ᐅ KALLAX and LED lights – how do you install the cables so they remain hidden?

Hello everyone,
I’m planning to equip an Ikea KALLAX shelving unit at home with LED lights to create indirect lighting. Now I’m wondering how you best route the LED strip cables so they are hidden and tidy. Especially with an open and modular shelving system like KALLAX, I find it quite challenging to keep the power supply discreet without cables hanging down or being visible.

I’m particularly interested in which tools or tricks you use in practice, such as cable channels, clips, or other solutions to achieve a neat and secure installation. I would also appreciate tips on power supply options directly at or near the shelf, like how you discreetly integrate outlets or extension cords.

Looking forward to your experiences and suggestions – thanks in advance!

nongla schrieb:
I am planning to equip a KALLAX shelf from Ikea at my home with LED lights.

Hey, cool idea! :-)

What always works well for me is to stick narrow plastic cable channels directly to the back of the KALLAX. They are almost invisible when placed along the shelf depth. Then you can route the cables through them and ideally secure them with small adhesive pads, which usually come with the channels.

I often install power outlets behind single-sided side panels or fix a power strip on the floor at the back panel. This way everything stays hidden without needing to mess with it constantly.

And a quick tip: LED strips with 3M adhesive tape on the back make mounting even easier. If you ever need to remove them later, it’s simple and won’t cause much damage.

Good luck with your project! 🙂

Simply clamp the cables into the back of the shelving profile or secure them with cable ties. Cable ducts are helpful; please drill holes in the correct locations beforehand. Place the power strip at the back, near the floor.

Done.

nongla schrieb:
how to best route the cables of LED strips invisibly and neatly

Interesting approach. KALLAX shelves often have an open back, which makes cable routing easier, but running cables on the outside can still detract from a clean look.

Here is my method:

1. First, it’s practical to route the LED strip cables through the back panel into the interior of the shelf. The KALLAX back panel is made of thin cardboard, so you can lightly score it at the desired spot and carefully drill a hole about 5-6 mm (0.2-0.24 inches) in diameter, depending on the cable thickness.

2. Insert a plastic cable grommet into the hole to protect the cables from abrasion.

3. Then, route the cables along the inside edges (for example, along the shelves), behind the shelf to the side, or between compartments, securing them with small self-adhesive clips. These clips hold even thinner LED cables well.

4. If you want to power the setup via a power strip, I recommend one with a switch and surge protection, which you can mount space-efficiently on the bottom or side of the shelf using mounting adhesive or screws.

Very important: when planning, consider the cable cross-section and the maximum allowed power for your LED setup to avoid overheating or voltage drops.

My recommendation: use high-quality extension cables and connect the LED strips in short series segments where possible—too many plug connections can spoil the appearance and impair current flow.

One last question: are you planning to use dimmable LED strips or simple on/off ones? This often influences how flexible you need to be with cable management.

kulau schrieb:
Still asking: Do you want to use dimmable LED strips or simple ones?

This is an important point. If dimmable, the control unit should be installed as close as possible to the power source and the LED strips, ideally hidden inside the shelf.

Also, for neat cable management, it is recommended to use cable ducts or thin cable ties to bundle everything tightly and neatly, avoiding any loose cables hanging around.

parbau schrieb:
stick narrow plastic cable ducts directly on the back of the KALLAX

That works very well and is quick to do.

In general: plan the exact cable route in advance, then work with the appropriate tools (hole saw, drill for cable entries) and look for clear fastening options.

nongla schrieb:
how to best install the cables of LED strips so they are invisible and neat

I just came across this thread and wanted to share my experience 🙂

For my KALLAX shelving unit, I ran the cables along the back of the compartments and secured them with transparent cable adhesive strips.

This way, the cables are hardly visible because they blend a bit with the wall color. Additionally, I insulated all LED connections with heat shrink tubing to prevent any abrasion.

The power supply runs through a power strip that I attached underneath the shelf, keeping everything easily accessible but out of sight during normal viewing.

Sounds simple, but this combination really worked well for me and looks very clean. 🙂