The IKEA Besta and Platsa systems are both modular storage solutions, but they are built for fundamentally different purposes. Besta is designed primarily for living rooms and media centers with deeper frames and more decorative finish options, while Platsa is purpose-built for closets and organizing tricky spaces with a focus on clothing storage and functionality.
Here’s a detailed comparison to help you choose the right IKEA storage system for your needs.
IKEA Besta Storage System
Besta is one of IKEA's most popular systems, loved for its versatility in creating custom media units, sideboards, and general living room storage. Its clean, minimalist design allows it to blend seamlessly into modern interiors, and its extensive library of frames, doors, drawers, and internal accessories provides endless configuration possibilities.
- What it is: A modular storage system designed for media furniture and living room displays.
- Key features: Wide variety of frame depths (including 16 ½") suitable for A/V equipment, extensive selection of door fronts and finishes, soft-closing hinges, and options for glass doors, top panels, and legs.
- Price: Starts at ~$50 for a basic frame, with a complete TV unit typically ranging from $200 to $600+.
- Style: Modern Scandinavian and minimalist. Easily customized to look like a high-end built-in.
- Materials/Construction: Particleboard and fiberboard with foil or laminate finishes. The system uses traditional hardware like screws and cam locks for assembly.
- Pros: Highly customizable with dozens of door styles and finishes. Deeper frames are perfect for media components. Can be wall-mounted or freestanding. Looks more like "furniture" than a simple storage unit. Strong online community for hacks and inspiration.
- Cons: Assembly can be time-consuming for larger configurations. Not designed for deep clothing storage or hanging clothes. Surface finishes can be susceptible to scratching or chipping.
The Besta system is perfect for those who want to design a custom entertainment center, bookshelf, or storage cabinet that looks cohesive and intentional in a main living space.
Shop this product: ikea.com/us/en/cat/besta-storage-system-46053/
IKEA Platsa Storage System
Platsa is IKEA's solution for building flexible wardrobe and storage systems in challenging spaces, such as rooms with sloped ceilings, tight corners, or awkward alcoves. Its clever design focuses on easy assembly and adaptability, using lightweight frames that can be clicked together and configured to create functional closet spaces from scratch.
- What it is: A lightweight, modular system for building custom closets and storage units, primarily for bedrooms and hallways.
- Key features: Easy "click" assembly using wedge dowels, various frame heights and depths designed for clothes storage, can be built vertically and horizontally to fit awkward spaces. Wide range of interior fittings for organization.
- Price: Frame prices start around $50, with a functional wardrobe setup costing between $150 and $500+.
- Style: Simple and utilitarian modern design, with a focus on function over decorative style.
- Materials/Construction: Lightweight fiberboard and particleboard with foil finish. Frames use a wedge dowel system that clicks into place without tools after the metal supports are screwed in.
- Pros: Exceptionally flexible for tricky layouts and sloped ceilings. Frame assembly is incredibly fast and easy. Lightweight frames are easier to handle than Besta. Designed specifically for wardrobe interiors like hanging rails and wire drawers.
- Cons: A more limited selection of door styles and colors. The utilitarian look might not be suitable for primary living areas. Shallower frame depths are not ideal for most media equipment.
Platsa is the go-to choice for creating a practical, built-in closet in a bedroom, mudroom, or any part of the home where efficient storage customization is paramount.
Shop this product: ikea.com/us/en/cat/platsa-storage-system-37894/
Besta vs. Platsa Comparison
Dimensions & Intended Use
This is the most significant difference between the two systems. Besta frames come in purposeful dimensions for living room furniture. The standard 16 ½" depth is perfect for housing receivers, game consoles, and other media equipment, while the shallower 7 ⅞" option is great for bookshelves. Its height options are designed for creating sideboards, TV stands, and display units.
In contrast, Platsa's dimensions are all about wardrobe functionality. Frames are much taller to maximize vertical closet space, and the depth options (15 ¾" and 21 ⅝") are sized specifically for storing clothes on shelves or hangers. Platsa’s modularity allows you to stack smaller units on top of bigger ones, making it perfect for filling a wall right up to the ceiling or fitting a unit under a staircase.
Style & Customization Options
When it comes to looks, Besta has a clear advantage for living areas. It offers a much wider variety of door fronts, from high-gloss flat panels to classic shaker-style doors in numerous colors and wood-effect finishes. You can also add top panels made of glass or contrasting materials and choose from various leg styles to create a truly custom piece of furniture.
Platsa's approach is more functional. While there are a handful of door options, the focus is on simple, clean lines that allow the system to blend into walls. The real customization for Platsa is on the inside, with a comprehensive range of wire baskets, hanging rails, pull-out trays, and dividers designed specifically for organizing clothes, shoes, and accessories.
Materials & Assembly
Both systems are made from standard IKEA materials like particleboard and foil finishes. Besta uses a more traditional flat-pack assembly method with screws, dowels, and cam locks, which is sturdy but can be tedious. Platsa reinvents the process with its wedge dowel system, where main frame sections simply click together, making assembly much quicker and less reliant on tools.
Price & Value
On a per-piece basis, Besta and Platsa are similarly priced. However, the value of each depends entirely on your project. The value of Besta lies in its ability to create an expensive-looking, customized media unit or sideboard for a fraction of the cost of custom cabinetry. The value of Platsa is in its ingenious solution for maximizing storage in difficult spaces, an application where custom builder quotes could be extremely high.
Which One Should You Choose?
Both IKEA storage systems offer excellent value, but each is a champion in its own specific category.
Choose the Besta if:
- You are designing an entertainment center, TV stand, or media wall.
- You need storage furniture for a living room, dining room, or hallway.
- Aesthetics are a top priority, and you want a wide choice of door styles and finishes.
- You require a standard furniture depth of 16 ½" to store A/V components.
Choose the Platsa if:
- You are building a custom wardrobe or organizing a closet.
- You have an awkward space, like a room with a sloped ceiling or a narrow alcove.
- Your main goal is functional storage for clothes, shoes, and personal items.
- You want a system that is extra easy and fast to assemble.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the main difference between IKEA Besta and Platsa?
The main difference is their intended function. The Besta system is designed for living room and media storage, with depths and finishes made to look like furniture. The Platsa system is a flexible wardrobe solution designed to organize clothes and fit into tricky architectural spaces.
Which IKEA system is more durable?
Both systems are constructed from similar furniture-grade particleboard and protected by foil or laminate finishes. When assembled correctly and secured to a wall as recommended, both are very durable for their intended use. Besta might feel slightly more rigid due to its traditional screw-and-cam bolt construction.
Can you use Platsa in the living room?
While you can use Platsa anywhere, it has a more utilitarian aesthetic. With fewer decorative doors and finish options, it looks more like storage or closet cabinetry, whereas Besta is designed to appear as finished furniture and blend better with living room decor.
Is Besta or Platsa easier to assemble?
Platsa is generally easier and faster to assemble. Its primary frames use a clever wedge dowel system that allows the side, top, and bottom panels to be clicked together, often without tools. Besta relies on a more traditional and time-consuming build process with dozens of screws and cam locks.
Can you combine Besta and Platsa parts?
No, Besta and Platsa are two distinct systems. Their frames, dimensions, connection hardware, and door/drawer spacings are not compatible. They cannot be connected together to form a single unit.
Do you have to fix Besta or Platsa to the wall?
IKEA strongly recommends securing any storage unit over a specific height to the wall to prevent the risk of tipping. Both the Besta and Platsa systems come with the necessary wall anchoring hardware.
Which one offers more custom design options?
Besta offers far more aesthetic customization, including dozens of door styles, colors, finishes, handle choices, legs, and optional top panels. Platsa offers more functional customization, with a huge range of interior organizers for wardrobes.
Which system works better for small spaces?
This depends on the small space. For a small living room needing a narrow TV console, Besta's shallower frame option is excellent. For maximizing vertical storage in a tiny bedroom closet or an under-stair nook, Platsa's modular, stackable design is unmatched.
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