ᐅ How can I replace IKEA BRIMNES doors?

Hello everyone, I am planning to replace the doors of my IKEA Brimnes wardrobe because the old doors are damaged, and I want to swap them for new ones or possibly different models. However, I am unsure about the best way to do this: Are there any special screws or accessories I should be aware of when removing the old doors? How exactly do you detach the door hinges without damaging the wardrobe structure? Are there any tips for reinstalling the doors, especially if I want to use doors from a different IKEA model?

I have basic DIY skills and the necessary tools, but I want to be sure I don’t make any mistakes, particularly since the BRIMNES is not a typical wardrobe but rather shallow and partly appears to be filled or patched. I would appreciate a detailed explanation of the entire replacement process to avoid any unexpected issues.

Hello narna59,

First of all, great job on your clear question. Although the BRIMNES wardrobe is quite straightforward in design, there are a few things to keep in mind regarding the doors to avoid any issues during replacement.

The doors are removed via the fittings, which on BRIMNES are usually secured with simple cam locks (corner fittings).

- Step 1: Open the doors and look for the cam locks inside at the hinges. Turn them clockwise using a screwdriver until the door releases. Be careful to apply some force but not excessive pressure to avoid damaging the ferrules or the surrounding material.
- Step 2: After loosening the fasteners, you can take the door off the hinges. If the door feels stuck, double-check that all locks are fully disengaged.
- Step 3: The hinge itself is usually fixed firmly to the wardrobe and should not be removed unless you intend to disassemble the entire piece of furniture.

For installing new doors—if you have doors from the same model, they will fit exactly. For doors from different models, ensure that the hinge mounts and cam lock positions match precisely. You may need to cover old drill holes with filler caps and drill new ones, which can weaken the material.

Tip: Use a spirit level during installation to make sure the doors close flush. With BRIMNES, also be careful not to damage the edge banding (the black plastic on the outside edge of the door), as this protects the door edges from damage.

One more question: Which doors do you plan to use? Original BRIMNES replacement parts or others?

I’m happy to help with more details if you like.

Nathanaelk schrieb:
For installing new doors – if you have doors of the same model, everything fits exactly the same.

I wouldn’t fully agree with this assumption. Even within the BRIMNES series, there have been small changes over the years regarding hinge positions and door sizes. Therefore, Narna59 should definitely check the exact measurements and drilling positions before replacing any doors.

Additionally, it’s worth considering whether it is cost-effective to replace doors individually, especially if for a small additional cost you could get a completely new cabinet. Of course, this depends on the condition of the other furniture parts.

Also, IKEA doors are often not designed for easy replacement, as they may be glued or secured with special fittings that can be damaged if handled incorrectly. Just having basic DIY skills shouldn’t lead to underestimating how delicate some components are.

I therefore recommend thoroughly checking before major modifications whether original quality spare parts are available or if adaptations are necessary, which could require more effort. It might also be useful to know the exact door dimensions and production years involved.

faso31 schrieb:
I therefore recommend carefully checking before major renovations whether replacement parts in original quality are available or if modifications will be necessary, which could require more effort.

Thanks for the advice, that’s a good point. My doors are from a BRIMNES wardrobe, purchased in 2016—simple white doors with classic black plastic edges. My plan is initially to buy exact matching original doors, if they are still available. If those can no longer be obtained, I wanted to look for similarly sized doors, but I don’t want to rush into that yet.

I’ve already measured the size of the old doors: approximately 50 x 200 cm (20 x 79 inches). Screws and fittings look like what Nathanaelk described, so the rotating elements on the hinges.

My goal is to replace the doors completely without rebuilding the wardrobe, so really just the front panels. I might have to carefully drill new holes during installation if the new doors don’t fit exactly.

How durable are the hinges, actually? Should I remove them after taking out the doors, or leave them on to adjust the door halves to the wardrobe?

One more technical detail: Is there anything I should keep in mind when loosening the doors using a power tool (e.g. cordless screwdriver)? I want to avoid stripping or damaging the screws.

narna59 schrieb:
How sturdy are the hinges? Should I remove them after disassembly or leave them in place?

The hinges on BRIMNES are solid but not extremely durable. My recommendation:

- It’s not absolutely necessary to remove the hinges since they are specifically fitted inside the cabinet and can be somewhat tricky to reposition with millimeter precision.
- However, if you plan to install new hinges, make sure to remove the old ones and attach the new ones evenly and neatly, otherwise the doors may stick.

narna59 schrieb:
Is there anything to consider when removing the doors with a power tool (e.g., cordless drill)?

Yes, this is an important point: Use the cordless drill with a low torque setting, preferably in reverse mode. Too much torque can damage the screw heads or crack the wood.

If the screws are very tight, start with manual tools and only use the cordless drill for final tightening or loosening.

For replacing the doors:
- Mark the position of the hinges and doors on the cabinet with a pencil before removal to make reassembly easier.
- Carefully lift off the doors while slowly releasing the fasteners.

Be careful with the plastic edges of the doors—they can tear easily if handled too hastily.

To give you an idea: The doors are attached with only about 4–6 screws and fasteners, which are usually quite easy to remove, but imprecise handling often causes the doors not to close properly.

If you have any more questions later, feel free to ask.