How We Built an Affordable Media Wall With IKEA BESTA Cabinets
“Can’t we just use IKEA and get a builder to build a fireplace for us?”
That one question sparked the idea that completely transformed our living room!
Creating a cosy living room on a budget was very important to us, but one area we really struggled with was our TV wall.
It felt bare, cluttered, and didn’t reflect the rest of our home. After speaking to a few companies (some quoting as much as £10,000) we knew we had to get creative.
So I ended up down a Pinterest rabbit hole till I found the perfect solution! IKEA BESTA cabinets.
With a little planning, we managed to build a beautiful media wall that looks custom yet cost us a fraction of the quotes we got.
The cheapest quote we got was £7500 but we spent just under £2000
In this post, I’ll walk you through exactly how we did it: from start to finish.
I hope our project inspires you to create a media wall you love without breaking the bank.
Let’s get into it!
What We Started With: The “Before”
If you’ve seen the rest of our home, you already know this setup was not the vibe.
At all.
It’s honestly hard to believe it’s even the same space now.
Our “media wall” (if you could even call it that) was basically just a blank wall with a TV sitting on a cardboard box. Yes, cardboard. But after pouring so much into our renovation (you can watch that story here), the idea of spending even more on the living room felt overwhelming.
It wasn’t just about building a media wall, we desperately wanted a living room space that finally felt like home.
Why We Chose IKEA BESTA for Our Media Wall
Once we realised a custom built-in media wall was way outside our budget (like, thousands-of-pounds outside), we knew the IKEA BESTA system was our best solution.
Because the builder didn’t have to build anything from scratch, the labour cost was much less.
BESTA cabinets are really affordable compared to custom, but what really sold us was how flexible the design is.
You can mix and match different cabinet sizes, choose different doors, and even decide whether you want it wall-mounted or freestanding.
Best part? The set of two for the two sides of the wall cost £240
Planning the Layout
Before we bought anything, we measured our wall from end to end and decided how much space we wanted to fill without overwhelming the room.
I mean, it’s such a small living room so we wanted a setup that felt substantial but not bulky.
Here’s what our rough sketch looked like. (Please don’t judge my design skills lol)
Other Things To Consider:
Height: We didn’t want to mount our TV too high
Closed Storage: We went for a closed BESTA to hide all our son’s stuff and wires but added open shelves to style with books and decor.
Spacing: We left just a few inches on either side of the wall and BESTA cabinet for balance and breathing room, which helped the whole thing feel intentional. (trust me, it matters)
Fireplace: We made sure that the width of the fireplace and mantle felt visually balanced. Trust me, when you look at a well-balanced space, your eye doesn’t stop or get pulled in one direction, it just flows.
What We Bought + Cost Breakdown
Once we finalised the layout, we made our shopping list. Here’s everything we used:
- IKEA Cabinets, BESTÅ Wall-mounted cabinet combination, white/Hanviken white, 120x42x64 cm
- Wooden mantle from Cottage Beams, The Country Cottage White Oak Fireplace Beam for Plasterboard Walls, 140cm x14cm x 10 cm
- Floating Shelves, Homebase, White Matt -1200 x 240 x 38mm (you can get similar from IKEA)
- Knobs, Plank Hardware, HUMBOLDT Knurled Knob in Antique Brass
- Fireplace (we already had this in storage from when we did our reno. It is the Gazco Radiance 105R Electric Fire an it cost is £669 at the time. I prefer the Gazco EReflex 85R electric fire)
Total Cost Breakdown
| Item | Estimated Cost |
| 2 IKEA BESTA Cabinets | £240 |
| 1 Wood Mantle | £196.13 |
| 4 Floating Shelves | £76.80 |
| 4 Knobs | £55.80 |
| Labour cost | £1400 |
| Total Cost | £1968.73 |
(Your total may vary depending on how much you DIY vs. outsource)
Assembly & Installation
I hope I didn’t accidentally mislead you into thinking we built this all by ourselves.
We actually hired a local builder/handyman to help bring our vision to life.
He handled the full install, from building the media wall, to assembling and mounting the IKEA BESTA cabinets and floating shelves on the wall.
That said, if you’re the DIY type and want to do this on your own, this YouTube video might help with that.
Finishing Touches
This is the part where everything finally came together and honestly, it’s what made the whole project feel less like “IKEA cabinets” and more like a real feature wall.
Cornice: We got a cornice expert to come in and add cornice to the living room. It made the space look more expensive.
We were able to make space in our budget for it because we saved so much money from using Besta cabinets. This cost us an additional £938. It was so worth it of course you don’t have to do this.
Paint: We decided to paint our walls ourselves to save money.
Styling: I styled the shelves to make it look more high end. Styling makes such a difference.
What Are Your Measurements?
Here are all our measurements incase you want to use it to gauge what an appropriate distance might look like.
How Long Did It Take?
The whole process of building the wall took two days.
Day 1: Prepping and building the wall, plastering the wall.
Day 2: Hanging the cabinets and final adjustments, sanding, mounting the TV, siliconing the edges, screwing the cabinet pulls.
Weeks later: Adding a cornice, painting, styling the shelves
If you’re doing it solo, plan for a weeklong project. If you have help, it’s definitely doable in two days.
What We Would Do Differently
As much as we love how it turned out, no DIY-style project is ever totally perfect and we definitely learned a few things along the way.
Double-check cabinet spacing
We had a bit of a disagreement with our builder over the spacing and in hindsight, they might have had a better sense of balance than we did.
If possible, get all your measurements right early on and invite your builder to view the space in person before starting.
Tape out the layout on the wall if you need to visualise it. And be open to their suggestions.
We ended up having to pay an additional £600 for that mistake. I didn’t add it to the total cost because it was OUR mistake.
Pre-order or check stock in advance.
Order everything well before you begin building.
If something is out of stock, it can delay your project massively. Make sure everything is available before you start.
We found ourselves ordering the finishing items like paint and knobs weeks later which meant it dragged o for months.
If we were starting from scratch again…
I might consider adding LED lighting instead of thinking of it as an afterthought.
That said, this version without any lighting (besides the picture light at the top ) was exactly what we needed for our space, and we’re so happy with the way it turned out!
Here she is!
What started as a blank wall (with a TV sitting on a cardboard box, let’s not forget ) is now a cozy, functional, and beautiful media wall that feels totally custom to our space.
This was one of those projects that has brought so much joy to our home.
It gave our living room the look we really wanted and proved that with a little creativity (and IKEA), you can absolutely get a designer feel on a real-person budget.
If you’re on the fence about it, I hope this post shows you it’s doable. With just a little planning, you can do it too!
Let me know if you try something similar. I’d love to see how yours turns out! I’m always over here on Instagram.
FAQs
Can you make it renter-friendly?
Frankly, I don’t think so unless your landlord allows it. This is not a renter friendly project. Please don’t risk your security deposit!
What size TV did you fit above it?
Ours is a 55” Samsung Frame TV and it fits perfectly with the layout we chose. You could easily go up or down in size. Just be sure to measure your wall and centre things properly so everything feels balanced.
Can I do this project without a handyman?
Absolutely! Especially if you’re comfortable with DIY. Just give yourself more time, and maybe don’t work alone.
Can I paint the IKEA BESTA cabinets?
Technically, yes, but be prepared for a bit of prep. You’ll need to lightly sand and use a good primer made for laminate surfaces. That said, IKEA has enough finish options that you might not need to paint!
What other IKEA cabinets could work for a similar project?
If BESTA isn’t the right fit, you could also look into SEKTION or HAVSTA for a more traditional style. But BESTA is usually the most budget-friendly and versatile option.
Can you mount a TV above an electric fire?
Yes, you can safely mount a TV above an electric fire as long as it’s an electric insert and the model directs heat out the front or bottom, not the top.
We chose the Gazco EReflex 85R specifically because it vents heat forward, keeping the area above it cool enough for a TV. Always check the manufacturer’s clearance guidelines, but for most modern electric fires, this setup is totally safe.
How far apart should the fire and TV be?
This depends on size, but in general, leave at least 8-12 inches (20-30 cm) between the top of the fire and the bottom of the TV. Ours is 12.5 inches
We gave ourselves a bit of a buffer to avoid straining our necks and to make room for a mantle, which was a must for us (I mean..where will my Christmas decorations go?). You want it to feel visually balanced, but also comfortable for everyday viewing.
