ᐅ How can I make the best use of IKEA Brimnes furniture in small rooms?

Hello everyone, I am looking for tips and tricks on how to make the best use of IKEA Brimnes furniture in my small room. The Brimnes series offers quite versatile options with beds, wardrobes, and dressers, but especially in small spaces, I find it challenging to arrange them in a way that is practical and doesn’t feel cluttered. Storage solutions that don’t overwhelm the room and a sensible layout that also makes daily life easier are particularly important to me. Does anyone have experience combining the different Brimnes pieces in small apartments or rooms? I would appreciate any advice, including tips on common mistakes to avoid when using this series.

Hey Lilis! The Brimnes series is really versatile when it comes to small spaces. My tip: make use of the beds with storage underneath – that way, you basically get two pieces of furniture in one. I have a Brimnes bed with drawers, and they’re perfect for bedding and seasonal clothing. Also, when choosing dressers, pay attention to the shallower depth to keep more free space for walking around. Try placing the loft bed against the wall, really flush—that visually opens up the room. And don’t worry about the dark color—paired with light walls and mirrors, it becomes really cozy! 😊

Lilis, to address the topic in more detail: The Brimnes series is characterized by its combination of functionality and compact dimensions, making it generally suitable for small spaces. A key feature is the storage space under the bed, which in the Brimnes often includes drawers. You should make sure to measure your room dimensions precisely, as there needs to be enough clearance to access these drawers—otherwise, their use becomes difficult. Also, with wardrobes, ensure a narrow depth (around 50 cm (20 inches) for Brimnes) to avoid blocking pathways. For small rooms, I also recommend carefully considering the placement: Ideally, place the bed against the longer wall with minimal direct sunlight to avoid visually shortening the room, and position wardrobes along the shorter wall. A small but often overlooked tip: Use furniture with integrated storage systems, where shelves or divider systems can be added—this helps keep things organized. I would be interested to know your exact room measurements. For the best advice, this is essential.

I believe it’s important to critically consider whether the Brimnes series is the best choice for very small rooms. Of course, the built-in drawers are convenient, but the volume and dimensions of the furniture can actually be a disadvantage in smaller spaces. Only the storage under the bed is truly worthwhile; the rest—especially the wardrobes—tend to be bulky and noticeably reduce the available movement space. So, it’s worth weighing whether to buy fewer, but multifunctional pieces instead of as many items as possible from one series. Lilis, are there any specific combination ideas from you that you find confusing? I’m questioning this because compromises are often too big with small rooms.

BLAKEO schrieb:
Are there any specific combination ideas from you, Lilis, that confuse you?

Thanks for this follow-up! The main issue for me is that I basically want the Brimnes bed with storage and a wardrobe above it, but the room only measures 2.8 x 3 meters (9.2 x 9.8 feet). The wall space is limited, and I wonder if it’s really possible to fit furniture like that, which requires a certain footprint, without making the room feel overcrowded. I’ve also considered leaving out some pieces to create more airflow. How do you manage the balance between storage and open space in practice? Do you focus on individual pieces or make use of modular furniture?

Lilis, great question! In my shared apartment, I have a Brimnes bed with drawers under the mattress and one of the narrower dressers next to it. For small rooms, this setup is really brilliant: you get well-organized storage space, and the furniture doesn’t take up unnecessary space. What I always do is use large boxes inside the drawers to maximize organization. This way, you can find everything quickly, and your belongings aren’t just thrown in. At the same time, I deliberately chose not to add too many individual pieces to maintain freedom of movement. Less is definitely more here. And in the evening, the room feels relaxing despite the furniture when arranged smartly!