Hello everyone,
I am planning to modify my IKEA Besta shelving unit to use it as a functional shoe rack. I’m thinking of adjusting the compartments to accommodate different types of shoes – from sneakers and boots to elegant leather shoes. My goal is to optimize storage space, ensure good air circulation, and keep the unit sturdy enough to hold heavier boots or multiple pairs of shoes. Does anyone have experience with repositioning or replacing shelves? Is it possible to use different inserts or install special dividers? What about ventilation or material considerations? I look forward to ideas and tips to help me make my Besta as practical and durable as possible.
I am planning to modify my IKEA Besta shelving unit to use it as a functional shoe rack. I’m thinking of adjusting the compartments to accommodate different types of shoes – from sneakers and boots to elegant leather shoes. My goal is to optimize storage space, ensure good air circulation, and keep the unit sturdy enough to hold heavier boots or multiple pairs of shoes. Does anyone have experience with repositioning or replacing shelves? Is it possible to use different inserts or install special dividers? What about ventilation or material considerations? I look forward to ideas and tips to help me make my Besta as practical and durable as possible.
Thank you for the helpful responses so far! The idea of partially replacing the back wall with a perforated sheet or similar material sounds very sensible for minimizing moisture. I have one more question about installing the spacers: Do you need to buy special components for this, or are there practical DIY solutions? Also, how do you handle stabilizing the shelves? Are brackets or screw fittings sufficient if you want to store many heavy shoes? Your feedback is very helpful to ensure I don’t make any mistakes.
fonar30 schrieb:
One more question about installing spacersSure, you can either buy ready-made plastic spacers or cut your own from small wooden strips (e.g., beech wood 1x1 cm (0.4x0.4 inches)) that you screw flush against the side panels. It’s important that they are sturdy and firmly attached to the shelf unit so the shelves don’t wobble later on.
For reinforcement, metal brackets are especially suitable. They should be installed at the bottom of the sides and, if the shelves are longer than 60 cm (24 inches), also in the middle – this often happens with Besta units. Screw them in a way that distributes the load well. Be careful to use screws that aren’t too long to avoid compromising the stability of the side panels.
A small tip: adding additional wooden cross braces under the shelves can greatly improve load capacity without being very noticeable visually.
If you want, I can also give you recommendations on the type and size of screws.
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