Combine Two Popular IKEA Products To Make The Ultimate TV Unit
If you want a TV unit that feels built-in rather than assembled from standardized parts, IKEA might not be the first place you think of. However, a TikTok video by creator @hanneelarsen shows how two of the retailer's most recognizable storage systems can be combined to create a media unit that looks more custom than flat-pack. The clever DIYer pairs IKEA's BESTÅ cabinets, which have been subject to several hacks in the past including being turned into a luxurious built-in fireplace, with a modular BILLY bookcase, another DIYer-favorite IKEA item, in a fairly easy-to-follow project that turns modular furniture into a wall-spanning TV setup.
The base of the unit is made using BESTÅ wall-mounted cabinets with doors, which are often used as TV benches thanks to their affordable price tag. A two-door BESTÅ cabinet typically starts at around $145, depending on configuration and door style. When mounted low on the wall, these cabinets form a floating media console upon which IKEA's BILLY bookcase (priced from about $59) is cut down to fit the space and provide vertical storage. Once assembled, the entire structure is finished with filler, paint, and decorative trim, resulting in a TV unit that reads as cabinetry that's brilliantly built-in rather than off-the-shelf and basic.
How this IKEA TV unit comes together, step by step
The reason this TV unit hack works so well is IKEA's modular design, paired with the fact that many of the brand's most popular pieces are also among the easiest products to assemble. That said, unless you plan to custom-cut the base cabinets as well, your space will need to accommodate at least one standard two-door BESTÅ unit, which measures about 47 1/4 inches wide, 16 1/2 inches deep, and 15 inches high. Once the layout is planned, BESTÅ wall-mounted cabinets are installed as the base of the unit.
@hanneelarsen IKEA HACK TV UNIT from start to finish 🔹☺️ #ikeahack #ikeahacksdiy #ikeadiy #diy #renovation ♬ original sound – LyricsPDX
A matching BESTÅ top panel is then secured across the cabinets to create a continuous surface. In the video, this panel is glued along the top to prevent movement and screwed in place from inside the BESTÅ units, keeping the fasteners hidden and helping the structure behave more like fixed cabinetry than stacked furniture. With the base complete, the project moves upward to focus on vertical storage. Here, two IKEA BILLY bookcases are cut down to size and secured neatly above the cabinets side-by-side. If you're a fan of a more minimal look, consider using just one bookcase here, or to increase storage, add a few more bookcases using the same process.
The small details that make this IKEA hack work
Some of the smartest parts of this project are easy to miss and only become clear when you look a little closer or scan through the comments. One key step is how the units are fixed to the wall. BILLY bookcases come with wall brackets, but the BESTÅ cabinets rely on a suspension rail that must be purchased separately and safely supports the full weight of the cabinets off the floor, creating the floating effect.
The simplest trick involves using IKEA's instruction manual as a tracing guide for recreating fixing points after cutting. Once the BILLY bookcases are trimmed to size, their original factory-drilled holes are lost, but by transferring the correct measurements onto the shortened panels and drilling new holes, the units regain their structural integrity and their tops can be secured properly. Unused shelf holes are filled before sanding, though some commenters note that IKEA's own hole plugs (like the VARIERA cover plates) could be used instead and lightly sanded down to speed up the process.
The real opportunities for customization come in after the build. After sanding, the entire unit is primed and painted, and trim is added to soften edges and conceal joins, especially where multiple BILLY bookcases sit side by side. The possibilities are endless, here — keep things white for a light, bright look, or mimic the creator's approach and coat the whole wall in a deep accent color. After that, all that's left is to position the TV and style the shelves with personal treasures, where a few simple bookshelf styling tricks can help pull the whole look together.