ᐅ How can you design an Ikea Besta as a lowboard for a home theater setup?

Hello everyone,

I am currently planning to set up my home cinema and have been considering using the Ikea Besta system as a lowboard. My question is: what is the best way to design an Ikea Besta lowboard for a home cinema?

My main concern is how to combine and possibly modify the individual Besta system components so that the lowboard is stable enough to support a larger TV and AV receiver, while also providing enough storage for devices and cable management, and visually fitting well with the home cinema. Are there any specific inserts or adjustments that have proven effective? Is there anything to keep in mind regarding ventilation for the electronics?

I look forward to any advice based on experience or creative ideas regarding materials, dimensions, combinations, and perhaps alternative solutions from the Ikea range that go well with Besta.

Thank you in advance for your help!

Hey jenahuel,

great that you’re interested in using the Besta as a home theater lowboard! I built one just like that some time ago.

Basically, the Besta is very versatile and sturdy enough – but beware with larger TVs and heavy AV components! I connected my Besta units with additional slim metal brackets to increase stability. This way, the lowboard stays absolutely firm and the TV stands very securely 😉

Regarding storage: I chose doors to keep the whole look clean. Inside, I drilled cable outlets and installed a small strip with ventilation slots to prevent the equipment from overheating.

One more tip: For the appearance, I stained the fronts, which looks much more elegant than the typical Ikea white. Adding casters or furniture legs as you prefer also makes the lowboard more flexible and higher – depending on what you need.

Enjoy building, it’s really a lot of fun!

jenahuel schrieb:
My question is: What is the best way to use Ikea Besta as a lowboard for a home theatre?

The Ikea Besta system is generally well suited as a lowboard, especially for home theatres, due to its modular design, but careful execution is necessary:

- Use at least two or three Besta cabinets placed side by side horizontally to ensure sufficient length and load capacity.
- To increase stability, additional metal brackets or wood glue are recommended.
- For cable management, use back panels with cable openings or enlarge existing holes.
- Ensure adequate ventilation for electronic devices, for example by adding ventilation slots in the back panels or a small opening at the rear.
- The top surface has limited load capacity, so the TV’s base should make contact across as much surface area as possible.

Optionally, the fronts can be customized with glass or wood modifications to suit personal style. The use of special furniture handles or magnetic door openings enhances convenience.

Summary: The Besta system requires reinforcements and targeted adjustments to function optimally as a home theatre lowboard.

Elodie schrieb:
I connected my Besta units with additional narrow metal brackets to increase stability.

That’s an effective method—I would even suggest adding extra reinforcement to the back panels, such as thicker MDF boards or braces, to prevent twisting, especially for longer units.

Benge5 schrieb:
For cable management, you should use back panels with cable pass-throughs or enlarge existing holes.

Exactly. It’s worth planning the placement of devices and cable routing before assembly. It’s also recommended to incorporate cable channels or flexible conduits to keep cables secure and neat, preventing interference in daily use.

What I would personally add regarding ventilation: the space inside the Besta units can quickly become warm, especially when AV receivers and amplifiers are running. Installing small ventilation holes in the base or sides helps, either for passive airflow or to accommodate small, quiet fans.

Finally, a note on height: the base surface of the lowboard should ideally match the seating distance to maintain a comfortable viewing angle to the screen. Besta units can be customized with appropriate feet or plinths, and stacking units is also possible if more storage is needed.

What kind of equipment are you mainly planning to house? More compact systems or several large components?