ᐅ Is it possible to convert an IKEA BESTA wardrobe into a bench with seating?

Hello Community!

I have planned a special wardrobe unit. The Besta carcass measuring 120x40x38 cm (47x16x15 inches) is intended to be used as a bench. Naturally, the carcass will stand directly on the floor and will not be attached to a wall.

Now for the critical question to the professionals here: can the carcass support a weight of 100 kg (220 lbs)? In other words, if a heavy man sits on it, will the carcass—i.e., the bench—hold up, or will the furniture collapse?

Thank you in advance for any clarifying responses.

Best regards

Stephan_Ihack

Hello, I once read somewhere that someone working at IKEA said that Besta can support 100 kg (220 lbs). Why not check at the furniture store if there is a bench available and test it yourself?

According to Ikea, the Besta TV cabinet is designed to support a higher load than the standard cabinet frame. The overall weight of the TV cabinet is also somewhat higher, which leads me to believe that additional chipboard reinforcements have been installed inside for stability.

However, I also bought a Besta cabinet measuring 120 x 64 x 38 cm (47 x 25 x 15 inches) — the standard frame, not the TV version — with 2 drawers on top, 2 doors below, and the glass shelf mounted on top. The unit stands on Besta metal legs (I don’t recall the exact name), and on top are 4 hi-fi components with a total weight of nearly 50 kg (110 lbs) (amplifier 24 kg (53 lbs), CD player 12 kg (26 lbs), cassette recorder 8 kg (18 lbs), tuner 6 kg (13 lbs)). The cabinet holds up well; there is no visible sagging despite Ikea rating the frame for only 20 kg (44 lbs). Additionally, heavy items such as 4 packs of 500 sheets of printer paper are stored inside.

The TV version is rated for up to 50 kg (110 lbs) (if I’m not mistaken), and I have even walked on mine with about 65 kg (143 lbs) without hearing any creaking or signs of strain.

Unfortunately, the knock-down connectors are now plastic instead of metal. At our Ikea, there is a bargain bin area where you can fill small containers for about €1.50 and find all sorts of screws, connectors, and assembly materials for Ikea furniture. There you can still find the metal connectors, which makes it a very cost-effective way to get them. This definitely improves stability.

I have the Besta cabinets in the living room and used this size as an overhead unit. Compared to the Metod cabinets, they are very lightweight.
If I needed something to sit on (I assume you will be adding cushions anyway), only the small Metod carcasses would be suitable. They are significantly more stable and heavier.
2x

For additional stability, place a 120cm (47 inch) panel on top.

You can also screw on different feet if you want.
Best regards, robi