Using a Shelf as a Floating Entertainment Unit

When choosing the entertainment unit for your HDTV, it's not always good to use something very large and imposing. Most of the time, something simple and elegant will do the job nicely. That's why we really liked what Dez decided to do with an Ikea shelf extension. He decided to mount it as a floating shelf underneath his HDTV.

Dez admits that this isn't revolutionary, but it really looks good. He used a Besta extension and hung it as a floating entertainment unit. The resulting unit is clean and looks good even in the bedroom. He mentions that it gives kind of a hotel-like feel to it, and we have to agree. It does look really nice. He used the studs as cable guides to run his wires, so they are invisible at first glance.

Possible improvements include some passive LED lighting underneath the unit. That would be a good add-on. It would kind of hack Philips' Ambilight HDTV technology cheaply. It wouldn't adapt as Ambilight does to what's displayed on the screen, but it would reduce eyestrain and LCD backlight bleed. Great work Dez! Have you ever thought of mounting floating shelves to clean up your home theater?

[via Ikeahacker, photos by Dez]

Comments (3)

while I understand the desire for things to look pretty, I do have the same desire and I even like the unique idea displayed here, however, that tv, looks about head height to me when I'm standing and I"m 6'2.

These flat panel screens are being mounted higher and higher, lets just get it over with and mount the damned things on the ceiling!

Optimal viewing is for the center of the screen to be inline with your eyes at viewing position (ie, sitting)..

Once again, love the idea, but the tv, it's not a piece of artwork, bring it down lower.

posted by Ben on August 31st 2009 at 7:36pm
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I agree wih the above comment, and would like to add that the piece of furniture being mounted shouldn't be too deep. Otherwise it looks awkward.

posted by lowonthe456 on September 1st 2009 at 12:28am
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The guy who hacked this mentioned that he used it in his bedroom. Depending on how high his bed is, it could be at the optimal height. Naturally, for living rooms, this height wouldn't work.

posted by range on September 1st 2009 at 8:33am
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