DIY Entertainment Center Built-In | IKEA Bookcase Hack

How to decorate around a television? Or your boyfriend’s XBOX? Forget the Samsung Frame TV - your home television is nothing to be ashamed of. In this video, I build a renter-friendly full wall entertainment center for our 75” television using this built-in IKEA Billy Bookcase hack!
CONTACT
INSTAGRAM // / designshing
FACEBOOK // / designshing
EMAIL // [e-mail]
Timestamps:
0:00 Intro
0:20 The "Problem"
1:34 Solution
1:57 Solution (Part 2)
2:25 Samsung Frame TV (??)
3:21 Planning the Build - which IKEA units
4:51 Choosing Paint - Sherwin Williams Shamrock Green
6:43 How to Paint IKEA Besta TV Units
8:13 How to Build Platform for IKEA Besta TV Units
9:16 How to build Cubbies out of Plywood
10:41 Using Kreg Jig to make Pocket Holes
12:29 How to cut holes for power cords in bookcases
14:43 How to Paint IKEA Billy Bookcases
16:04 How to Install Removable Peel & Stick Wallpaper
18:27 How to Anchor Billy Bookcases to Wall
20:00 How to Add Trim to make Billy Bookcases look Built-In
21:33 How to Cope Trim around Existing Baseboard
22:17 How to fill holes and seams in wood trim
23:25 Organizing books by color in rainbow home library
24:43 REVEAL - Built-In Entertainment Center
SHOP TOOLS FOR THIS PROJECT
Safety Goggles (don’t shoot your eye out!): amzn.to/3ccXTnu
Right Angle Clamp: amzn.to/3qC1SPE
Kreg Jig for Pocket Holes: amzn.to/3EVRo5J
Ryobi Jigsaw: amzn.to/3IKqyjt
Ryobi Miter Saw:amzn.to/30tC8OI
Ryobi Brad Nailer: amzn.to/3oQZK94
FTC Legal Disclaimer - Some links found in the description box of my videos may be affiliate links, meaning I receive a commission on sales you make through my link. This is at no additional cost to you, and I truly appreciate your support!

[@danakinscheuer]

Fits well into my space, I painted the back green. It's very easy to customize just the back if that's something you want to do. I would suggest sanding it first before painting, I got a little impatient. The shelves kzbin.infoUgkxM8H4CjCb79vzeyvgaFMdzmLm88oVFPMkare pretty small so keep that in mind if you're going to have it horizontal that some books won't fit. I like the snug look that it has. Good small shelf if you don't have much space, but not too small. Simple to put together, though you'll need your own tools, a screwdriver and a mallet/hammer, it's easiest to do with another person.

[@sonjaskygatlin]

You make amazing videos! please don't give up...please keep making these. Once you get on a PR campaign you will be golden...you're gold already.

[@designSHING]

Thank you! I haven't given up yet, I'm just really slow haha! Still filming projects, and I hope to put a new video out soon!

[@jasperfulcher2691]

that wall paper was an excellent choice with the green bookcases. I arrange my books by genre > country of origin > author

[@rhondabliss4620]

WOW!!!! What a transformation! Great work!!!

[@mairinmaureen]

Looks amazing, Victoria! Such a difference!

[@designSHING]

Thank you!!

[@judithserrato6660]

I love the color you picked! It is the perfect compliment to the wallpaper.

[@designSHING]

Thanks! You know, if I had it my way, it would be pink hahaha!

[@brandilewis3498]

Love this wall! Fun video

[@KyoThomas]

This is amazing. Great job.

[@CraftsandTrueCrimeTracy]

Your project turned out amazing!!

[@Earthrock3r]

Wow!! Great job! It looks amazing and I love the way you explained everything 👌

[@designSHING]

Thank you!!

[@anthonyshurburn7560]

Beautiful job. It gives the room a very finished look. My mother loved emerald green.

[@designSHING]

Thank you!

[@MimisQuest]

This looks amazing, well done. I've picked up a few ideas, great video. Love the idea of colour coding the books, just about to do this so might get the kids involved with the colour sorting.

[@designSHING]

Thank you, glad you enjoyed! I think color sorting books sounds like a great way to involve the kids!

[@laurenl5843]

Wow that's a very ambitious project!

[@GillDawe]

Looks so good! I'm a huge sucker for emerald green! I would never organize my books by colour, of course it looks visually appealing but it's just so impractical! But if it works for you guys, that's great. I go by genre and then alphabetical by author, then by order of release date.

[@designSHING]

Thanks! I have a visual memory - I'll remember what color something was, or where the information was written on the page and in what size type before I'll remember the actual name/note. When I was a kid, I would sort my books by size - smallest at the top of the shelf, largest at the bottom. Of course, if you check the titles on my bookshelf, they're mainly reference books, so if I'm researching something, I'll grab a stack of relevant books and take them to my desk. I imagine sorting by author would be more useful if I had a larger collection of fiction.

[@tonihlove5204]

You did a beautiful job. The green was wonderful along with the wallpaper.

[@designSHING]

Thanks so much!

[@Ka-kz2gu]

Gorgeous

[@adesuwajoseph5859]

I absolutely love this! I really appreciate it being renter friendly :)

[@designSHING]

Thank you!!

[@Ashley-up3ou]

Great video! The shelves look awesome!!

[@designSHING]

Thank you!

[@StephenGriffin1]

Amazing job - I'm inspired!

[@designSHING]

Thank you!!

[@fotomakr]

Great job all around. The camera work, presentation and tips as you designed and built this incredible shelving unit were superb.

[@designSHING]

Thank you, I appreciate it!

[@rrome6178]

What an enjoyable and impressive video! Beautiful project, beautiful job!

[@designSHING]

Thank you!

[@mscupcakedreamson36]

Beautiful!

[@designSHING]

Thank you!!

[@deejohnson5163]

Such a nice project. I had a hard time getting on board with the green color, but in the end it looks nice. Congrads.

[@designSHING]

Thanks!

[@stephaniecameron2372]

Holy shmoly!! Great job. You are so skilled!

[@designSHING]

Thank you!

[@BrockGrimes]

Well done!

[@designSHING]

Thank you!

[@kimswrld5321]

Good 👍🏽 job love the color

[@designSHING]

Thank you!

[@raygen1540]

I love this but you KNoW the book flippers hate seeing color. Fabulous!!!

[@designSHING]

Pages out!! 😂 Now that’s probably more controversial than rainbow 🌈

[@devinkoba859]

Those trim details!

[@designSHING]

Thanks, Devin!

[@Bugsie70]

I was skeptical on the color and the process but it looks amazing!

[@designSHING]

Thank you! It's not easy being green!

[@rushja]

Great work! I was triggered by the colour coding of the books but it does look good! Maybe I'll try it

[@designSHING]

Come to the dark side.... or the color-coded side, that is!😄

[@elcheno]

Ok this is awesome 🙂

[@designSHING]

Thank you!!

[@verarosenbergtravel]

Great video! Imagine my surprise when I saw that Clemson paw on your shirt, though! That's a shame 😉

[@designSHING]

Thank you! Haha - yep, tiger here!

[@MrM00C0W]

I really like how this looks. I have had a similar idea and you have given some wonderful tips that I will likely be using. I am concerned for the Xbox. It's current placement is not the best for exhausting heat and will make it prone to issues. Newer consoles run fairly hot and as they get hot they tend to drop in performance.

[@designSHING]

Thanks! Yeah it gets hot so my boyfriend just throws a few ice cubes on it. Hahaha I’m kidding - I knew someone was going to be worried for the Xbox! Aaron is a casual gamer, and he determined the placement and clearances for his Xbox. Perhaps a better resource for stylish design around consoles - Medina of GrilloDesigns actually installed a fan in a desk cubby to exhaust her husband’s gaming PC.

[@moviegirl45]

awsesome build! love your hair! wwish mine would grow faster! lol nice tree as well!!!

[@salonitm]

This is amazing! Exactly the tutorial I was looking for as I build something very similar but I do want the top bridging bookcase. How were you planning on mounting and securing the bridging bookcase? Thanks!

[@designSHING]

Thank you! My plan for the bridged portion was to build the cubbies in two halves using pocket hole attachment (similar to how I did with the plywood cubby bases). To attach to the wall, I was planning to span ~2x4 French cleat between both sides, then I'd have a false back in the cubbies to hide that attachment (also similar to the false back with the plywood cubby base). So the bridging element would be supported primarily by the wall, and then I would trim out the joints between the bridged part and the bookcases. Not going to lie, I think that would've been a challenging endeavor, so I'm actually glad that I liked the look without the bridge!

[@TheThirdEdge]

Arrr, thar she be! Good call omitting the bank across the top. That chunk never sat well with me (seeing earlier designs). When priming casework, I've always chosen sandable primers. Historically, that meant oil-based primers, which I've been using since the Seventies. Water-based primers, for the most part, are not sandable: they gum-up, making a mess of things. However, there's a wonderful product on the market now that I've come to believe in: Zinsser BullsEye2 Multi-Purpose Primer & Sealer. This interior/exterior product sands easily, leaving a happy powder, as sandable prime ought to! I primed my R2 Droid using this stuff: Worked perfectly, allowing me to apply and sand smooth several coats.

[@designSHING]

About time, eh?! Definitely learned A LOT about painting in this project. Choosing a primer was a challenge for me because I wanted to use the water-based SW paint, but I didn't want to cross that with an oil-based primer.... which is how I landed on Zinsser Bondz Adhesion. I did make a bit (errr... a lot?) of a mess at some points. Good to know about the Zinsser BullsEye2 Primer & Sealer - I'll check that out for my next furniture paint job!

[@roksolanakohaykevych9975]

How did you fix a base to the floor? Thank you. Love your video ❤️

[@designSHING]

Good question! The base is attached to the wall, using the same method shown at 18:30

[@marrodriguez6173]

That’s a lot of outing together shelf’s 😮

[@judybuchholz7131]

Fell in love with the wallpaper! Are you able to tell me the name of it and where you got it? Great job!

[@designSHING]

The wallpaper we installed UniQstiQ Black and White Peony Wallpaper Mural. Ours is 100" x 100" in the peel-and-stick version (also comes pre-pasted). It's a mural, but the pattern repeats so if you have a larger space, you could do two side by side. Here is the link: www.uniqstiq.com/collections/murals/products/black-and-white-peony-wallpaper-mural?variant=42533078597848

[@titi4112]

You did an amazing job! I am using this as inspiration. What program did you use to render your design?

[@titi4112]

Nevermind I saw that you answered this question elsewhere! But I think you do amazing work, you are an inspiration!

[@designSHING]

@@titi4112 Thank you!

[@AshleyWilbanks]

So how does the couch against the fireplace look?

[@michaburnham9411]

What are you using for your 3d modeling? I've been looking for something for an upcoming project and am coming up short.

[@designSHING]

Rhino 6 is my go-to modeling software. SketchUp Pro would also be a good tool for this kind of 3D modeling.

[@weiliu8634]

Beautifully done. Looks really nice. I am alway wondering, people with some woodwork skills, lots of tools, and willing to put so many hours of work... could probably build those bookshelf from scratch and get true customised unites, why still do ikea hack. Ikea billy are good, it is cheap and cheerful, and it is easy to put together for diy amateur, but not the best quality.

[@designSHING]

Thanks! As for why Ikea - I'm not sure if you noticed, but I was painting and assembling all of those bookcases in a single parking space in my shared apartment garage, and transporting all of the wood in the back of my sedan. While I'd love to have the space to build and refinish furniture, that simply doesn't work with my current lifestyle. I turned to Ikea because the flat-packing makes it possible for me to transport in my own car (though I barely fit the bookcases in!), it's affordable (wood prices were up when I built this - I think they're slowly dropping), and since I'm in an apartment and these aren't true built-ins meant to last forever, longevity wasn't a priority. I don't think that everything should be an Ikea hack or a DIY (I definitely support hiring professionals to construct quality built-ins), but there's different times/situations when that's a good option to have.

[@weiliu8634]

Thank you for taking time to answer me, I really do admire you skills, think you are very gifted, that did looks very very nice, I wish I could it myself. My comment was not a criticism, just an general observation, there are so many ikea hacks that looks very nice.

[@designSHING]

@@weiliu8634 Oh, no, I didn't see it as criticism - I enjoy the conversation! I definitely think there is a time and place for Ikea. If someone owns their home and has the ability to either build their own custom units or hire a professional to create custom built-ins, why turn to Ikea? For many of those, I think it's because they're actively trying to create content for social media and Ikea is a great search term, and also because of the low entry price. Ikea hacks could be considered the "fast fashion" of furniture/built-ins.

[@rissaaper]

I’m wanting to paint the doors of my billy how is your paint holding up?

[@designSHING]

About 8 months since painting, the paint is holding up very well! No scratching/peeling.

[@KaoStarrBellydance]

What did you do with the XBOX cords? Is there a hole in the back of the bookcase?

[@designSHING]

Yes, similarly to how I cut a small hole in the corner at 12:46 for the surge protector, I cut a tiny square in the backing behind the Xbox and fished the cords out at the bottom to plug in.

[@emiliewilkinson7857]

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@MsTrueNation]

Very nicely done, love the bookshelf. As far as organizing books by colors, IDK but it seems racist (JUST KIDDING, of course JK 😂). But, I do think organizing books by colors is probably one of the most inefficient ways to organize books. Especially if you read a lot and have a lot of books. Organizing by category is my preference. I do dream of one day setting every thing up by the Dewey Decimal system. Love the bookshelf though.

[@colleenivkovich7376]

What program did you use to 3D model your space?

[@designSHING]

I used Rhino3D because that's a program that I already had, but I'd actually recommend Google Sketchup to most people.

[@HrHaakon]

Besta = grandma Bestå = remain, not withering away, endure That little ring does change the pronounciation a *lot* lol. Not that there's anything wrong with pronouncing it how you want, I just found it funny.

[@designSHING]

I'm sure I butcher most of the IKEA furniture names! I bet grandma endures! 😂

[@valkyriesardo278]

Your best and wisest decision was determing how you wanted to use the space. You chose enormous TV and all subsequent decisions served that goal. Now that it's been a year is there anything you wish you had done differently?

[@designSHING]

Thank you! I'm actually really happy with the space and how we use it - there were a lot of different rooms we considered tackling, but I'm glad that we started with the living room because we really do spend the most time here. There's not much I would change about the TV wall - we love the size of the TV, and the bookshelf gives us so much storage! I do kind of wish that I had integrated lighting, but I wasn't sure how to do that elegantly given that we're in an apartment and cannot hardwire new lights. Our Christmas decorations have been up, and I have some little battery powered Christmas lights that I put in different cubbies on the bookshelf, and I just love the glow! I haven't completely finished the living room yet (but I've moved on from it for now) - I've since hung new curtains, and added some art on the walls behind the sofa. I do have a bit of a dead corner behind the sectional that isn't super accessible, and I'm still brainstorming ways to fix that - have to maximize all storage in an apartment!

[@demonprincess5634]

makes me wish i had money, power tools and skills :(

[@josuesmith7936]

Where you’ve been? Are you ok?

[@designSHING]

Yes, I'm doing alright! I've been pretty busy with work and activities, so the videos have slowed down. I am currently in the process of editing a new video which hopefully I can publish soon. Thanks for checking in!

[@soniamonia573]

Ii think t would be better if you recorded voice over the step by step video vs recording yourself.

[@designSHING]

Appreciate the feedback - it’s challenging to complete such a large project, get good footage, explain how it’s done, and then edit it all together. I’m pretty new to this and definitely still finding my groove. If you have any questions about the project or how I did something, I’d be happy to clarify!

[@mfmr200]

too dark

[@designSHING]

too cold

[@mfmr200]

@@designSHING 🤭

[@countrygirl4422]

What a waste of a fireplace and the couch in front of it looks weird.

[@designSHING]

I actually didn't show the couch in front of the fireplace in the video, but I think it looks a lot better than expected - I'll include it in a future video! I don't really have a need for a fireplace in Southern California - if it was up to me, I'd take it out entirely!

[@MimiYoyo16]

Nice idea but why you talking like a 5yo 🥴

[@designSHING]

That's a new question for me, so I'm not really sure what you're talking about. Did you create an account to bully people, or is there another meaning behind your username?

[@sergiohenrique9694]

not sturdy at all. made very cheap. avoid this product.