ᐅ Using Ikea BESTA: How Can I Store Books and Decorative Items Efficiently?
Created on: 25 May 2021 14:02
M
MANHAU
Hello everyone, I have the IKEA Besta system in my living room and I’m considering the best way to store books and decorative items there in a practical way. The challenge is that I want to create an aesthetically pleasing organization while also keeping frequently used books and some delicate decorations easily accessible. What experiences do you have with optimizing storage space within Besta shelving systems to accommodate both needs effectively and practically? Are there specific types of inserts, boxes, or dividers that work particularly well? I’m also open to tips on how to keep the whole setup looking elegant and tidy without appearing cluttered. Looking forward to your suggestions!
For functional storage, I recommend using shelf depth as a guideline: books fit well on shelves 30 cm (12 inches) deep, while decorative items usually require less space. Bottom inserts or dividers help keep things organized. Doors can protect against dust but are only practical if the decorations are delicate or rarely used.
L
Landontau25 May 2021 16:37Here is a brief guide for using Besta units to store books and decorations:
- Books: Use adjustable shelves that you can tailor precisely to the size of your books. This way, you make the best use of the available space.
- Decorations: Closed compartments or display doors are ideal for delicate items.
- Fabric or plastic boxes can help group small decorative pieces and keep things organized.
- Combine open and closed elements to balance openness with protection.
- Tip: When arranging decorations, pay attention to height and stability to prevent items from tipping over or getting damaged.
- Books: Use adjustable shelves that you can tailor precisely to the size of your books. This way, you make the best use of the available space.
- Decorations: Closed compartments or display doors are ideal for delicate items.
- Fabric or plastic boxes can help group small decorative pieces and keep things organized.
- Combine open and closed elements to balance openness with protection.
- Tip: When arranging decorations, pay attention to height and stability to prevent items from tipping over or getting damaged.
Thank you very much, this is already very helpful. I hadn’t really considered that the shelf depth for books is so important. Are there any experiences with the best way to organize books in BESTA if you don’t want to sort them just by size? For example, by theme or reading status? I want to avoid the shelf looking too chaotic – how do you ensure an attractive yet logical arrangement?
I understand how challenging this can be at times. For me, I organize my books by category and reading status. Read books sometimes go into closed compartments or are stacked decoratively, while unread books are displayed visibly and neatly on a shelf. This creates a mix of order and ease. It helps me mentally because I don’t feel like everything has to be perfect – and many people still find the bookshelf attractive.
I think this is a particularly good point: a more flexible arrangement that also takes personal usage habits into account. What solutions are there for attractively displaying decorative items behind doors? Or do you use clear glass display cabinets in BESTA? How do different surface finishes of the BESTA units combine with decoration?
Glass fronts in BESTA units are ideal when you want to keep your decorations visible while protecting them from dust. When combining different surfaces, I recommend coordinating the colors of the decorations and paying attention to the mix of materials. This creates a harmonious look, even with different doors or carcasses. Black-and-white BESTA models can be nicely complemented with natural decorative materials.
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