ᐅ How can I cost-effectively convert IKEA BESTA units into a kitchen island with storage?

Hello everyone,

I am currently planning to build an affordable kitchen island with storage using IKEA BESTÅ units. My goal is to keep costs low while maintaining functionality and stability. The idea is to use the BESTÅ cabinets as a base, mount a suitable countertop on top, and create a flexible island.

I am especially interested in how others have carried out similar projects, which types of countertops have proven reliable, and how to organize the interior of the cabinets effectively.

Are there any tips for attaching the countertop, stabilizing the island, and ideas on how to best combine the BESTÅ modules to maximize storage space while providing a good kitchen work surface?

What experiences do you have with adjusting the dimensions (especially height and depth) of the BESTÅ units for kitchen applications?

I appreciate any advice, recommendations on materials, or tools and methods you consider useful.

Use the 60x40x64 cm (24x16x25 inches) BESTÅ carcasses as the base. For the countertop, a sturdy 28 mm (1 inch) plywood board works well, which you can have cut to size inexpensively at a hardware store. Screw the board in place from underneath using brackets to keep the surface clean. You can increase stability with additional legs or floor rails.

I can fully understand the approach with BESTÅ, as the modules are versatile and relatively affordable. However, it is important to consider the following details:

- Standard BESTÅ carcasses are 64 cm (25 inches) high, which is somewhat lower than a typical kitchen countertop (usually around 90 cm (35 inches)). You can attach height-adjustable feet underneath to achieve an ergonomic working height.
- Countertops should be at least 28 mm (1 inch) thick; plywood or solid wood is ideal depending on your budget. Avoid thin particleboard, as it tends to warp easily.
- To attach the countertop to the BESTÅ units, it’s best to screw from the inside into pre-drilled holes with wood screws or use brackets on the sides that you position flush beforehand.
- If you want to place the cabinets directly on the floor, adjustable furniture glides are recommended to compensate for uneven flooring.

One more tip: You can design the interior with VARIERA boxes and shelves for flexible storage. This keeps the space organized.

Can you provide the dimensions of your kitchen? That would allow for more precise advice.

kulau schrieb:
Can you please provide the dimensions of your kitchen? That would help make the advice more precise.

Thank you for the detailed response! My room size is about 3.5 x 4 meters (11.5 x 13 feet), providing enough space to plan an island around 1.5 x 0.7 meters (5 x 2.3 feet). I really want to raise the height to approximately 90 cm (35 inches) to match the standard working height.

Regarding the internal layouts: I prefer drawers, but BESTÅ mainly has door fronts and boxes rather than drawers. Do you have any good ideas on how to create practical pull-outs or drawers from this?

And about the legs and fixtures: Should the island be fixed to the floor or built to be mobile? I’m considering flexibility, but stability and safety in everyday use are also very important to me.

Hello!

If you aim for a 90 cm (35 inches) countertop height, I recommend adjustable furniture legs with at least a 20–30 cm (8–12 inches) adjustment range. IKEA offers such legs for BESTÅ (for example, feet with 20 cm (8 inches) height), which you can supplement with wooden blocks or spacers to reach the 90 cm (35 inches) height.

Regarding drawers: you can combine BESTÅ carcasses with custom-made drawers or use suitable VARIERA drawer boxes. There are also third-party extensions that offer drawer fittings for BESTÅ.

You should secure the island to the ceiling or floor if it is fixed. For mobility, casters are an option as long as the island remains stable and the casters can be locked. Safety is especially important in kitchens, so it is better to anchor it firmly if space allows.

Hi, sounds like a cool DIY project!

Using BESTÅ as a kitchen island? Not the most common choice, but with a bit of creativity, it works really well. I once built a bar out of something similar – the challenge was the height and the countertop, which I placed on wooden blocks.

For the countertop: If you want something affordable, look for laminate kitchen countertops – they are sturdy and relatively inexpensive. Solid wood looks nicer but costs more.

And regarding storage: The open BESTÅ compartments work great with baskets, which you can find cheaply and still look stylish. That way, nothing is left cluttered, but you can still see what’s inside.

Oh, and you can also seal the edges of the countertop with silicone in case of spills – this makes the whole edge easy to maintain!