ᐅ Is there a guide on how to use Ikea Besta as a shoe cabinet with ventilation?
Created on: 18 Apr 2023 08:23
L
Lupau3
Good morning everyone, I am currently working on converting an Ikea Besta system into a shoe cabinet and have an important question: Is there any guide or practical solution for using the Ikea Besta as a shoe cabinet with sufficient ventilation?
I am aware that shoes, especially when used frequently, require some air circulation to prevent odors and moisture. The Ikea Besta is originally designed for closed storage – so are there any tips or examples on how to modify this cabinet to make it suitable for shoes without causing mold or musty smells?
I am thinking about ventilation openings, special inserts, or other technical tricks. Who has experience or knows of specific instructions for this? I look forward to your opinions and ideas.
I am aware that shoes, especially when used frequently, require some air circulation to prevent odors and moisture. The Ikea Besta is originally designed for closed storage – so are there any tips or examples on how to modify this cabinet to make it suitable for shoes without causing mold or musty smells?
I am thinking about ventilation openings, special inserts, or other technical tricks. Who has experience or knows of specific instructions for this? I look forward to your opinions and ideas.
Lupau3 schrieb:
How did you cut out the ventilation holes? For tasks like these, I recommend:
- Pre-drilling holes with a larger wood drill bit (e.g., 10mm (0.4 inches)) if you want round holes;
- For elongated slots, a jigsaw or a fine saw with a guide rail works well.
- Using a multi-tool (e.g., oscillating tool) makes precise cuts much easier, especially for smaller openings.
Regarding air circulation underneath:
- You can raise Besta feet by placing wooden blocks or small furniture pads about 2-3cm (1 inch) high, which provides sufficient ventilation below.
- Alternatively, there are special ventilation strips available for retrofitting that also enhance the overall design.
If you like, I can provide exact measurements and tips for cutting out the holes to avoid rough edges or weak spots.
I once built a modified Besta shoe cabinet myself. My tip: Install small ventilation grilles for fresh air and also add fine mesh screens inside the doors. This lets the shoes breathe without allowing a direct view inside from the outside.
Also, place small activated charcoal bags inside – they greatly speed up odor absorption. And yes, I slightly elevated the feet, which really helps improve the ventilation effect.
Good luck with your project – it will turn out great!
Also, place small activated charcoal bags inside – they greatly speed up odor absorption. And yes, I slightly elevated the feet, which really helps improve the ventilation effect.
Good luck with your project – it will turn out great!
Elodie schrieb:
Install fresh air vents and additionally fit fine mesh grilles into the doors. Thanks for the tip about the mesh grilles in the doors, that’s a clever idea! I hadn’t considered that component yet, but it makes a lot of sense to include the doors in the ventilation.
If I understand correctly, this keeps the appearance relatively closed while significantly improving airflow. Does anyone have experience with how securely these mesh grilles can be installed and whether Ikea’s Besta doors can handle this well? I plan not to damage the doors in case I want to reverse it later.
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