How to Create a Media Center With IKEA Kitchen Cabinets

Design a Custom IKEA Media Center on a Budget

Would you rather take your family to the movies once a month for a year—or build a custom media center? You probably won’t be surprised to learn that the cost comes out to be about the same.

For four people to buy movie tickets, drinks, and popcorn, it costs about $100. Nowadays, most movies are released on streaming services the same day they appear in theaters. So, do you want to go to the theater and spend $100 to have no control over the thermostat or when to push pause, or do you want to be in the comfort of your own home, viewing a movie in your custom media center?

For some, going to the movies is an experience that can never be replaced. We get that. But we bet many of you are asking, “How do I get that $1,200 media center? What does it look like?”

In this article, we show you how an affordable media center is possible with IKEA kitchen cabinets.

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IKEA Kitchen Cabinets Mean More Media Center Options

By mixing IKEA kitchen cabinets components, the options for your new media center are endless.

“We never liked the plain, boxy look of most media centers,” says IKD customer Andrea. “We wanted something that matched our living room, which has blue furniture and wood accents. We wanted our media center to look like it belonged. I had a hard time putting that sentiment into words, but Mike at IKD hit the nail on the head. We wanted it to look like furniture. Something with character that really fit our aesthetic.”

The media center for Andrea and her family of four was made using two IKEA kitchen cabinets with IKEA AXSTAD matte-blue doors and BAGGANÄS handles in brass. A PINNARP butcher block countertop with walnut veneer added the desired wood effect.

“We didn’t stop there because Andrea would have had exactly what she didn’t want—a boxy media center. So we got creative and added VADHOLMA wine storage to the sides and underneath of the unit to give it a more unique look,” say Mike, an IKD designer.

Using Wine Storage in a Media Center

Designers are great at thinking creatively; it’s why people love them.

“We found something similar to what we wanted for $1,300 at Raymour & Flanigan, but it was the wrong color and kind of bland. We decided there must be a way to get exactly what we wanted for that price, and after some online searching, we found IKD. They suggested using IKEA wine storage as open storage, and we fell in love with their design,” says Andrea.

The wine storage on the sides of the cabinet can hold books, DVDs, small speakers, and even some gaming systems. Two VADHOLMA wine shelves in stained ash and two matching VADHOLMA open storage units on the underside of the cabinets add additional storage and visual interest.

“Andrea and her husband also chose to add a floating shelf by Semihandmade above the TV to frame the space without using wall cabinets for a cleaner look. Setting the unit on NANNARP aluminum legs added to the furniture effect and made the unit more cohesive,” says Mike.

Affordable Custom IKEA Media Centers

Choosing IKEA kitchen cabinets to create your media center allows you options while staying budget-friendly. The total cost of the IKEA kitchen cabinets for this media center was $1,072.

“Mike’s shopping list and clear design gave us enough confidence to build the unit ourselves.It was kind of like building IKEA furniture, which we’ve done before.We ordered everything into the store ahead of time, borrowed a truck, and completed the project in an afternoon. By that evening, we were eating popcorn and watching Black Adam,” says Andrea.

They even ended up with some storage space under the unit, which is a perfect spot for small boxes, a power strip, or to keep clear for the type of clean look these IKD customers love.