One of the reasons people enjoy hacking and changing IKEA furniture is due to their popularity; people want to set themselves apart from everyone else with customizing details. Using an IKEA BESTA as a home entertainment center is nothing new, but this is the first time we've seen anyone upholster a unit to give it more charm. It's definitely an option to consider if you've got your eyes on a BESTA but want to add a little more design personality.

While this isn't really an upholstered IKEA Besta, it uses some upholstering materials, mainly upholstering nails. It's a sort of faux-upholstering project, but we could see someone taking the time to meticulously upholster a Besta nonetheless. This comes from Tina from Sweden.

First, you need to cut a piece of paper in a pattern that you will use on the doors of the IKEA Besta. You should try out a few different designs before deciding on which one you like. Then, trace them onto the doors using a pencil or grease marker that easily erasable. Then, you can mark where each of the individual upholstering nails will go. This lets you see what the overall project will look like once it's completed and will ensure that the spacing between each nail is the same . Lastly, hammer down an upholstery nail onto each marking to create the desired pattern.

This simple idea will give new life to some cabinets or allow you to customize ones that you've already bought. Naturally, you could also upholster the doors using some kind of fabric or felt as an accent. This could be easily done. While upholstering the whole entertainment center is also possible, you have to be careful in selecting the fabric. Durable and neutral colors will be preferable, although a bold, striking hue will highlight this piece of furniture.

Lastly, once you mount your HDTV, you could also wall-mount so that it floats. A matching upholstered board could be placed behind the HDTV to create a match. Finally, some LEDs could be placed around the HDTV and behind the entertainment center, if there's place, to give it some ambient lighting.

(via IKEA Hacker, photos by Signed by Tina)