ᐅ How can Ikea BRIMNES furniture be retrofitted with soft-close mechanisms?

Hello everyone, I have several pieces of furniture from the Ikea Brimnes series, mainly cabinets and dressers, and I would like to retrofit them with a soft-close function.

I understand that these pieces do not come with soft-close hinges or drawer slides by default, but I’m wondering what methods and components are available to add this feature effectively and with minimal modifications.

I am particularly interested in: - Which soft-close fittings are compatible with BRIMNES models? - How complex is the installation for someone with basic DIY skills? - What issues might arise regarding mounting points or space availability inside the furniture?

I look forward to hearing about your experiences, recommendations, or any warnings from those who have done this or are familiar with furniture fittings.

liluro schrieb:
I understand that the furniture does not come with soft-close hinges or drawer slides by default, but I am wondering which methods and components are available to retrofit this feature effectively and with minimal modifications.

Hey, great project! Retrofitting soft-close is definitely doable, but with BRIMNES you need to be a bit creative.

I personally bought standard soft-close hinges (for example, from Blum) for a BRIMNES cabinet and replaced the original hinges with them. However, the new hinges don’t fit exactly because the drilling holes are different. So you need to do some additional drilling—not ideal, but manageable.

For the drawers, I installed soft-close slides from Hettich, and that really makes a difference! Important: measure carefully and check if you actually have enough space for the dampers, as it can get a bit tight.

Small tip: if you proceed carefully, it’s not a disaster—more like a DIY adventure with a rewarding outcome! 😉

Buy soft-close hinges, remove the old ones, and screw on the new ones. For drawers, replace the soft-close drawer slides. Drill holes for BRIMNES often don’t fit, so measure carefully and pre-drill if necessary. More effort is only needed if the fit is not precise.

liluro schrieb:
Which soft-close fittings are compatible with BRIMNES models?

Basically, the BRIMNES range from Ikea uses fairly inexpensive standard fittings. The hinges and drawer slides installed are not technically designed for soft-close functionality, which means retrofitting requires considerable adjustment.

For the hinges, I recommend so-called "clip-on" or "push-on" models from manufacturers like Blum or Hettich, which include an integrated damping system. Unfortunately, the existing drill holes usually do not align exactly, so you’ll either need to drill new holes or fill and modify the old ones.

Important: Make sure to choose the correct opening type (100° or 170°), as BRIMNES doors come with different opening angles.

For drawers, soft-close slides are advisable, available from specialist retailers in various extension depths and load capacities. Be sure to check the installation dimensions carefully, as some BRIMNES drawer depths offer limited space for the damper.

Installation tips:
- Carefully remove the old fittings
- Precisely mark the new drill holes
- Use a drill bit with the appropriate diameter for dowels or screws
- Adjust the doors finely after installation, because height and depth will need to be reset

It’s recommended to double-check all measurements before installation, as any misalignment with the dampers can impair function or damage the doors.

If you like, I can also provide you with a list of specific recommended sources and parts. Which BRIMNES furniture do you have exactly?

PLOMA schrieb:
If you want, I can also provide you with a list of specific suitable sources and parts. Which BRIMNES furniture pieces do you have exactly?

Thanks, that sounds great! I have two BRIMNES dressers with three drawers each and a two-door BRIMNES wardrobe, both with the standard fronts.

For the dressers, I’m mainly interested in soft-close drawer slides that are easy to install. For the wardrobe, I’m thinking more about damped hinges for the doors since they tend to be slammed shut, which is annoying in the long run.

If the effort required is too high, I would also be interested in alternatives, such as add-on dampers for drawers or magnetic systems. How would you assess the effort involved with the hinges on the wardrobe? Would it require a lot of modifications?

liluro schrieb:
If it involves too much effort, I would also be interested in alternatives, such as clip-on dampers for drawers or magnetic systems.

Sure, such clip-on dampers are available for both drawers and doors. They are basically small plastic dampers that you clip on either inside or outside between the frame and the door. They help reduce slamming, but are not a full soft-close replacement.

They’re ideal if you don’t want to drill holes or need a quick solution. Usually, some adjustment is still needed to ensure smooth closing.

Magnetic systems work mainly by holding force but don’t provide damping. Soft-close mechanisms themselves typically use hydraulics or spring systems, which are uncommon for retrofit solutions from IKEA because they often require more space.

So, for a wardrobe, clip-on dampers are a good compromise if switching to compatible hinges seems too complicated.