IKEA TV and Entertainment Center Hacks
Right here, we'll explore some of the best IKEA entertainment center hacks that will help you design a beautiful and practical space for all your Netflix-and-chill needs.
We have some ingenious IKEA hacks like this built-in TV wall, a sprawling bookshelf TV console that's a main focal point of the room to a small TV stand that takes up hardly any space.
Whether you prefer large entertainment centers with plenty of storage, to a simple minimal TV stand, we have DIY projects to inspire you to create the best entertainment center for your space.
IKEA BESTÅ entertainment centers
The IKEA BESTÅ cabinets are a popular choice for entertainment centers as the modular system allows for customization options to create the entertainment center to best meet your needs.
You can combine frames, shelves, legs, and doors in various ways to achieve a unique look. A fabulous combination for a BESTÅ TV unit is to use a BESTÅ TV bench, with NANNARP legs, and three doors to create a sleek entertainment center for under $300.
But, on IKEA Hackers, there is more than one way to make a media console. See our selection of BESTÅ entertainment center hacks for more ideas.
How to refresh IKEA furniture with chalk paint
A moody makeover of this popular IKEA TV furniture with…
Behind the couch storage and charge station
This behind the couch storage and charge station was made…
DIY Server Cabinet using IKEA parts
My hack is a DIY server cabinet using IKEA STUVA…
How to hack speaker fabric doors for BESTÅ TV unit
I wanted an easy to make a solution that would…
IKEA HEMNES series
The IKEA HEMNES is one of the more expensive ranges at IKEA as it features a solid wood construction. This series offers a TV unit already, so you're off to a good start in customising the HEMNES. A popular combination is to flank the TV unit with the HEMNES bookcases for a media center with plenty of storage.
But that can be a tad bland, so scroll on for more ideas on making your HEMNES entertainment center a lot more interesting.
KALLAX as TV consoles
The KALLAX series is known for its minimalist, square design. And one of the most regularly hacked pieces of IKEA furniture. If you're looking for a simple yet functional TV stand design, look no further than the KALLAX.
IKEA used to carry a KALLAX TV unit (similar to the LAPPLAND) with space at the center of the frame for a TV. That sadly is discontinued, but you can still hack a similar TV stand using the standard KALLAX shelving unit.
Besides that, there are so many ways to use the KALLAX. Stack two units horizontally or vertically, depending on your room layout, to create a modern and airy entertainment center. Additionally, you can accessorize the KALLAX with doors, drawers, or inserts to increase storage options and add visual interest.
IKEA kitchen cabinets for media storage
Not expecting to see the IKEA kitchen series on this list?
The SEKTION or METOD range is so versatile, you can actually use them as living room storage, and they won't look out of place. The key is to pick the right kitchen cabinet frames to fit its purpose as a TV stand.
To make a TV stand, the frame of choice is the fridge top cabinet, which carries a slimmer profile than most kitchen cabinets. Flip the door around so it opens downward and wrap the frame in wood for an excellent wall-mounted media console.
TV unit from IKEA METOD Kitchen Cabinets
Here is my IKEA-hack: A TV unit from IKEA METOD…
TV stand from METOD cabinet
Materials: METOD 80x37x60cm wall cabinet, VARIERA cover caps, VEDDINGE 80x40cm…
BILLY Bookcase Entertainment Centers
The IKEA BILLY bookcase can also be an excellent choice for a media center. With its flexible shelving system, the BILLY bookshelf offers ample storage for your media and electronic devices.
It's not too expensive which means you can add as many bookcases as needed. And from there easily make a built-in entertainment center for a large TV, at a fraction of the cost of a custom built-in media unit.
Billy becomes TV stand
Materials: Billy Height extension unit Description: So one of my…
Ultimate Entertainment Unit
Materials: 2 Besta Shelf Units, part of Billy bookcase Description:…
Billy Tobo hybrid TV unit
Materials: Tobo, Billy Description: We got a new 37″ flatscreen…
1 1/2 Billy entertainment centre
Materials: Billy bookshelves, Besta Jagra Description: I wanted an entertainment…
LACK shelves for simple TV stands
Not to be overlooked is the modest IKEA LACK series. The tall IKEA LACK TV unit is the cheapest TV stand you can find on IKEA, while its sleeker brother, is so hackable and readily morphs into a handsome piece of furniture.
View all our LACK TV stand hacks
What style of IKEA entertainment center?
1. Built-in Look
A great IKEA hack for an entertainment center is to create a built-in look by using IKEA kitchen cabinets. Assemble the cabinets according to IKEA instructions and then put them in place. Add trim to the sides and tops to achieve a seamless built-in appearance.
View more built-in entertainment center hacks.
2. Rustic Industrial
A popular IKEA item to use to achieve the industrial look is the IKEA VITTSJÖ. You can add wooden crates or distressed wood paneling as your own personal touch to give it a more rustic feel.
View more rustic industrial entertainment center
3. Farmhouse style
Farmhouse-style entertainment centers often require a creative mix of IKEA units and your own DIY touches. Start with the IKEA storage unit of your choice like the BESTÅ unit or HEMNES. Then add wooden beams, shiplap, or barn-style doors as accents. You can also paint the cabinet units in a light color or add a distressed finish to give it that authentic farmhouse aesthetic.
4. Mid-Century Modern
To achieve the look of a Mid-Century Modern TV stand, the easiest DIY is to replace some furniture legs and attach era-appropriate door pulls, like in this IKEA STOCKHOLM hack that made it totally un-IKEA.
5. Floating TV stand
Optimize space while keeping a neat and tidy look by floating your TV or TV stand. Install BESTÅ unit to the wall to create a wall-mounted minimalist TV stand. Or you can even float your TV by mounting it to IKEA posts like the ELVARLI (or the discontinued STOLMEN) to lift your TV off the floor.
6. Hidden TV hack
Hide your TV behind lift-top doors or make it disappear altogether with the use of a projector.
All our TV and Media Furniture Hacks
Rolling TV stand for 55″ flat panel TV
My girlfriend wanted a rolling TV stand for her new 55 inch flat panel TV and Bose speakers. At IKEA, we located an affordable table the perfect size but without wheels. Materials: IKEA 403.492.63 LACK Nesting Tables $29 each x 2 IKEA 002.886.57 KALLAX Rail with 2 casters $15 each…
Custom Built-in Entertainment Center hacked from HEMNES units
We wanted a built-in entertainment center / wall unit in our basement that we were finishing. Custom cabinetry was considered but it was way out of our budget. Then, we came across examples of others using HEMNES cabinets as a starting point and loved the idea. IKEA Item: HEMNES bookcase…
HEMNES console table restyled to TV unit
IKEA item used: HEMNES console table We have awkwardly placed plugs in the lounge in our new build house, they’re a little higher than normal and so are on show, which isn’t very pretty. I decided the HEMNES console table would suit what we needed in terms of storage and…
KALLAX Hide-away TV & Cascading Room Divider
I recently got myself an open studio loft, so I finally had a chance to get creative. I wanted to share my massive IKEA KALLAX room divider, but more specifically, my hide-away TV that doubles as an art piece (with the added feature of allowing me to choose to watch TV…
Got BESTÅ Covered: A record player stand
We had an ugly pine cabinet that held our amp, cd player etc. It HAD to go and we were in the market for a new record player stand. Materials used: 1 x Pallet cage that held wood for wood burner – Free 1 x IKEA BESTÅ TV bench –…
Modern TV Stand from KALLAX + FROSTA
I made a modern TV stand combining the KALLAX shelving unit with legs from the FROSTA stool. IKEA items used: 1 KALLAX 1 x 3 unit (42 x 111cm) 1 FROSTA (legs) 2 KALLAX doors 1/2 Kallax drawer Photo: IKEA.com Other items / equipment used: 1 plywood board birch 38…
Long TV stand from IKEA Stolmen
When moving to a new flat often some (all) things change. “I have all furniture I need” mostly costs around 1k Euro…. I had a black Stolmen with black topping for years and wanted things a bit brighter in my new flat. So I searched eBay for the old Stolmen…
Expedit media unit transformation
As you can see I removed a divider to make space a while ago. And added shelf on rails. Now I was getting a bit tired of its big and bulky look, so I decided to completely upgrade. The Ingredients: 1) Expedit TV storage unit. 2) Expedit (box of 1×1)…
Wood you like to give your IKEA BESTÅ TV unit a new look?
I love my IKEA BESTÅ TV units but it was a little too much white for my taste. I purchased several planks of cypress, ripped them down to about 6 1/2 inches each, and edge joined them with the help of my pocket hole jig. This is how the finished wood…
IKEA METOD cabinets into AV unit
I have recently completed an AV unit hack based on METOD kitchen cabinets and ideas I saw on this site for similar types of units. Like many others who have done something similar, my main challenge was to find a unit that could accommodate an AV amp that was too…
Oddvald piano stand
Materials: 2x Oddvald Trestle Wooden board (and if necesssary black lack paint) Threaded bar and a few screw nuts (M5) Since we moved to our new house, we finally have room enough for a piano stand for my wife’s Yamaha P-35. Everything I found in various online shops was either…
Papa went to… WOoD StoCK
For a long time I wanted to thank Jens from Stuttgart … So, thanks Jens! Your stone wall / BESTÅ hack spent many month on my mind to the point it turned to a ‘fanatical’ have to reach goal… 4 years later, I finally made my own version. Guidelines: Must be…
Industrial, Steampunk hack to the Lack, TV Stand
Ikea items: Black LACK TV stand, Black bed legs BRATTVÅG 10cm We are going for an industrial/steampunk look in our new apartment and were trying to find the perfect TV stand. Needless to say we found nothing. So we thought to keep it simple and just get the black LACK…
Ekby Valter brackets as legs for a chest
I am so pleased with this hack! I was looking for legs for this G-Plan style chest of drawers which had been part of a Ladderax-type system. I decided to use some Ekby Valter shelf brackets that I had spare. Simply fill the screw holes on the down post that…
Hickory Trickery
IKEA items used: Besta TV Stand with lacquered drawers and mesh panels, wooden feet and stainless recessed door handles. Hickory faced 3/4 inch thick plywood was purchased and cut to size in a specialty wood shop. Red oak edge strip was used for finishing edges. 4 panels were necessary to…
Complementary Small LACK Entertainment Centre from LACK Coffee Table
So: I live in a very small house. When I moved in I needed a small entertainment centre to fit between the heater in my lounge and a wall. All the ‘off the peg’ designs were too long for the space, so I decided to create my own to match…
A video projector stand that won’t screw up your wall
IKEA items used: KALLAX 1×4 shelving unit (could probably work with EXPEDIT too, but they had stopped selling it by the time we made our hack) 6 brackets – I am not sure which ones we used, I think it was the EKBY, but you can probably pick whatever…
IKEA FRIEL TV hacked!
IKEA items used: FRIEL (only TV cabinet) 1. Dismantle the metal feet (5 legs) of the furniture. 2. Legs screwed to a new wooden oak board. 3. We attached the sides, always drilling and using markers, then introduce wooden cylinders, not use metal brackets in this composition. 4. We put…
TOMNAS TV Unit with sliding doors
Items used: Ikea TOMNAS TV Unit Doors – 3mm hardboard Paint of your choice – we used Dulux Feature wall Sapphire Salute – although we think we will use a vinyl sticker next time we decide we want a change of colour Wide Masking Tape Rail – Wire/Cable trunking 16mm…
The Stealth Projector Cabinet
Materials: MALM chest of drawers Basically I like my place neat and tidy, and hated having a big white projector box and all the cables messing the place up… This hack was done having had the drawers for some time, so first I had to disassemble the top drawer…
