ᐅ Is there a child-friendly way to modify the Ikea Besta system?

Created on: 20 Sep 2023 14:43
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fifure
Hello everyone,

I am currently planning to modify an Ikea Besta shelf unit to make it more child-friendly. I am focusing on safety, edge protection, and easy handling so that small children can use it without risk of injury or frustration caused by heavy doors and drawers.

Does anyone know of practical and proven solutions or modification ideas to make the Besta furniture suitable for children? Are there specific retrofit parts or modification guides that work well for this, perhaps with child-proof locks or soft-closing mechanisms?

I would appreciate it if you could share your experiences or tips. Thank you in advance!
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lubla
21 Sep 2023 09:12
fifure schrieb:
Besides preventing injuries, I also want to avoid doors or drawers being pulled out completely, which could cause heavy items to fall out.

That’s an important point. I recommend installing stoppers or soft-close mechanisms on the drawers to prevent them from being fully pulled out. This way, you can avoid items falling out without having to fully lock them.
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koduga
21 Sep 2023 10:46
I think it’s really important to look at child safety in as much detail as you do. I had a similar experience with my son and our Besta shelf. We made sure that no sharp edges were exposed and replaced the handles with wide, rounded ones. I also believe it’s often a balancing act between safety and usability, which is something to keep in mind. Your plan definitely sounds very well thought out!
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jeix9
22 Sep 2023 08:05
Soft-close hinges combined with edge protection strips are, in my experience, the most effective combination for child safety with Besta. Magnets work well if you want a simple locking mechanism. Make sure the stoppers are sturdy and not too easy to open.
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PeoDaniel
22 Sep 2023 13:37
jeix9 schrieb:
Soft-close hinges plus edge protectors are, in my experience, the most effective combination for child safety with Besta.

I completely agree. A combination of a mechanical damper and edge protection provides both comfort and safety. If it’s an option for you, how about lining the inside of the drawers with soft material? That also helps cushion minor impacts.
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fifure
22 Sep 2023 16:12
PeoDaniel schrieb:
How about lining the inside of the drawers with soft material, if that’s an option for you?

That’s a helpful idea, thanks! It could prevent injuries inside the drawers, but I wonder if the effort required for the modification might be too much. Does anyone have experience with the combination of soft-close hinges, magnetic child safety locks, and edge protectors? How complex is the installation, especially for someone with average DIY skills?
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eldubi
23 Sep 2023 07:41
fifure schrieb:
Does anyone have experience with the combination of soft-close hinges, magnetic child safety locks, and edge protection? How difficult is the installation, especially for someone with average DIY skills?

The installation is quite straightforward. Soft-close hinges are simply mounted in place of the old ones, edge protection is cut to size and glued on, and magnetic catches are installed like regular latch locks. It just requires some patience and a steady hand.