Window Seat Using IKEA Besta Units
I’ve wanted a corner nook for the longest time. You can’t beat the coziness of it! It’s also space efficient for the second bedroom in my apartment that is going to double as an office and a creative space. After a lot of research, I found the most cost-effective way to achieve this was an Ikea hack!
Overview
Before
Tools
Screwdriver
Paint brush
Saw
For cushion:
Staple gun
Foam wand
After
Materials
(2) Besta Units with Drawers (screenshot of exact below)
2x4’s in the following cuts: (4) 47 1/4” + (4) 11 3/4”
(2) 3/4” thick MDF cut to 47 1/4” long x 15 3/4” wide
Paint
Screws
Velcro
If you are making your own cushion you will also need:
(2) yards of 4” foam sheets (cut to 47 1/4” long x 15 3/4” wide)
Fabric - I ordered 7 yards and had tons left over. Around 5 should be safe
(2) Thin plywood ~45”x13” (just slightly smaller than cushion)
How To
Step 1
Make cuts for 2/4’s and MDF. If you didn’t know, Lowe’s and Home Depot will do this for you! Just indicate the exact lengths you want cut.
Step 2
Screw your bases together.
Why add the base? First, it’s going to add height. The typical seat height is ~18-21. Second, it will look more like a built in. Third, it allows the drawers to open easily and not hit the floor.
Step 3
Assemble your Besta units.
Due to how the units overlap, ONE cubby will not be a drawer. Make sure to only order 3 drawers from Ikea. Do, however, order the front piece, as we are going to fake it later.
Step 4
Paint everything!
Step 5
Place your units on the frame and the MDF on top.
Optionally, you could secure the units to the wall - I skipped this step to keep it rental friendly and they are heavy enough they don’t move around.
Step 6
Now for the fake drawer. Cut it down to ~7 7/8”. Without access to a miter saw, I used my jigsaw.
You could simply nail it on, but to maximize storage, I secured it with thick velcro, which worked perfectly!
Optional DIY Cushion
If you want to make your own cushion, the easiest no-sew way is to wrap it like a present. You can buy foam sheets from Joanne’s Fabrics. They will cut the length of the foam for you but not the width so you will need to secure a heat wand, which essentially is a small blade that gets really hot and melts through the foam to cut it (which is really fun).
Once that’s done, lay down your fabric ugly side up and place the foam in the middle. Place the thin board on top. Wrap your foam just like you would a present and staple it to the board. Pull the fabric super tight - if there is any extra room it WILL show.
As a last step you can velcro the cushions onto the units so they don’t move around.
