ᐅ How can I convert Ikea Besta units into well-organized craft storage?
Created on: 14 Mar 2019 09:37
D
dasotaHello everyone,
I want to convert my Ikea Besta shelving unit into a well-organized craft storage solution and would appreciate your tips and experiences. Specifically, I’m looking for ideas on how to best use the modules to store various craft supplies like paper, pens, glue, fabrics, and tools in an orderly and practical way. The different sizes and frequent use make organizing a bit challenging for me.
I have already considered installing drawers, individual compartments, and small boxes but am unsure which combinations truly work best and how to plan the layout most effectively. I’m also interested in whether you make any custom modifications or additions to the Besta, such as adding dividers, separators, or special inserts.
Also: How do you arrange access to the materials so that everything remains easily reachable but still looks neat?
I look forward to your suggestions, including any practical advice or potential pitfalls to avoid when doing such a conversion.
I want to convert my Ikea Besta shelving unit into a well-organized craft storage solution and would appreciate your tips and experiences. Specifically, I’m looking for ideas on how to best use the modules to store various craft supplies like paper, pens, glue, fabrics, and tools in an orderly and practical way. The different sizes and frequent use make organizing a bit challenging for me.
I have already considered installing drawers, individual compartments, and small boxes but am unsure which combinations truly work best and how to plan the layout most effectively. I’m also interested in whether you make any custom modifications or additions to the Besta, such as adding dividers, separators, or special inserts.
Also: How do you arrange access to the materials so that everything remains easily reachable but still looks neat?
I look forward to your suggestions, including any practical advice or potential pitfalls to avoid when doing such a conversion.
Hello dasota,
Your question is exactly my specialty – I often convert Ikea Besta units into craft organization systems and have put together a few tips:
- Planning: It is important to first sort your materials by frequency of use and size. Use deep compartments for larger fabrics or boxes, and shallow drawers for paper, pens, or small parts.
- Drawers and inserts: Ikea Besta offers modular drawers for purchase – you should definitely take advantage of these. For small items, it makes sense to use dividers made of plywood or acrylic. You can customize these by cutting them to size and securing them with clamps.
- Boxes and containers: Plexiglass boxes or clear plastic containers are good for keeping everything visible. Stackable boxes with fixed dimensions that fit precisely into the compartments are especially helpful.
- Tool holders: For tools like scissors or tape, I have mounted hooks on the inside walls or installed small magnetic strips if there are metal parts.
- Accessibility: Soft-close drawers are beneficial to reduce noise and increase user comfort. For small work areas, you can convert individual compartments into pull-out work surfaces.
- Lighting: LED lighting inside the unit improves visibility, especially in narrow compartments.
What was also important to me: The shelving should not look overcrowded, so it’s better to have fewer materials per compartment rather than cram in large amounts randomly.
I would be happy to ask you about the size of your Besta system, such as its dimensions and the number of modules you have. This naturally heavily influences the best solutions.
Your question is exactly my specialty – I often convert Ikea Besta units into craft organization systems and have put together a few tips:
- Planning: It is important to first sort your materials by frequency of use and size. Use deep compartments for larger fabrics or boxes, and shallow drawers for paper, pens, or small parts.
- Drawers and inserts: Ikea Besta offers modular drawers for purchase – you should definitely take advantage of these. For small items, it makes sense to use dividers made of plywood or acrylic. You can customize these by cutting them to size and securing them with clamps.
- Boxes and containers: Plexiglass boxes or clear plastic containers are good for keeping everything visible. Stackable boxes with fixed dimensions that fit precisely into the compartments are especially helpful.
- Tool holders: For tools like scissors or tape, I have mounted hooks on the inside walls or installed small magnetic strips if there are metal parts.
- Accessibility: Soft-close drawers are beneficial to reduce noise and increase user comfort. For small work areas, you can convert individual compartments into pull-out work surfaces.
- Lighting: LED lighting inside the unit improves visibility, especially in narrow compartments.
What was also important to me: The shelving should not look overcrowded, so it’s better to have fewer materials per compartment rather than cram in large amounts randomly.
I would be happy to ask you about the size of your Besta system, such as its dimensions and the number of modules you have. This naturally heavily influences the best solutions.
Hello everyone,
I recently completed a similar project. It’s important to carefully consider, before planning, which tasks you want the shelving to support. This will help you decide on the design, for example, whether you need many small drawers or a few large compartments.
At first, I was unsure about the spacing between the shelves. My solution was to position the shelves at different heights in different sections — this way, there are tall compartments for paper rolls and lower ones for flat clips or pens.
I also made small boxes with cardboard dividers, which was useful for organizing small items.
You might also want to think about the appearance: doors or open shelves — this has affected both the organization and accessibility in my setup.
Wishing you success with your renovation! Feel free to ask if you need any details.
I recently completed a similar project. It’s important to carefully consider, before planning, which tasks you want the shelving to support. This will help you decide on the design, for example, whether you need many small drawers or a few large compartments.
At first, I was unsure about the spacing between the shelves. My solution was to position the shelves at different heights in different sections — this way, there are tall compartments for paper rolls and lower ones for flat clips or pens.
I also made small boxes with cardboard dividers, which was useful for organizing small items.
You might also want to think about the appearance: doors or open shelves — this has affected both the organization and accessibility in my setup.
Wishing you success with your renovation! Feel free to ask if you need any details.
kla69 schrieb:
I’d like to ask you, for example, how large your Besta system is, what dimensions and how many modules you have. That naturally has a strong influence on the best solutions.Thank you kla69 for the detailed reply.
My Besta shelving unit consists of two modules measuring 60x64 cm (24x25 inches) each, with a depth of 64 cm (25 inches), so about 120 cm (47 inches) wide in total. I currently have 4 compartments per module – each has two shelves (not fixed, adjustable). That effectively gives me 8 compartments in the whole setup.
The depth is often almost too much for me; it makes organizing flat materials difficult because the shelving is quite deep.
I’m considering whether to divide the compartments into two levels using additional intermediate shelves, but I’m not sure if that might make everything less practical.
What would you recommend, especially regarding the rather tall, deep compartments?
Hello dasota,
I think it’s a good basic idea to use intermediate shelves to make better use of the space. When you use the full depth, you often get “dead” areas at the back where materials get lost. That’s why I halved my compartments, which works great for flat papers, craft books, or small material bags.
It’s important to install the intermediate shelves securely so they don’t wobble. You can find nylon brackets or even furniture connectors at hardware stores that can be fixed with screws without damaging the furniture.
For very small items, you can use small boxes or containers, which helps keep everything organized.
You might also be interested in this: If you want to store rolls of paper, I’ve had good experience leaving larger open compartments at the bottom of the shelf. This way, you can easily pull out and cut the rolls.
I think it’s a good basic idea to use intermediate shelves to make better use of the space. When you use the full depth, you often get “dead” areas at the back where materials get lost. That’s why I halved my compartments, which works great for flat papers, craft books, or small material bags.
It’s important to install the intermediate shelves securely so they don’t wobble. You can find nylon brackets or even furniture connectors at hardware stores that can be fixed with screws without damaging the furniture.
For very small items, you can use small boxes or containers, which helps keep everything organized.
You might also be interested in this: If you want to store rolls of paper, I’ve had good experience leaving larger open compartments at the bottom of the shelf. This way, you can easily pull out and cut the rolls.
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