ᐅ How can I make the best use of Ikea Besta units in small corners or alcoves?

Hello dear community, I would like to start a discussion on the topic: "How can I best use IKEA Besta units in small corners or niches?" At home, I have several small, awkward corners where traditional furniture doesn’t fit well or cannot be used efficiently. As an enthusiastic IKEA user, my focus is therefore on the Besta modular units, as they are flexible and adaptable.

I would especially appreciate tips and tricks on how to make the most of the dimensions in niches, whether certain combinations of widths, heights, and depths work better, or how to best organize the interior to optimize storage space. I am also very interested in experiences with special accessories or modifications that aren’t so obvious.

How do you install Besta in rooms with limited space? What are your do’s and don’ts? Thank you in advance!

Hello Gogabau,

I’m happy to respond with a structured guide on how I optimally use Besta in small corners.

1. Planning: Measure the niche precisely. It often helps to take all internal measurements (width, height, depth) plus small allowances for doors and handles.

2. Use modular sizes: Besta comes in different widths (60, 40, 20 cm (24, 16, 8 inches)) and heights (38, 64, 128 cm (15, 25, 50 inches)), which can be combined freely. Small widths (20/40 cm (8/16 inches)) are ideal for narrow niches to fully utilize the available space.

3. Back panel and sides: Especially in niches, sometimes you can omit the back panel and instead use wall fixings to take full advantage of the depth.

4. Interior layout: Use cabinet shelves and drawer inserts to organize the storage space flexibly. Accessories such as baskets or routed cable openings are also helpful.

5. Adjust doors: Hinged doors need more space to swing open, while sliding doors are often more practical in tight niches.

6. Installation: Secure the Besta system firmly to the wall, particularly with asymmetrical corners or if you are stacking modules.

Summary:
- Measure niche dimensions precisely
- Combine small modules
- Back panel optional
- Flexible interior layout and appropriate doors

I hope this helps as a starting point. If you want, I can also provide advice on custom size modifications or explain detail photos.

For small corners, I would always choose narrow Besta units, either 20 or 40 cm wide (8 or 16 inches), and combine them with open shelves or drawers. Sliding doors save space compared to hinged doors. Back panels can often be omitted if the wall is stable.

Hello Gogabau,

I find your topic really interesting and can fully understand how challenging it can be to create maximum storage space in niches with limited room.

Regarding your questions: I have Besta cabinets myself in small hallway niches and have had good experiences combining modules, for example, using a lower unit plus a top cabinet to make the best use of height without it looking bulky.

Choosing the right doors is especially important: sliding doors are often the best solution in tight spaces. Alternatively, you can skip doors entirely and use attractive boxes or baskets for organization – this creates a lighter feel.

Another tip is to consider the depth. Besta typically comes in 40cm (16 inches) depth, which is the classic size, but there are also 20cm (8 inches) deep shelves that work great in very small corners if you only want to store small items.

If you are using screw-free accessories, there can sometimes be stability issues with smaller units. Therefore, I strongly recommend securing the modules with original connectors and firmly anchoring them to the wall.

I hope this helps you. What are the exact niche dimensions you have, if you don’t mind sharing?

Oh, I love Besta for small corners!!! It’s great that you brought this up here 🙂 I have a very small niche measuring 60cm x 40cm (24 inches x 16 inches) and stacked two 20cm (8 inches) Besta modules on top of each other – this gives me lots of space for books and technical gear.

Important: Use sliding doors, they save so much space! And try shelves instead of closed cabinets; this makes it look less bulky and gives quick access.

My insider tip: Install lighting on the inside! LED strips from IKEA work really well with Besta and make the corner feel very cozy.

I think with a bit of creativity, Besta can become an all-rounder in niches! Good luck and feel free to share how it turns out for you 🙂

Basically, Besta is very flexible, but I often wonder if IKEA’s standard size concept is more of a limitation when it comes to clever niche use.

One could argue that the fixed widths of 20, 40, 60 cm (8, 16, 24 inches) limit creative potential because you always have to plan gaps and spaces that aren’t always optimal.

Have you, @Gogabau, considered whether custom-made or semi-custom options might be more practical? Even with smart interior organization, there’s still a gap or offcut that gets wasted.

Of course, the easy handling and price speak in favor of Besta, but the question of perfect space utilization remains.

I’m interested to hear if anyone has experience with modifications, such as adjusting fronts or individually trimming elements to fill niches down to the millimeter.