ᐅ Is there a way to modify Ikea Brimnes furniture to make it smaller?

Hello everyone, I have the following question: Is there a way to reduce the size of Ikea Brimnes furniture, for example by shortening individual parts or rearranging the modules? I want to adapt the furniture pieces to fit a smaller space without having to buy completely new furniture. I’m interested in whether the material can be worked on easily using common tools or if there are specific structural limitations that would make this impossible. Does anyone have experience or ideas on how to customize Brimnes series furniture like wardrobes, dressers, or shelves to fit specific dimensions? Thanks in advance for your insights!

Ferminsa35 schrieb:
Is there a way to reduce the size of Ikea Brimnes furniture, for example by shortening individual parts or redesigning the modules?

That initially sounds feasible, but I would differentiate more precisely here: some parts, especially the carcasses, are made of melamine-faced chipboard with a foil coating. Cutting these can quickly lead to visible rough edges. Additionally, the drill holes and fasteners are standardized, so modifications can easily compromise the stability.

If you actually want to shorten individual components, you should expect to apply new edge banding or plan for professional finishing work. Without this, the result is usually unsatisfactory.

Do you have a specific piece of furniture in mind, so I can assist you more concretely?

Wow, I think it’s great that you’re confident enough to do this yourself! 😊 For me, when it comes to projects like this, trying it out beats just studying the theory!

I once modified a Brimnes dresser myself – you can shorten the side panels a bit if you can saw and sand them properly, but be careful: the material is quite thin and can easily fray. It’s also important that all load-bearing parts remain intact, otherwise the entire piece of furniture will be unstable.

My advice: if you’re skilled with tools, try cutting a less important part first before working on the main piece. Fingers crossed, and I’m curious to see if it works out!

Hello everyone!

To fundamentally answer Ferminsa35’s question: The Brimnes series mainly uses particleboard with a melamine coating. This material is relatively delicate and cannot be easily worked on like solid wood using a circular saw or Japanese pull saw.

If you still want to reduce the size, the following tips might help:
- All parts that you shorten must be resealed with edge banding.
- Drilling or screwing in new locations requires careful planning to maintain stability.
- It is important to realign and, if necessary, reinforce the furniture after modification.

Basically, I recommend testing one single piece before making major cuts, using affordable tools or accessories specifically designed for such panels. If you tell us which piece of furniture you want to resize exactly, I can gladly provide more specific advice.

Linavin schrieb:
Do you already have a specific piece of furniture in mind to be able to help more concretely?

Thanks for the quick reply! Specifically, it’s about the Brimnes wardrobe with the dimensions 100x60x197 cm (39x24x77 inches). Due to the room layout, I would need to reduce its width by about 20 cm (8 inches). I think the main challenges could arise with the door front and the hinges.

I am also open to alternative suggestions on how to best utilize the space in the room if resizing seems too complicated or risky. It is important to me that the appearance is reasonably maintained and that the wardrobe remains sturdy enough to withstand everyday use.

For the Brimnes wardrobe, I would shorten the side panels. The hinges and doors are usually standardized, so making changes there can be difficult.

It’s better to adjust the interior and modify or divide the wardrobe at the back panel in a modular way. This way, stability is maintained.