IKEA TV and Entertainment Center Hacks: Built-In Looks For Less
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.
BESTÅ living room storage goes custom width
Right after I finished installing 3D decorative panels on my…
Besta drawer pull out for 3-in-1 printer
Ikea items used: 1 x Besta 40 x 60 footprint…
BESTÅ TV on fire
In our new house, we wanted a TV unit that…
BESTÅ TV Unit with Oak wrap around
A sleek BESTÅ TV Unit inspired by other BESTÅ hacks.…
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.
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.
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
IKEA LACK TV unit transformation
Hi, I’m from Germany and now I present to you my first IKEA hack of a LACK TV bench! Things you need: 1 LACK TV unit 2 packages (4 pieces) EKBY BJÄRNUM (legs) Liquid nails/wood glue Plywood Teak paint (Lasur) for the plywood And this is how you do it:…
Beautiful Billy Besta Behemoth
Materials: 3 single Besta Cabinets, 3 Double Besta Cabinets, 2 5 unit Besta Cabinets, 2 Billy Bookcases, 14 assorted Besta Vassbo Doors, 2 Billy Oxberg Doors This hack is a new twist on the many wonderful Billy and Besta built in projects already on IKEA Hackers. This project is unique…
Old IKEA LACK TV hacked into vintage style furniture
Materials: Old model of LACK TV furniture and metal guides of IKEA panel curtains Adding elements to an old IKEA furniture I created a piece of furniture inspired by Scandinavian vintage sideboard of the mid century. Steps: Remove the wheels from the original model. Add a side panel of 2.1 cm…
The Stall Ultra Slim Entertainment Center
Materials: – Stall Shoe Cabinet – Uppleva Cable Cover Strip – Uppleva Wall Bracket for TV My wife and I just had our first child and so space is now at a premium. The design of our apartment has the front door opening onto one of the walls of the…
Hammarp Time
We wanted a nice built-in for the den in our new house, and have always been fond of butcher block countertops, so we decided to build around the Hammarp (nee Numerar?) oak offering from Ikea. Our floors are also of oak. The original plan was to build the piece around…
Mid Century Modern Besta Media Center
Materials: Besta Shelf unit/height extension units. 1 single and 1 double. In need of a mid century modern style media center to match the rest of my home but at a price that was reasonable, I created a unit using 2 Ikea Besta height extension units. I started off with…
BESTA built in with stone wall for TV
Materials: Besta Shelves, Besta TV unit, Besta Vassbo Inspired by Big Besta Built-ins and Papa Was a… Besta’ Stone!. I first created a base using 2×4 and some foam (for protection) for the Besta to sit on so I could use floor trim later. I then built a false wall…
Made to measure Bestå and oak TV bench
Materials: Bestå shelf unit with doors and 2 Hammarp Countertop Oak Step 1: Go to IKEA and buy the Bestå shelf unit with doors and two Hammarp Countertop, oak. Step 2: Cut the countertop to the desired dimensions. I chose the dimensions 40cmx299cm, so it fitted wall to wall. Step 3:…
Dressing up the BESTA
My husband and I just finished remodeling our basement and wanted to create a built-in media center and bar on adjacent walls. Because they would be in the same sightline, I was hoping to find a way to create matching doors for both components. My solution came in the form…
IKEA LAGAN Turntable Plinth
IKEA sells a range of hardwood counter top available in a variety of materials. I managed to get the beech wood LAGAN series (at least in my country – Singapore) and had it cut up for making of a turntable plinth. Vintage turntables were sold with flimsy plinths and some…
Expedit panel TV
Materials: EXPEDIT 1×5 The bookcase is wrapped with wood on 3 sides. The same wood panel is hung on the wall where a TV mount is fixed. See more of the Expedit TV bench. ~ Sonia
Better than Besta
Materials used: 2 Ikea Besta bookshelves / 1 piece of Alder plywood (4′ x 8′)/ stain, screws, and glue We recently moved in to our new house in Phoenix area and the corner of our front room was super sad. We lasted about 5 months with this pathetic set up…
Kallax Isn’t So Bad!
We’ve all been a little upset with IKEA discontinuing the Expedit line; I for one am not ready to say goodbye. We don’t actually have to say goodbye though! Kallax will be taking over, and with it you can have a lot of fun. I’ve lived a life of clutter…
Knock down your Malm
Materials: 4x Malm dresser 3 drawers, white stained oak 80 cm + 1 small 2 drawers 40 cm = 440 long dresser Items used: 5x 701.786.03 – 3 drawers 1x 101.786.01 – 2 drawers I wanted a long dresser (~4.5 meters) to accented the length of my room. I could…
RAST triplet sideboard – inspired by Siamese RAST Twins
Since I have built the Siamese RAST Twins hack for my own hallway some weeks ago a friend and I decided to built a different version of this hack. Thanks for the inspiration. We wanted to build a flatter but wider version of it to use it as TV furniture.…
Hemnes TV Bench Hack for PCs or large AV equipment
Materials: Hemnes TV Bench and Glass Cabinets Modification of TV Bench to take full size desktop PC, PC servers or large AV Amps/stacked AV equipment. The supplied TV bench is too small to take a full size media PC, large AV amps or multiple AV components. By cutting down the drawers…
Besta plywood playroom storage hack
Materials: Besta cupboard (cm)- 128 high x 120 wide; Besta 128 x 60, Besta TV unit 120 wide We needed to create additional playroom storage and Besta units were a perfect fit for our space and toy boxes. We designed lots of easy to reach storage and a wide display…
Bestå goes Arabesque
I was trying to find a TV stand that would be 160x50x50 cm. The ones that I found were either far too pricey or would need to have doors open to control the AV receiver. And less than 50 cm deep. I first planned to hack Expedit but saw in…
Besta Wall Unit Hack
Materials: BESTA, INREDA I started by assembling 2 Besta floor cabinets and attached them together. I installed handles and door catches. Next I built a base to raise them off the ground and mounted the cabinets. I cut a piece of maple for the countertop and attached trim, stained and…
BESTA HiFi shelf
Simple hack. It’s a single unit of BESTA shelf unit with doors (Width: 120 cm, Depth: 40 cm, Height: 64 cm) plus – a horizontal white board on it (Width: 170 cm, Depth: 60 cm) – a vertical white board at right to maintain the horizontal one (Depth: 60 cm,…
