Hello everyone,
I’m looking for the best possible solution for storing books within the Ikea Besta system. My goal is not only to achieve practical storage but also an attractive arrangement that makes accessing the books easier while giving the furniture a stylish appearance. I’m particularly interested in options for using the individual compartments, adding shelves, adjustments with doors or drawers, as well as possibilities for extra reinforcement when bearing heavy loads. Are there any experiences on how to optimize the Besta for different book sizes and larger quantities? Tips on useful combinations with inserts or preventing sagging with heavy books would also be great. Thanks for your opinions and advice!
I’m looking for the best possible solution for storing books within the Ikea Besta system. My goal is not only to achieve practical storage but also an attractive arrangement that makes accessing the books easier while giving the furniture a stylish appearance. I’m particularly interested in options for using the individual compartments, adding shelves, adjustments with doors or drawers, as well as possibilities for extra reinforcement when bearing heavy loads. Are there any experiences on how to optimize the Besta for different book sizes and larger quantities? Tips on useful combinations with inserts or preventing sagging with heavy books would also be great. Thanks for your opinions and advice!
Hello jarnoneo,
I completely understand that, besides functionality, the appearance is important to you as well. I used to have problems with sagging shelves, especially under heavier books, which quickly made them look unattractive. What helped me was adding extra shelves in increments of two units to adjust the height – this avoids large empty spaces where the shelves can bend.
I also paid attention to making sure the doors open and close smoothly, which makes using them much more comfortable overall.
How many books are you planning to store roughly? That way I can get a better idea.
I completely understand that, besides functionality, the appearance is important to you as well. I used to have problems with sagging shelves, especially under heavier books, which quickly made them look unattractive. What helped me was adding extra shelves in increments of two units to adjust the height – this avoids large empty spaces where the shelves can bend.
I also paid attention to making sure the doors open and close smoothly, which makes using them much more comfortable overall.
How many books are you planning to store roughly? That way I can get a better idea.
N
NoValentin1 Mar 2021 10:12I would always recommend reinforcing the shelves right away if you have many heavy books. Metal brackets or additional supports from Ikea can work wonders. It also helps to choose wider Besta units if there is enough space.
Hello everyone,
to optimize the Besta system for book storage, several factors should be considered. First, regarding structural load: standard particleboard shelves usually support around 15-20 kg (33-44 lbs) evenly distributed, but books often exert much higher point loads.
My recommendation: be sure to use the reinforcement brackets that Ikea offers for Besta, or reinforce the compartments with stronger panels made of plywood or MDF, which can be cut to size. This greatly reduces the risk of sagging.
Another important aspect is the arrangement of compartments based on book height:
- Large coffee table books or reference works fit best in tall compartments without intermediate shelves.
- Regular novels or paperbacks can be divided into 2-3 rows using appropriately sized intermediate shelves.
Doors and drawers can significantly enhance the appearance and help keep dust out, especially for books that are used less frequently.
A question for the original poster: How large is your Besta module, and what book sizes do you mostly store? Are there any special requirements, such as dust protection or child safety?
to optimize the Besta system for book storage, several factors should be considered. First, regarding structural load: standard particleboard shelves usually support around 15-20 kg (33-44 lbs) evenly distributed, but books often exert much higher point loads.
My recommendation: be sure to use the reinforcement brackets that Ikea offers for Besta, or reinforce the compartments with stronger panels made of plywood or MDF, which can be cut to size. This greatly reduces the risk of sagging.
Another important aspect is the arrangement of compartments based on book height:
- Large coffee table books or reference works fit best in tall compartments without intermediate shelves.
- Regular novels or paperbacks can be divided into 2-3 rows using appropriately sized intermediate shelves.
Doors and drawers can significantly enhance the appearance and help keep dust out, especially for books that are used less frequently.
A question for the original poster: How large is your Besta module, and what book sizes do you mostly store? Are there any special requirements, such as dust protection or child safety?
To add to Wyatt’s points: Integrating drawers into the Besta units makes sense if you want to store smaller books, notebooks, or magazines. It is advisable to use special internal dividers within the drawers to prevent clutter.
Another idea is to reinforce the back panels of the Besta units – these are often just thin particle boards that can bend or even break under load. Using PVC or metal panels as replacements for the back panels can help make the furniture more stable.
If you want to organize books by topic, small label holders on the doors or shelves are also useful and can be easily swapped.
Feel free to use the top area of the Besta units for decorative items – this keeps the look balanced, and the books remain easily accessible. What do you think of this idea?
Another idea is to reinforce the back panels of the Besta units – these are often just thin particle boards that can bend or even break under load. Using PVC or metal panels as replacements for the back panels can help make the furniture more stable.
If you want to organize books by topic, small label holders on the doors or shelves are also useful and can be easily swapped.
Feel free to use the top area of the Besta units for decorative items – this keeps the look balanced, and the books remain easily accessible. What do you think of this idea?
Hello jarnoneo,
I have put together a small step-by-step tutorial on how to make the best use of Besta for books:
1. Planning the shelf height: First, measure your most common book sizes. Make sure you can set adjustable shelf heights when selecting the shelves.
2. Reinforcing the shelves: Consider buying additional support brackets or replace the particle board with MDF at least 18 mm (0.7 inches) thick.
3. Creating clear zones: Organize the books by theme and reserve compartments for special collections or, for example, cookbooks.
4. Doors or open compartments: Open compartments are practical for frequently used books, while doors are useful for less-used items to protect them from dust.
5. Using additional modules: Small drawer inserts can be used for bookmarks, notes, or eReader accessories.
6. Stabilization: Use Ikea’s wall mounting system for Besta to improve safety, especially if there are children or pets in the home.
7. Aesthetics: Choose colors and handles that match your room and style to make the shelf a design feature.
If you like, I can also provide example parts or sources for each step.
I have put together a small step-by-step tutorial on how to make the best use of Besta for books:
1. Planning the shelf height: First, measure your most common book sizes. Make sure you can set adjustable shelf heights when selecting the shelves.
2. Reinforcing the shelves: Consider buying additional support brackets or replace the particle board with MDF at least 18 mm (0.7 inches) thick.
3. Creating clear zones: Organize the books by theme and reserve compartments for special collections or, for example, cookbooks.
4. Doors or open compartments: Open compartments are practical for frequently used books, while doors are useful for less-used items to protect them from dust.
5. Using additional modules: Small drawer inserts can be used for bookmarks, notes, or eReader accessories.
6. Stabilization: Use Ikea’s wall mounting system for Besta to improve safety, especially if there are children or pets in the home.
7. Aesthetics: Choose colors and handles that match your room and style to make the shelf a design feature.
If you like, I can also provide example parts or sources for each step.
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