ᐅ Ikea BESTA – How do I install LED lighting inside?

Hello everyone,

I am currently planning to install LED interior lighting in my IKEA Besta wall unit to better illuminate the shelves and give the furniture a more modern look. I have a few questions about the best way to install LED lighting inside the BESTA components.

I am especially interested in the following points:
- Which LED system is best suited – LED strips, light bars, or prefabricated modules?
- How can I mount the LEDs neatly inside without damaging the furniture surfaces?
- What kind of power supply is recommended, especially regarding safety and appearance (hiding cables, etc.)?
- Are there any special considerations for routing power cables through the usually quite narrow and sometimes not fully continuous side panels?
- How should I proceed if I want to control the lighting via remote control or an app?

Maybe someone in this forum has experience with this exact furniture and can provide a step-by-step guide or tips.

I look forward to your replies and thank you in advance!

Hello rune63,

Very good and precise question! Installing LED interior lighting in IKEA BESTA units is quite straightforward, but there are some important details to consider to ensure everything looks neat and works properly in the end.

First, I would recommend LED strips, preferably ones with 12V or 24V, as these voltages are safer and generate little heat. The strips can be attached to the furniture using their self-adhesive backing, but I also suggest securing them additionally with small mounting clips or double-sided 3M tape, since the original adhesive doesn’t always hold well over time.

For mounting: the interior walls of BESTA units are usually made of medium-density fiberboard (MDF) or particleboard, often covered with a laminate foil. You can carefully use small screws for clips here, but you’ll need a spot that won’t be visible. Alternatively, clamp solutions or magnets can be used in certain areas.

Regarding the power connection, make sure that cables don’t hang visibly. Although the interior walls do not have dedicated cable channels, you can carefully route the cables through rear openings or along the side under the trims. Cable ties and cable ducts help keep the wiring tidy.

For control via remote or app, I recommend systems with Wi-Fi or Zigbee connectivity. Many LED manufacturers offer compatible controllers that connect to the LED strips. Important: check the maximum allowable power and use suitable power supplies that are as compact as possible, so they can be hidden inside the cabinet.

Finally, I would advise doing a test assembly beforehand to determine the exact cable routing and mounting points. Additional seals or small corner profiles can protect the LEDs from dust.

Which solution you choose depends, of course, on the desired look and your technical equipment. If you like, I can provide a few specific product examples.

Best regards!

Thank you very much for the detailed reply, Gafiel!

Your tips about the voltage and the adhesive tape are really helpful. I initially considered installing expensive recessed spotlights in the visible side panels, but that seems much more complicated.

I have one more specific question about the electrical cable routing: You mention that the cables can be "carefully fed through the rear openings" – I assume you mean the holes for the shelf supports in the back panel? Are these wide enough, and does the thickness of the back panel made of particleboard allow cables to pass through without causing damage?

I definitely don’t want to compromise stability or appearance. Do you perhaps have a suggestion on whether it’s better to route the cables out to the sides and then hide them along the frame?

And what kind of LED strips do you use specifically? Based on your experience, do they have a pleasant light color that isn’t too cold or too harsh?

rune63 schrieb:
You wrote that the cables can be "carefully routed through the rear openings" – I assume you mean the holes for the shelf brackets on the back panel?

Exactly, those are usually the best spots because the back panel of the cabinet has cutouts there, allowing you to discreetly run cables through. The holes are generally sized so that smaller cables fit through easily. If the hole is too tight or something is blocking it, you can gently widen it a bit with a small chisel or file – the back panel is often made of thin particleboard, which can be carefully worked on. It’s important not to remove too much material to keep the back panel stable.

rune63 schrieb:
Do you maybe have a tip on whether it’s better to route the cables out to the side and then hide them along the frame?

That’s definitely an option, especially if you don’t want to make large openings. With the BESTA system, you can run cables along the edges behind the side panels, where they are minimally visible. I personally use self-adhesive cable channels for this, which can later be painted over or adapted discreetly.

rune63 schrieb:
And what exactly do you use for LED strips? Based on your experience, do they have a pleasant light color that’s not too cold or too harsh?

I recommend daylight white LED strips with around 3000K to 3500K, which is warm white to neutral white—not too cool and without a yellow tint. On a 5-meter (16 foot) roll from well-known brands like Philips Hue, Osram, or even some higher-quality generic options, you can choose accordingly. Make sure the CRI (Color Rendering Index) is above 80 so the light looks natural.

If the strips are dimmable, you can adjust the brightness as you like later – very comfortable.

I hope this helps you!

A somewhat more critical question regarding LED lighting in the IKEA BESTA cabinet: Has anyone considered how the additional heat generation affects the MDF or particleboard? These materials are not designed to withstand continuous heat exposure.

Although LEDs produce less heat than incandescent bulbs, heat can still build up, especially with LED strips in confined cabinets, which can lead to warping or discoloration.

Therefore, it is worth considering whether to mount the LEDs with aluminum profiles that have heat fins and how to ensure adequate ventilation when the cabinet doors are closed.

Has this been taken into account in your installations?

Curtis schrieb:
That’s why you should consider fitting the LEDs with aluminum profiles that have heat fins

Good point! Aluminum profiles for LED strips are indeed useful not only for aesthetic reasons but also for heat dissipation.

I used thin aluminum channels in my BESTA cabinets, which you can simply glue or screw onto the spot where the LED strip will go. This also gives the edge a more professional feel, and the LED lifespan increases because the heat is better conducted away.

Curtis schrieb:
how to ensure sufficient ventilation when the cabinet doors are closed.

For that, you can, for example, drill small ventilation slots in the back area of the cabinet if you want them to be less visible. Sometimes, the gap between the doors themselves is already enough to allow some air circulation.

In general, the heat output of LEDs is significantly lower than other lighting solutions. Still, the better the cooling, the longer the durability.

If you like, I can also recommend affordable aluminum profiles and suitable tool tips.