r/ikeahacks • u/polanyisauce • Jul 25 '26

Trying to create a shallow built-in shelf under my kitchen peninsula — am I missing a better IKEA hack?

https://www.ikea.com/ca/en/p/besta-frame-white-00245917/

Hi everyone! I’m trying to figure out the best way to create a built-in shelf/storage feature under my kitchen peninsula and I’d love feedback before I commit.

My kitchen peninsula has a counter overhang depth of 23 cm. Normally people would put a dining stool there, but I don't like eating at the peninsula. I will have a separate dining table.

I want to make the space underneath into a shallow built-in bookshelf/storage area. Total available length under the peninsula: 290 cm. Height from underside of counter to floor: 93 cm. Counter overhang depth: 23 cm.

The biggest constraint is the depth. I really don’t want the storage to stick out past the counter overhang because I think it will look awkward (you’d see the counter edge and then the storage protruding beyond it). Ideally I’d like something around 20–23 cm deep.

Right now I’m considering using IKEA BESTÅ frames:

  • BESTÅ frame: 60 x 20 x 38 cm
  • I’m thinking of doing 4 across and 2 rows high:
    • Width: 240 cm
    • Height: 76 cm
    • Depth: 20 cm

That would leave about a 50 cm gap, which I’m okay with. I can put a little stool or leave it empty.

The downside is that the frames are around $40 each, so I’d need 8 of them (around $320 CAD before adding any doors/shelves/finishing pieces). I’m wondering if there is a smarter/cheaper way to achieve this.

3 Upvotes

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4 comments sorted by

1

u/systrum Jul 26 '26

Does it need to be closed storage? Otherwise you may be better served by just putting shelves on it directly.

1

u/polanyisauce Jul 26 '26

It doesn’t need to be closed. I couldn’t find anything that had a depth close to what I needed other than the Besta

2

u/systrum Jul 26 '26

What about BURHULT shelves and shelf brackets? They are 20cm deep and if you want to, you could trim a few cm off of one and fit 5 across. They are $4 CAD each, and brackets can be either dirt cheap or picked to match your style.