiency.

A helpful decision factor can also be the type of wardrobe doors: hinged doors or sliding doors. Brimnes often comes with traditional hinged doors that require more space—here, it may be helpful to install sliding doors instead, if possible, or consider affordable complementary curtains.

Additionally, make sure to allow enough room for movement overall; otherwise, the space can quickly feel cramped.

tra_nina schrieb:
In a small room, it’s important to arrange furniture so that drawers and doors can open without obstruction.

Exactly, precise measurements are essential because Brimnes furniture often has drawers that need to be fully pulled out to access the storage underneath. I’m happy to share a detailed tip on how I would approach a very small room:

1. First, measure the room dimensions accurately, including door and window areas.
2. Based on these measurements, draw the Brimnes modules to scale on paper or use a room planner.
3. Determine the clearance needed for drawer openings—usually plan for at least 60cm (24 inches) of space in front.
4. Ideally, place the bed with drawers against the wall where you have enough space to open them.
5. If space is tight, it’s better to skip the long pull-out drawers and instead use storage boxes under the bed that can simply be pulled out.
6. For the wardrobe, it’s advantageous if the door doesn’t open inward into the room. If possible, consider Brimnes wardrobes with sliding doors or modify them accordingly.

Also, make use of the room height. Since Brimnes furniture tends to be relatively tall, you can easily create additional storage on top of the wardrobe for items that are rarely used.

One last question: How exactly is your room shaped? Are there recesses, corners, sloped ceilings, or windows that complicate the layout?

TEBILO schrieb:
If space is limited, it’s better to avoid long pull-out drawers and instead use the storage under the bed with boxes that can easily be pulled out.

That’s a very good point. Additionally, I would recommend positioning the bed so that you can access the drawers from both sides if possible. If that’s not feasible, make sure there is at least free access on one side.

tra_nina schrieb:
It’s best to place the wardrobe in a niche or against a wall that is not obstructed by windows or doors.

Exactly, that’s very important – always make sure that the wardrobe doors don’t bump into windows or doors.