Hello everyone, does anyone have experience with the Ikea PLATSA system combined with integrated lighting? I am planning a custom wall unit with PLATSA and want to equip it electrically with a lighting solution. I am especially interested in which light sources work well with the PLATSA concept, how the installation technically works, and whether there are any specific challenges regarding the power supply. Are there any tips for choosing bulbs in terms of brightness and color temperature to create a harmonious effect? I would appreciate detailed experiences or recommendations, as I want to approach this as carefully as possible.
Hello Lu_bu,
About a year ago, I assembled a PLATSA system with integrated lighting and can share some insights. Ikea offers LED light strips specifically designed for PLATSA. Installation is fairly straightforward if you carefully plan the wiring in advance. It’s important to neatly channel the cables, as PLATSA has more open connection points than traditional furniture.
Regarding the connection: It’s best to use the supplied connectors and decide before assembly where the outlets will be located. You can route the power supply directly along the back panel, but you should pay attention to the maximum power consumption. The light strips operate at 12V and are powered via a plug-in power supply.
Concerning the choice of light sources: The LEDs offered by Ikea usually have a neutral to warm color temperature, which is pleasant for living spaces. However, if you want a specific ambiance, I recommend looking into LED strips with adjustable color temperature – but these may require more secure mounting and a suitable dimmer.
A small challenge with the PLATSA system is the corners, because not all light strips fit seamlessly there. It’s worth buying flexible strips or separately mounted spotlights. How large is your planned cabinet area? That way, I can tell you more precisely how many lights you might need and whether it makes sense to use a central control system.
About a year ago, I assembled a PLATSA system with integrated lighting and can share some insights. Ikea offers LED light strips specifically designed for PLATSA. Installation is fairly straightforward if you carefully plan the wiring in advance. It’s important to neatly channel the cables, as PLATSA has more open connection points than traditional furniture.
Regarding the connection: It’s best to use the supplied connectors and decide before assembly where the outlets will be located. You can route the power supply directly along the back panel, but you should pay attention to the maximum power consumption. The light strips operate at 12V and are powered via a plug-in power supply.
Concerning the choice of light sources: The LEDs offered by Ikea usually have a neutral to warm color temperature, which is pleasant for living spaces. However, if you want a specific ambiance, I recommend looking into LED strips with adjustable color temperature – but these may require more secure mounting and a suitable dimmer.
A small challenge with the PLATSA system is the corners, because not all light strips fit seamlessly there. It’s worth buying flexible strips or separately mounted spotlights. How large is your planned cabinet area? That way, I can tell you more precisely how many lights you might need and whether it makes sense to use a central control system.
Nakar33 schrieb:
A small issue are the corners with the PLATSA system, because not all lighting strips fit seamlessly there.This is a point I find interesting and often underestimated. Many furniture systems simply assume that lighting is modular and perfectly adaptable. Especially with PLATSA, the corners could affect light distribution or cause unpleasant shadows. Does anyone have practical experience with detailed lighting planning here? Have alternative solutions beyond the Ikea products been tried to avoid these issues? You would certainly expect something more than just simple LED strips if the result is meant to look professional.
Thanks for the initial feedback!
Regarding the size: The cabinet wall will be about 3 meters wide and approximately 2.4 meters high. It’s a living room wall unit with both closed and open compartments. I’m mainly planning to outfit the interiors of the compartments, but also add accent lighting on the shelves. Dimmers would be interesting—are they possible with the Ikea light strips, or would that require extra effort?
On the topic of corners and shadows: that makes me a bit hesitant since I’m not a professional, and of course, I want the lighting to appear even and comfortable. Are there specific recommendations for other types of light sources or mounting options that can be easily implemented within the PLATSA system?
Regarding the wiring, is the system flexible enough to allow installing independent LED strips or other solutions?
Regarding the size: The cabinet wall will be about 3 meters wide and approximately 2.4 meters high. It’s a living room wall unit with both closed and open compartments. I’m mainly planning to outfit the interiors of the compartments, but also add accent lighting on the shelves. Dimmers would be interesting—are they possible with the Ikea light strips, or would that require extra effort?
On the topic of corners and shadows: that makes me a bit hesitant since I’m not a professional, and of course, I want the lighting to appear even and comfortable. Are there specific recommendations for other types of light sources or mounting options that can be easily implemented within the PLATSA system?
Regarding the wiring, is the system flexible enough to allow installing independent LED strips or other solutions?
Really exciting project, Lu_bu! I equipped my PLATSA wall last year with IKEA LED strips and I’m really happy with it 😊.
Dimmer: You can actually use IKEA STRÖMLINJE, but it’s not perfectly matched to PLATSA. I used an external LED dimmer that you simply connect before the power supply – this way you can easily control the brightness.
Tip: Make sure the dimmer is compatible with 12V LEDs, otherwise flickering may occur.
For corners, I just used small flexible LED strips that can be cut and bent. This allows for great corner coverage without shadows and looks fantastic!
I really recommend just buying one of these strips and testing it – it’s a very flexible solution!
Dimmer: You can actually use IKEA STRÖMLINJE, but it’s not perfectly matched to PLATSA. I used an external LED dimmer that you simply connect before the power supply – this way you can easily control the brightness.
Tip: Make sure the dimmer is compatible with 12V LEDs, otherwise flickering may occur.
For corners, I just used small flexible LED strips that can be cut and bent. This allows for great corner coverage without shadows and looks fantastic!
I really recommend just buying one of these strips and testing it – it’s a very flexible solution!
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