ᐅ How can Ikea HEMNES furniture be adapted to be child-friendly?

Hello everyone, I am planning to modify some Ikea Hemnes furniture in our home to make it more child-friendly, ensuring it is safer and more practical for young children. Specifically, I’m referring to cabinets and dressers that currently do not have any childproof features. I’m interested in how to adapt these pieces in the best way possible without significantly changing their appearance, while also avoiding tripping hazards, sharp edges, and dangerous handles. Does anyone have practical tips or recommendations on which materials and techniques work well for child-safe modifications? And what safety aspects should definitely be considered? Thanks for your experiences and advice!

Hello, I would recommend first covering all sharp edges with soft plastic edge protectors. For the handles, child-safe handle covers or handle alternatives with rounded edges work well. Additionally, the furniture should definitely be secured to the wall to prevent tipping.

Converting HEMNES furniture into a child-friendly version requires careful planning. Here is a detailed approach: First, I remove sharp edges using sandpaper or install soft protective strips specifically designed for furniture. For the handles, I recommend replaceable silicone or wooden handles with rounded shapes to ensure child safety while maintaining the appearance. Another important step is to equip the doors and drawers with soft-close dampers and child locks to prevent finger injuries. The entire cabinet should be secured to the wall with sturdy yet easy-to-use wall mounts—these are often available as suitable kits. Finally, I advise regular inspections of the safety measures, as wear and tear can occur, especially with active children. Which types of furniture are you planning to modify, and how old are the children?

Domau0 schrieb:
Which types of furniture do you want to modify exactly, and how old are the children?

Thanks for asking! I’m thinking about the HEMNES dressers with 3-4 drawers and the tall wardrobe with doors. The children are 2 and 4 years old, so still very active but already able to open drawers and doors quite independently. It’s important to me that they can’t accidentally pull the drawers out completely and that the furniture remains stable if they lean on it or pull themselves up.

For the drawers, I would recommend sturdy drawer locks. They prevent small children from pulling the drawers out. Additionally, be sure to install anti-tip devices on all units, which Ikea also provides for HEMNES.

A simple solution to prevent finger injuries is to use finger pinch guards that stick onto the gaps in doors. This significantly reduces the risk of injury. For drawers, you can also use stoppers that prevent the drawer from being pulled out completely without fully blocking it.