ᐅ How do I build an Ikea Besta storage bench – ideal for a child's room?

Hello everyone,

I am planning to build a bench myself using the Ikea Besta system, ideally suited for a children’s room. The bench should not only be comfortable but also provide enough storage space to neatly organize toys, books, or other children’s items. My questions are:

- Which Besta units are best suited to create sturdy seating surfaces with sufficient load capacity?
- What are the best methods to attach seat cushions to make them safe and comfortable for children?
- Are there practical tips for additional stiffening or reinforcement without making the furniture too heavy or cumbersome?
- And what design suggestions do you have to optimally combine storage space and seating comfort?

I look forward to your detailed tips and experiences!

Hello Pisitau,

your idea to use the Ikea Besta system as a bench with storage for the children's room is very practical and can be implemented quite easily. For selecting the Besta units, I recommend:

- Basic modules with a width of 120 cm (47 inches) or 60 cm (24 inches), depending on how much space you have.
- Pay particular attention to the fronts: doors or drawers can serve both as storage and for easier access.

For the seating surface, I suggest placing and securing a solid wood panel (e.g., plywood or MDF with at least 18 mm (0.7 inch) thickness) on top of the Besta units. This panel distributes the load evenly and provides a flat seating area.

To attach cushion covers, hook-and-loop fasteners or special non-slip tapes are suitable; you can fix these to the underside of the cushion and the top of the wooden panel. This prevents the cushion from slipping, which is especially important in a children's room.

For reinforcement, you can additionally install corner brackets under the wooden panel along the edges. This improves stability without significantly increasing the overall weight.

In terms of design, colored or patterned seat cushions with removable covers work well because they can be washed easily. You can also paint or wallpaper the Besta edges in matching colors to make the furniture child-friendly and cheerful.

I hope this helps with your planning. Feel free to ask if you have any questions!

PeoDaniel schrieb:
For the seating surface, I recommend placing and securing a solid wood panel (e.g., plywood or MDF with at least 18 mm (0.7 inches) thickness) on top of the Besta units.

I think the suggestion with the wood panel makes sense in principle, but in my opinion, the maximum load capacity of the Ikea Besta modules should not be overlooked. These are originally designed for shelving and not necessarily intended as a seating substructure.

For clarity: Ikea specifies a maximum load of about 20-25 kg (44-55 lbs) per compartment. However, if you place the modules flush next to each other and use a reinforced seating panel on top, the load could be distributed more evenly. In that case, I would recommend adding extra cross braces or metal brackets underneath the panel to specifically increase the load-bearing capacity.

Another point is stabilization against wobbling, since children often sit and move around energetically. Consider fixing the back to the wall or installing sturdy floor edges made of wood or metal that prevent tipping over.

In short: load capacity is crucial. Anyone wanting to use their bench more versatilely should not only focus on appearance and storage but also consider structural safety.

kasan schrieb:
Children often sit and move around restlessly.

That’s absolutely true, so it’s worth thinking one step further! I built a Besta bench myself and can say: The cushions with Velcro hold really well, but the more the kids romp around, the more important a simple zipper becomes so the covers can be quickly washed.

For my project, I reinforced the cushion fabric with needle fleece. This prevents slipping and is also pleasantly soft.

If you want, you can “pad” the side edges of the bench with small foam cushions in case someone bumps into them. This is especially useful in a children’s room and also looks nice when using colorful fabrics.

I used the storage space by adding small recessed handles to the fronts — making them easier for little hands to open.

It’s a great play combination, bench and storage — really fun to build yourself. Good luck!

Hello Pisitau,

I’m happy to approach this with a simple step-by-step plan if you like:

1. Selection of Besta units: 2 modules measuring 120x40x64 cm (47x16x25 inches) each are ideal for a storage bench.
2. Fabricate the seat panel: A plywood sheet 18 mm (0.7 inches) thick, 40 cm (16 inches) wide, and 240 cm (94 inches) long – sized to fit two modules side by side.
3. Mounting the panel: Use screws or metal brackets to secure the panel on top of the modules.
4. Seat cushion: Foam padding with a quality foam core about 5 cm (2 inches) thick, covered with a removable cover.
5. Safety fastening: Clamps or screws under the seat panel to prevent shifting.
6. Back panel or support for stability, especially important for child-safe use.

Tip: Make sure the edges of the seat panel are rounded to reduce the risk of injury.

If you want, I can provide more details on specific points or highlight common pitfalls.

Jensson schrieb:
Pay attention to rounded edges on the seat board to minimize the risk of injury.

This is a very important point! Especially for children's furniture, it’s worth investing extra time to improve safety. In addition to rounding the edges, I also recommend adding special edge protectors – this is a good complement whether the wood is painted or left untreated.

Furthermore, the entire structure should not be too heavy, so it can be moved or cleaned easily when needed.

For additional stability: I have always had good experiences with self-adhesive non-slip pads under the feet of Besta units. This way, the bench stays firmly in place even when children are sitting and playing on it.

And: If you want to sew a custom seat cushion, I can provide tips on suitable foam and the best materials, if desired.