ᐅ How can I customize IKEA BESTA drawers with interior organizers?

Hello everyone,

I am currently looking into how to customize my Ikea Besta drawers with internal dividers to optimize them for different uses. I am particularly interested in ways to flexibly organize the existing drawer sizes and shapes to store small items neatly and keep them easily accessible. Are there any proven solutions for custom-made internal dividers that are easy to adjust or even make yourself? Which materials and systems work well with the Besta drawer system?

Perhaps someone here has experience with their own dividers or can offer tips for practical and durable solutions.

Thanks in advance for your advice!

Hello daje46,

your question about customizing IKEA BESTA drawers with internal dividers is really well put—especially the desire for flexibility and easy adjustability resonates with many looking for practical organization solutions.

I have put together a short guide that might help:

- First, you should measure the internal dimensions of the drawer precisely. BESTA drawers come in various depths and widths, so accuracy is important.
- For the subdivision itself, dividers made of wood, plastic, or simply sturdy cardboard usually work well—cardboard can be easily cut to size.
- It is important to design the dividers so they can either be wedged in place or fixed with small grooves. Many people install simple wooden strips that serve as guide rails.
- IKEA does not offer ready-made adjustable internal dividers for BESTA, but the compatible GN containers (Gastronorm) come in standardized sizes that can be used to adapt organization systems.
- Alternatively, you can use so-called “creative boxes,” which are widely available and can usually be well matched to the drawer size.

Finally, I recommend making sure the materials are not too thick so the drawers still close easily, and testing the movement of the individual parts before final installation.

I hope this gives you some useful starting points! If you'd like, I can also share examples from my workshop.

I use adjustable plastic dividers that can easily be cut to size and placed inside as needed. They work great for the BESTA drawers, especially for jewelry and small tools.

maflo schrieb:
First, you should precisely measure the internal dimensions of the drawer.

This is a crucial point, as the BESTA series often has varying internal heights. I would recommend defining the intended use of the drawer after measuring: Do you want more small compartments for small items or larger sections for books, cables, and so on?

A very neat solution is to build drawer inserts yourself using 6 or 8 mm (0.24 or 0.31 inches) plywood. For this, you’ll need a jigsaw and some sandpaper. I sometimes seal the edges with narrow adhesive tape or acrylic paint to prevent splintering. These wooden dividers can be mounted horizontally and vertically using small guide rails, which I cut myself from thin wood strips.

If you prefer plastic: Make sure the panels fit well inside the drawer. A thickness of 4-6 mm (0.16 to 0.24 inches) is ideal, as panels that are too thick can cause problems when closing.

Last but not least:
- Depending on the load, it is advisable to line the inner drawer bases with non-slip material.
- For heavily loaded drawers, upgrading the hinges is also worth considering.

I would be interested to know exactly what you plan to store – then I can give you more targeted advice.

kulau schrieb:
I’m interested in knowing exactly what you want to store – then I can give you more specific advice.

Very good question! Mainly, I plan to organize various small items like craft materials, cables, tools, and also some smaller documents. The drawers are mostly medium to deep (about 40 cm (16 inches) interior height) and around 60 cm (24 inches) wide. Therefore, I need flexible dividers that allow for small compartments for screws and craft accessories as well as larger sections for documents, without everything getting mixed up.

Another important aspect is easy adjustability: It should be possible to quickly rearrange the interior layout as needed, ideally without complicated disassembly.

Can you recommend a combination of fixed and movable partitions suitable for this? Are there good systems with plug-in connections or magnets that have proven effective? Thanks!

daje46 schrieb:
Mainly, I plan to organize various small items such as craft materials, cables, tools, and also smaller documents neatly.

For your project, I recommend the following approach:

- Use a baseplate made of thin wood or plastic as the foundation inside the drawer.
- Opt for modular insert systems, such as boxes or small containers, which you can arrange on this base.
- For small items, removable small boxes or lid elements with a snap-in system work well.

A combination of fixed guide rails and removable dividers has proven effective in this context because it allows quick rearrangement without disassembly.

Magnetic systems are generally better suited for light-duty applications – the holding force may be too weak for tools and craft supplies. However, you could attach magnetic strips to the side walls to keep individual metal parts easily accessible.

For documents, consider flat trays that either lie on top inside the drawer or are inserted in a separate compartment.

I also recommend lining the drawers with non-slip mats. This way, the insert boxes and dividers stay in place even when the drawer is moved.

If you need specific dimensions, please provide the internal measurements of the drawers, and I can suggest sizes for suitable inserts.