Want to turn Ikea Besta cabinets into custom built-ins? We used three straightforward hacks to make our Bestas read like higher-end custom storage without the hefty price tag. The result: more concealed storage and added architectural interest in our bedroom.
Built-in storage makes a huge difference in smaller homes. Over time we’ve added built-in Pax closets in our bedroom, a custom desk and bookcase in our son’s room, and a wall-to-wall media cabinet in the family room. So when we needed to fill the recessed areas beside our fireplace, Bestas were a natural place to start.
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Why Choose Ikea Bestas?
The fireplace sits directly across from our bed and the recessed niches on either side begged for built-ins. Ikea’s 47″ Besta cabinet nearly fills the 50″ opening and, when paired with simple legs, its height works well under the windows. That made Besta an obvious, budget-friendly starting point.
We actually bought these cabinets in late 2020. At first they were simply placed beside the fireplace and provided concealed storage, but didn’t yet read as built-ins. After updating the fireplace and slowly adding trim and finishing details, the cabinets started to look custom and now they feel integrated into the room’s architecture.
How We Hacked Our Ikea Bestas
There are many ways to customize Ikea furniture—paint, trim, hardware, wallpaper—but for these built-ins we focused on three simple upgrades that deliver big visual impact:
- Install side filler trim to close gaps and create a seamless edge.
- Add baseboard and quarter-round to match the room’s existing trim.
- Install a butcher block countertop for warmth and a finished look.
Besta Hack #1: Add Side Filler Pieces
Adding filler trim is an easy way to make modular units look built-in. You attach a back layer of trim to the cabinet side and then add a front layer that sits flush with the door. This two-layer approach hides the cabinet gap and creates a clean, custom appearance when the doors are closed.
After filling and painting the pieces to match (we used Sherwin-Williams Pure White), the trim blends in and the Besta reads like a tailored, built-in cabinet.
Besta Hack #2: Add Baseboard
Matching the room’s baseboard and quarter-round trim helps the units look like part of the room’s architecture. We attached baseboard to the Besta legs, but that initially made the trim project too deep. Instead of moving the cabinet forward or floating it, we used a thin strip of plywood to get the right depth, then applied quarter-round and painted everything to blend seamlessly with the room’s trim.
Besta Hack #3: Add Counters
Swapping the standard Besta top for a butcher block counter adds warmth and a custom finish. We cut the butcher block to size with a circular saw, sealed it with cutting board oil to protect the wood and deepen the color, and attached it by screwing up through the Besta top into the butcher block. Because the top is heavy, the screws simply prevent any movement over time—just be careful not to drive a screw through the visible surface.
We drilled a hole for lamp cords using a 2″ drill bit, cutting through the butcher block and the cabinet top, and finished the opening with brass desk grommets for a tidy look. Cords run into the cabinet and out a small hole in the back to reach the outlet—hidden from view when the doors are closed.
What We Store In Them
These upgrades turned the Bestas into useful, concealed storage. One side stores family board games and the other holds overflow items like books, gift wrap, candles, vases, and seasonal decor. Cords and power strips are tucked inside the cabinet so surface styling remains clean.
Because the items stored inside are not accessed daily, the depth and placement work well for our needs while keeping the visible surfaces neat and styled.
Update: More Ikea Besta Cabinets
We liked this solution so much we extended Besta storage along the rest of the wall, repeating the same filler trim, baseboard, and countertop treatments. The consistent details make the run read like a continuous built-in, maximizing storage and unifying the room’s look.
Overall, these simple hacks—side filler trim, matched baseboard, and a butcher block counter—deliver a high-impact transformation that makes affordable Ikea units feel custom and built-in.
With these built-ins, storage in the bedroom is maximized and the space looks cohesive and finished.
Other Ikea Hack Projects
If you enjoy Ikea hacks, here are a few other projects we’ve done that customize Ikea pieces into built-ins or upgraded furniture:
- How to build in Ikea Pax wardrobes
- Creating built-in storage cabinets with Sektion
- Wrapping an Expedit bookcase in wood
- Painting Ikea kitchen cabinets a custom color
- Adding brass and marble to a Vittsjo shelf
- Building a Malm dresser into a nook
- Using Pax wardrobes to create a sleeping nook
- Turning Fjell dressers into floor-to-ceiling bookcases
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