ᐅ How can Ikea BRIMNES drawers be made quieter or louder?

Hello everyone,

I have a specific question regarding the Ikea Brimnes chest of drawers, specifically the drawers. I’ve noticed that they can be quite noisy when opening and closing, which can be particularly disruptive at night. However, I don’t want to compromise the functionality or load-bearing capacity, as the drawers already carry a significant amount of weight.

So my question for the community is:
How can the Ikea BRIMNES drawers be made louder or quieter without damaging the structure or the drawer slides? Are there any recommended materials, tips, or adjustments that have been proven to help reduce or change the noise level when opening and closing?

I look forward to your experiences and suggestions, including detailed explanations of any solutions you may know or have tried.

Regarding how to make the Ikea BRIMNES drawers quieter or louder, there are mainly mechanical methods that influence the noise behavior.

Basically, the noise is caused by direct metal-to-metal or wood-to-wood contact in the drawer slides and guides. To make the drawers quieter, I recommend the following steps:

- Attach felt strips or foam rubber at the contact points of the drawer, especially on the side panels and guide rails.
- Use silicone spray or PTFE-based lubricant on the slides to reduce friction and squeaking.
- Check and, if necessary, adjust the drawer guides, as misaligned fittings can cause increased noise.

There is no practical way to make the drawers louder unless you severely damage or alter the guides, which is not recommended.

In summary, the focus for noise reduction is on cushioning with soft materials and lubricating moving parts. Care should be taken to avoid compromising durability.

hauklo schrieb:
Regarding the question of how to make the Ikea BRIMNES drawers quieter or louder, there are mainly mechanical methods that influence the noise behavior.

I would like to add a brief step-by-step guide on how to reduce the noise of the BRIMNES drawers:

1. Fully pull out the drawer and check if the runners are still firmly in place.
2. Clean all contact surfaces with a damp cloth to remove dust, dirt, or old lubricants.
3. Attach thin felt pads or foam strips at the contact points between the drawer sides and the runners. These act as sound absorbers and vibration dampers.
4. Lightly spray the metal guides on the rollers or edges with a suitable lubricant such as silicone spray – avoid oily products to prevent attracting dust.
5. Carefully reinsert the drawers, making sure they run smoothly and evenly.

Common mistakes I often see are felt strips that are too thick and cause the runners to jam, or applying too much lubricant, which then attracts dirt and creates new noises.

If you like, I can provide a tip later on which material I personally found effective for noise reduction.

Lu_ben schrieb:
How can the Ikea BRIMNES drawers be made quieter or louder without damaging the construction or the drawer slides?

I completely understand how annoying loud drawer noises can be, especially when living in shared housing or with children who enter rooms late or want to grab something. It’s really great that you’re considering how to maintain both functionality and stability.

From my experience, regular inspection of the drawer slides helps as well: over time, small signs of wear or dust buildup can increase rattling. Cleaning and slightly tightening the screws can make a big difference.

Another option might be to manually install some kind of soft-close mechanism — although Ikea does not offer suitable parts for BRIMNES, there are modular dampers that can be relatively easily attached to reduce noise and make closing smoother.

I hope you find a solution that works for you — and maybe others will share their experiences here too!