ikea home entertainment center ideas for modern homes

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Credit: pexels.com, Dark room with a laptop and gaming console creating a moody tech atmosphere.

Ikea home entertainment centers are a great way to upgrade your living room without breaking the bank. With a little creativity, you can turn a bland space into a cozy entertainment hub.

One of the key benefits of Ikea home entertainment centers is their versatility. For example, the MALM media console can be used as a TV stand, a storage unit, or even a desk.

To create a modern entertainment center, consider using a combination of Ikea's KLIPPAN sofa table and a POÄNG chair. This setup provides ample seating and surface space for snacks and drinks.

A well-designed entertainment center can also help to define different areas within a room. For instance, the Ikea BESTÅ bookcase can be used to create a separate media area within an open-plan living space.

For your interest: Metal Dining Room Chair

Design and Planning

To design and plan an Ikea home entertainment center, start by using the Ikea BESTA planner to recreate the dimensions of your room and design a 3D mockup of your custom built-ins. This will help you visualize your space and find an arrangement that fits your needs.

For more insights, see: Home Renovation and Design

Credit: youtube.com, DIY Entertainment Center (part 2) | IKEA BESTA HACK

Using a planner like Ikea's BESTA can save you time and effort in the design process. You can try out different options and designs to find the one that works best for you. We went through several versions before finding the perfect setup.

The key to a successful design is finding a balance between aesthetics and functionality. For example, you can use lower cabinets for closed storage, such as storing kids' board games, puzzles, and books, while also hiding tv cables and components.

Planning the Design

Planning the design of your space can be a fun and creative process. Start by using a planner like IKEA's BESTA planner to recreate the dimensions of your room and design a 3D mockup of your custom built-ins.

It's a good idea to go through several versions to find an arrangement that fits your vision and creates storage space. You can play around with different options and designs until you find the perfect fit.

Broaden your view: Home Renovation Planner

Credit: youtube.com, How To Plan The Perfect Room: Interior Design Space Planning Tips

Using a planner can help you visualize your space and make informed decisions about the design. For example, you can use the planner to determine the width of your built-ins and balance them with open space.

To create a functional design, consider your aesthetic vision and functional needs. You may want to disguise a large TV or create storage for kids' toys and books. IKEA's entertainment center design can be broken down into functional and aesthetic needs.

Aesthetically, you may want to bring in traditional cabinetry design style with special details that add architectural interest to the space. This can help create a home library feel rather than an entertainment center.

Don't be afraid to experiment and try out different designs until you find one that works for you.

Designing Around a Fireplace

Renovating your living room to incorporate an IKEA entertainment center around a fireplace can be a daunting task, but it's not impossible.

Credit: youtube.com, 29 Best Living Room With Fireplace and TV Ideas and Designs

Rebecca of Infarrantly Creative documented her entire process of renovating her living room, installing IKEA faux built-ins and rebuilding her fireplace to make a cohesive entertainment center across the entire wall.

This level of renovation is certainly more work, but it can result in a natural-looking entertainment center, as seen in Rebecca's 6-part series on the reno.

Retiling a fireplace with marbled tile can make a huge difference in the overall look of your entertainment center.

With BESTA units built-in on either side of the updated fireplace, you'd never be able to guess this entertainment center was made with pieces from IKEA.

If you already have a fireplace that you need to work around without a major update, try boxing it around with BILLY bookcase built-ins, as shown by HeartHavenHome.

Measuring the space carefully is crucial when trying to box around an existing fireplace.

If this caught your attention, see: Wall Bed Place - Murphy Bed Store

DIY and Upcycling

You can transform your IKEA Metod kitchen cabinets into a chic floating TV sideboard by covering them with a marble film and adding a luxe finish. Melanie Lissack, an interior designer, used three IKEA Metod kitchen cabinets as a base and finished with a marble film-covered MDF top for a high-end look.

Credit: youtube.com, DIY IKEA *UPCYCLE TV console IKEA BESTA | Luxury Home Decor on a BUDGET | Cane Webbing

To create a DIY entertainment unit, you can choose the BESTA pieces and assemble them to fit your needs. You'll need a combination of frames, shelves, and door/drawer fronts, such as the HANVIKEN door fronts used in one example.

Melanie's transformation took just a few days, and she was thrilled with the result. She used a marble film from Cover Styl' to give her MDF top a realistic marble look, and added new hardware to complete the look.

Upcycle Kitchen Cabinets into Floating TV Sideboard

Transforming kitchen cabinets into a floating TV sideboard is a great DIY project that can elevate your living space and add some extra storage. You can use IKEA Metod kitchen cabinets as a base, just like interior designer Melanie Lissack did.

Melanie chose to use three IKEA Metod kitchen cabinets to create her new entertainment center, and finished with a marble film-covered MDF top for a luxe look. This is a great way to add a touch of sophistication to your TV unit without breaking the bank.

Credit: youtube.com, DIY Credenza or Sideboard Cabinet repurpose from Kitchen Cabinets

The doors of the cabinets can be covered with film from Cover Styl', which offers over 470 surface covers that can be used on melamine and MDF. This is a quick and easy way to give your cabinets a new look.

Melanie used NE70 Mat Beige Marble film to create a realistic marble top, and AB06 Painted Wood film for the base unit to match the walls and add some texture. The result is a TV unit that looks completely bespoke.

With a little creativity and some clever upcycling, you can turn your kitchen cabinets into a stunning floating TV sideboard that adds style and functionality to your living room.

DIY Piece Selection

When choosing the right pieces for your DIY entertainment unit, it's essential to select the best options for your needs.

The Besta pieces from IKEA are a popular choice for DIY projects, and they offer a wide range of options to suit different tastes and styles.

A modern and minimalist living room with stylish furniture and decor elements.
Credit: pexels.com, A modern and minimalist living room with stylish furniture and decor elements.

You'll need to choose the right combination of pieces to create your desired design, such as the Bottom Center Frame, Deep Drawer Frames, and Shallow Drawer Frames.

Here's a list of the specific pieces you may need:

  • Bottom Center Frame
  • Deep Drawer Frames
  • Shallow Drawer Frames
  • Deep Shelves
  • Soft-Closing Drawer Runners
  • Door Hinges
  • Shallow Frames
  • Narrow Shelves
  • Deep Frames
  • Door/Drawer Fronts

Make sure to check the measurements of the doors and drawer fronts you choose, as they can vary depending on the design. For example, the HANVIKEN door fronts used in one project measured 23 5/8″ x 25 1/4″.

Remember to also consider the additional features you may want to add to your DIY entertainment unit, such as crown moulding, wooden trim pieces, and drawer pulls.

Modern and Contemporary

In the modern and contemporary era, IKEA has been at the forefront of innovative home entertainment center designs. One notable example is the use of LED lighting in their systems, which not only adds a sleek aesthetic but also increases energy efficiency.

The KIVIK storage unit is a prime example of this, featuring a sleek and minimalist design that can be easily integrated into any modern living room. Its compact size and versatility make it an ideal choice for small spaces.

By incorporating cutting-edge technology and sleek designs, IKEA's modern and contemporary home entertainment centers have set a new standard for the industry.

Create Sleek Units

Credit: youtube.com, 2025's Best TV Wall Decorating Ideas for a Modern Home Interior | tv wall trends

Save on room renovation costs by repurposing IKEA Billy bookcases with a matte black paint finish, like Interior Stylist Carolin Friese did.

This hack can add a bold, yet calming contrast to a large open space, as seen in Carolin's design featuring a cement fireplace and cozy furniture.

To achieve a custom look, change the handles and add a header and molding, like the contractor did in Carolin's project.

Using a smaller IKEA unit for extra material and painting it matte black can also create a sleek, on-trend finish.

You can also use the IKEA BESTA System to create an entertainment unit with a more custom, built-in look.

Modern Farmhouse Makeover

The Scandinavian minimalism-meets-farmhouse aesthetic is a great way to add some adult sophistication to your living room while hiding child's toys.

You can create a beautiful built-in media center using IKEA Besta units and DIY Slab Fronts, just like designer Velinda Hellen did.

Credit: youtube.com, 4K Modern Farmhouse Interior Ideas for a Cozy & Stylish Home | 2025 Trends

Velinda's vision was to incorporate a media center into the wall, which is an ideal way to maximize small living spaces.

Two simple bookcases can surround a TV area with concealed storage, and you can paint the DIY slab doors in a subtle color like White Picket Fence by Dunn Edwards.

Adding a shiplap background can tie the custom piece in with the ceiling, just like Velinda Hellen did.

You can finish the luxe look with custom paint and lighting from Build.com and vintage sconces from Etsy, all for less.

Channel Trad Meets Contemporary

Channel Trad Meets Contemporary is all about blending classic and modern styles to create a unique look. This style of interior design is perfect for those who want a timeless feel without sacrificing contemporary flair.

Designer Jill Ellis Creates used the IKEA Sektion system for the boxes in her pool house living room, cutting them shorter to create a custom built-in look. She paired the Sektion system with Shaker Supermatte fronts in white from Semihandmade.

IKEA Building
Credit: pexels.com, IKEA Building

Contemporary leather pull handles add a modern edge to the media center, while the traditional Shaker fronts provide a timeless feel. This combination of styles is a great way to add visual interest to a room.

Erin, from @theheartandhaven, took inspiration from Jill's design and created her own IKEA entertainment center hack using an IKEA Besta TV unit as a base. She installed Semihandmade doors in White Supermatte Shaker Front and used IKEA soft close/push open hinges for a streamlined look.

Matte black bar pulls can add a touch of edge to a traditional Shaker-style door, as seen in @homebokenstyle's paneled IKEA entertainment center hack. The use of floating shelves and a white top on the Best unit also adds a sense of airiness to the space.

A Custom Ikea Entertainment Center that Reflects Your Style is all about combining different elements to create a one-of-a-kind look. Designer @homebokenstyle combined IKEA Sektion cabinets with Nieu Cabinets doors to achieve the perfect balance of practicality, style, and customization.

Brimnes

Boy in plaid shirt playing video games on console in a cozy living room setting.
Credit: pexels.com, Boy in plaid shirt playing video games on console in a cozy living room setting.

The Brimnes TV unit is a highly-rated product that's perfect for displaying a large TV with ample storage space. It has a width of 70 ⅞ inches, a depth of 16 ⅛ inches, and a height of 20 ⅞ inches.

This stand is sturdy enough to hold a TV that weighs up to 66 pounds. Its generous storage space makes it easy to store all accessories and cords out of sight.

The Brimnes TV unit is priced at $189.99 and is available in black or white. It coordinates well with other items in the BRIMNES line.

Customers love the modern and classy look of the Brimnes TV unit, with one reviewer calling it a "beauty in our TV room." Another customer praises the excellent value considering its low price.

Some reviewers noted that the instructions can be a bit tricky to follow, but YouTube videos can help with assembly.

Installation and Organization

Planning is key when it comes to building a custom IKEA entertainment system like the BESTA Built-Ins project mentioned. This project definitely took some planning, time, and effort, but the final result was well worth it!

Credit: youtube.com, IKEA Billy Bookcase Hack - DIY Built-In Shelves Tutorial

You can also spend less than if you would have purchased a large entertainment unit, and create the exact size and shape you want. The BESTA system is also way less work than trying to build the entire thing from scratch.

With proper installation and organization, your IKEA home entertainment center can last for years to come. It's been more than 5 years since the custom IKEA entertainment system was built, and it is still holding up beautifully!

Anchor Shelving to Wall

The BESTA system is modular, so it includes little brackets to join shelves together, making it easy to set shelves on top of each other and click them into place.

These little metal brackets help ensure that everything is lined up properly, so you don't have to worry about uneven shelves.

To anchor the shelves into the wall, IKEA provides a rail system that makes it easy to get shelves perfectly level and exactly where you want them.

Credit: youtube.com, Workshop Organization - Wall Mounting System - Channel Strut Ideas, Shelves, Sockets and more!

The rail system consists of a single rail on each of the side top shelves, which should be tied into at least one stud for extra sturdiness.

After installing the rail, you can hang your shelf directly on it, line up the anchor points with the holes in the front of the cabinet, and attach it with the provided screws.

For deeper cabinets, you can connect three rails together for the top three cabinets and attach everything just as you had for the side units.

Using cabinet screws to anchor all of the cabinets to the cabinet immediately adjacent secures everything together and makes one big, solid unit - about a dozen cabinet screws were used in this example.

Take a look at this: Cabinet Queen Murphy Bed

Install Baseboards

Installing baseboards requires some planning, especially when working with custom-built cabinets like the IKEA BESTA entertainment unit.

To ensure a flush installation, you may need to build out the front of the base to match the cabinet doors. This was the case when the author elevated the shelves on the plywood base, only to realize the doors would stick out.

Credit: youtube.com, How to Install Baseboards - Step-by-Step for Beginners

Using a coping method can help you run the new cabinet baseboards into the existing wall baseboards. This technique was employed to create a seamless transition between the two.

You'll need a miter saw, brad nailer, and wood glue to secure the baseboards in place, especially for outside corners.

Spackling can be used to fill in any gaps or holes left by the baseboard installation.

Fuss-Free Ways to Hide TV Wires

Hiding TV wires can be a challenge, but there are some fuss-free ways to do it. You can use an IKEA cord cover that you can paint to blend in with your wall.

If you're a renter, you might not have the luxury of hiding wires inside your wall, but you can still hide them in an entertainment center using an IKEA cord cover.

Decorating in front of those pesky TV wires can also be a simple solution. A stack of books or decorative items can make you forget all about those cords.

Readers also liked: Tv Stand Fireplaces

Credit: youtube.com, How to Hide Your TV Wires | EASY

A customizable IKEA TV stand or entertainment center can blend in seamlessly with your home decor. It's a great way to hide wires and update your TV stand at the same time.

You can also use trim work to hide TV wires, like hiding them in molding above your TV or inside trim work that surrounds your TV.

Recommended read: Hide Bed in Wall

Built-Ins: Final Thoughts

Built-ins can be a cost-effective solution to your storage needs. Spending less than purchasing a large entertainment unit is definitely possible.

Using a modular system like IKEA BESTA can make the process much easier. It's way less work than building from scratch.

With proper planning, you can create the exact size and shape you want. This was the case for a project that ended up being a beautiful entertainment system.

A custom-built entertainment system can be a great centerpiece for your living room. It's also a great way to showcase your personal style.

The BESTA system has been holding up beautifully even after 5 years. This is a testament to its quality and durability.

Decorating the open shelving for each season is a fun way to keep your space fresh. It's also a great way to showcase your favorite items.

Step-by-Step Guide and Tips

Credit: youtube.com, Easy to Follow Brimnes TV Bench IKEA Tutorial

To create a custom entertainment unit with the IKEA BESTA system, you'll want to start by planning your design. Our plan included giving the unit a more built-in look.

Measure your space carefully to determine the ideal size and configuration for your entertainment unit. We knew we wanted to give it a more custom look.

Choose the right combination of BESTA components to achieve your desired design. Our plan included using the BESTA system to create a built-in look.

Consider adding custom trim or molding to cover any gaps or seams. We loved the unit as-is, but we knew we wanted to give it a more custom look.

Don't be afraid to get creative with your design and experiment with different configurations. Our plan to achieve this included using the BESTA system to create a built-in look.

Remember to follow IKEA's instructions and guidelines for assembling and installing the BESTA system. We knew we wanted to give it a more custom look.

Seeking Inspiration and Ideas

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If you're looking for more ideas to create the perfect IKEA home entertainment center, there are plenty of resources available. Organization Tips for Every Room of the House can provide valuable insights on how to optimize your space.

You can transform your living room with 20 Ikea Billy Bookcase Hacks to create a unique and functional entertainment center.

To disguise your TV, consider 20 Ways to Elegantly Decorate Around and Disguise Your TV, which offers clever ideas to hide your screen.

For a more organized look, use the Billy bookcase as a room divider to separate your seating area from the rest of the room.

If this caught your attention, see: Small Home Renovation Ideas

Lou Tarchiani

Senior Writer

Lou Tarchiani is a passionate writer, avid traveler, and animal lover. She has a diverse background, having worked in fields ranging from marketing to education. Her travels have taken her to over 20 countries, where she has immersed herself in local cultures and gained unique perspectives on the world.

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