ᐅ What tips are there to make Ikea BESTA drawers easier to access and quieter?

Hello everyone,

I have installed some Ikea Besta drawers in my living room wall, but I’m not completely satisfied with how they operate. The drawers do open, but I find them a bit stiff, especially when they are fully loaded. Additionally, the noise when opening and closing is quite loud, which is disturbing in a quiet living area.

Therefore, I want to ask the community: What tips are there to make Ikea Besta drawers easier to access while also making opening and closing quieter? Are there modified handles, improved drawer slides, dampers, or other tricks that have proven effective?

I am interested in both cost-effective DIY solutions and reliable accessories.

Thanks in advance for your advice!

Halit70 schrieb:
What tips are there for making Ikea BESTA drawers more accessible while also making opening and closing quieter?

In general, I recommend first checking the drawer slides for correct installation and lubrication. IKEA slides are often adjusted quite tightly from the factory.

- To make them easier to access: Most drawer slides have an adjustment screw. A slight readjustment can make the sliding smoother.
- For a gentle and quiet closing mechanism, consider upgrading to soft-close runners, which are available as compatible retrofit kits.
- If that’s not an option, applying silicone lubricant to the drawer slides is an inexpensive fix that often improves performance.

These steps are easy to carry out yourself and can provide noticeable improvements.

The tip from RETRAVIS is definitely very helpful. I have Ikea BESTA drawers myself and would like to add:

- The choice of handles can have a big impact on accessibility. Flat handle strips or recessed handles make opening easier when you don’t want to use much force.
- If the fronts need to be pulled directly, it might be worth installing push-to-open mechanisms. These completely eliminate the friction point.

Regarding noise reduction:
- Other contact points, such as the back of the drawer or the inside of the furniture, can be fitted with self-adhesive felt or foam rubber strips. These significantly dampen hard impacts.

It is also important not to overload the drawers, as this increases friction resistance and thus also the noise.

In brief:
- Oil the tracks or use silicone spray
- Retrofit soft-close systems
- Install pull handles or try push-to-open systems
- Attach felt pads inside to reduce rattling noises

These measures usually improve movement and noise levels significantly.