Convert IKEA Besta Cabinets Into Custom Built-Ins

Want to transform Ikea Besta cabinets into custom built-ins? We used three straightforward modifications to give our Bestas a high-end, built-in look without the custom price. The result is extra storage and refined architectural detail in our bedroom.

Built-in storage is valuable in any home, but it’s especially useful in smaller spaces like ours. We’ve added built-in Pax closets in the main 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 had empty alcoves beside our fireplace, adding more built-ins was the natural choice.

Why Choose Ikea Bestas?

The fireplace shown here sits directly across from our bed and always felt like wasted opportunity. After moving in we initially set random pieces of furniture beside it, but the symmetrical layout and recessed spaces clearly called for built-ins. Ikea’s 47″ wide Besta cabinet matched the available space almost exactly, and its height worked well beneath the windows—making it a practical and affordable starting point for a built-in look.

We bought these cabinets in late 2020 and initially left them freestanding while we tackled other updates, like refreshing the fireplace surround. Over time we refined the details and steadily transformed the freestanding units into pieces that read like custom, built-in cabinetry.

Once we added trim, paint, baseboard, and a butcher block top, the cabinets felt much more integrated with the room’s architecture. They no longer looked like standalone furniture pieces.

After these updates the transformation was dramatic—what started as simple storage now reads as intentional, built-in cabinetry that maximizes usable space and improves the room’s style.

How We Hacked Our Ikea Bestas

There are countless ways to customize Ikea furniture—paint, trim, hardware, or wallpaper. For these built-ins we focused on three simple, high-impact changes that made the Bestas look custom:

1. Add side filler trim to close gaps and create a built-in edge
2. Add baseboard detailing so the unit reads as part of the wall
3. Install a butcher block countertop for warmth and durability

Besta Hack #1: Add Side Filler Pieces

Adding filler trim along the cabinet sides closes the visual gap between the Besta and the wall, giving a seamless built-in appearance. The approach is simple: attach narrow wood strips to the cabinet edge where it meets the wall. Most DIYers can tackle this with a saw, screwdriver, and a nail gun or brad nailer.

In many cases you’ll want two layers of filler: a back layer fastened to the cabinet box for structural support, and a front layer that sits flush with the door face. When painted to match the cabinet color—we used Sherwin-Williams Pure White—the filler pieces disappear visually and the doors read as part of the whole wall of cabinetry.

Besta Hack #2: Add Baseboard

Baseboard detail helps the Besta read as part of the room’s architecture. Match the existing baseboard profile and quarter round to blend the unit into the surrounding trim. We attached baseboard to the legs that come with the Besta, but found that the depth pushed past the doors slightly. Instead of relocating the legs, we used a thin strip of plywood to achieve the desired depth, then nailed on quarter round and painted everything white. The result looks like continuous baseboard against the wall.

Besta Hack #3: Add Counters

A butcher block top instantly elevates the look of a plain cabinet and adds a warm, natural surface. We cut the butcher block to size, sealed it with cutting-board oil to protect and enhance the grain, and attached it by driving screws up through the Besta into the wood. Because the butcher block is heavy and secure, it stays put—but the screws ensure it won’t shift over time. When fastening, take care that screw heads don’t penetrate the surface.

We also drilled tidy holes in the counter to route lamp cords into the cabinet and out to the outlet. Using a larger drill bit designed for cord holes and finishing the opening with a metal grommet gives a clean, professional result and keeps cords neatly contained inside the cabinet.

What We Store In Them

These modified Bestas substantially improved our bedroom storage. One cabinet contains overflow items—extra paint, seasonal decor, and supplies—while the other became our designated family game cabinet after a bit of reorganization. The items inside are mostly things we don’t need every day, so keeping them behind doors keeps the room tidy while still easily accessible when needed.

Note: You can also watch this video on YouTube.

Although some items sit at the back of the cabinet and can feel slightly out of reach, they’re mostly things we access infrequently, so the arrangement works well for our needs.

Update: More Ikea Besta Cabinets

Since this project we expanded the Besta installation across more of the wall, repeating the same three hacks—side filler pieces, baseboard, and butcher block counter—to create a longer run of cohesive, built-in storage. The simple details add up, and repeating them extends the polished look throughout the room.

Overall, these modest upgrades made a big difference. By investing a little time and some basic carpentry, you can turn standard Ikea storage into built-ins that maximize space and enhance the room’s design.

Thanks to these built-in Besta cabinets, the storage in this room is maximized—and it looks intentional, not improvised.

Other Ikea Hack Projects

Interested in more Ikea hacks? Here are some of the other customizations we’ve tackled that turn flat-pack furniture into built-in quality pieces:

• How to build in Ikea Pax wardrobes
• Creating built-in storage cabinets with Sektion
• A wood-wrapped Expedit bookcase
• Painting Ikea kitchen cabinets a custom color
• Adding brass and marble to a Vittsjo shelf
• Building a Malm dresser into a nook
• Creating a sleeping nook with Pax wardrobes
• Turning Fjell dressers into floor-to-ceiling bookcases