Argomenti trattati
Creating a backlit moon wall from everyday IKEA finds
Turn a few inexpensive IKEA pieces into a dreamy, backlit “moon wall” that works great in bedrooms, home theaters, or as a showpiece in a living area. Using two SNUDDA lazy Susan trays, a pack of HEAT coasters, and a VATTENSTEN LED strip, you can build a layered lunar display with textured surfaces and a soft halo glow — all for roughly $70–$85 and about 2–3 hours of hands-on work. No advanced carpentry or wiring skills required.
Why this project works
You get strong visual impact from cheap, modular parts. The trays and coasters are lightweight and uniformly shaped, so mounting is simple. A few paint tricks create convincing cratered texture, and a concealed LED strip produces an atmospheric backlight whose intensity you control by how far each disc sits off the wall.
quick glossary
– Substrate: the body of each tray or coaster you’ll paint.
– Backing disc: a small wood round glued behind a coaster to space it away from the wall.
– Halo spread: how wide and soft the diffuse light appears around each moon, determined by LED placement and mounting depth.
materials and tools
– 2 × SNUDDA lazy Susan trays (larger “moons”)
– 1 × 3-pack HEAT coasters (smaller “moons”)
– 1 × VATTENSTEN LED strip (adhesive-backed)
– Small wood rounds (for backing discs)
– Black acrylic primer; white and black paint to mix grays
– Sponge, foam brush, toothbrush (for splatter)
– Wood glue, screws and drill, screwdriver
– Painter’s tape, level, measuring tape
– Optional: sandpaper, mounting anchors
Overview of the build (four phases)
Phase 1 — plan and prep
Before you cut or glue anything, mock up the layout on the floor or on paper. Measure wall area and note the nearest outlet. Confirm you have the parts in hand and pick wood rounds that match the coasters’ diameter.
Goal: a finalized parts list and a scaled layout.
Phase 2 — paint and texture
Prime everything with black acrylic to give deep shadow. Mix several grays (mid and light tones) and build texture in layers: sponge on broad tonal areas, add smaller highlights with a foam brush, then use a toothbrush for restrained speckle that reads like crater pocks and stars.
Goal: a dry, textured surface showing dark base tones through to bright highlights.
Phase 3 — backing and mounting prep
Glue the wood rounds to the backs of the coasters/trays to create a uniform spacer. Drill a central hole in each backing disc for the screw. Use painter’s tape to mark hanging points on the wall and test positions with tape before committing to screws or anchors.
Goal: all hanging points installed, level, and mock-up checked for spacing and wiring routes.
Phase 4 — light routing and final tweaks
Stick the VATTENSTEN LED strip to the wall behind the composition, following the path you planned. Hang the painted discs on their screws so the LEDs sit concealed behind them. Fine-tune each disc’s depth to soften or tighten the halo spread. Secure loose wiring and confirm the power point is reachable.
You get strong visual impact from cheap, modular parts. The trays and coasters are lightweight and uniformly shaped, so mounting is simple. A few paint tricks create convincing cratered texture, and a concealed LED strip produces an atmospheric backlight whose intensity you control by how far each disc sits off the wall.0
You get strong visual impact from cheap, modular parts. The trays and coasters are lightweight and uniformly shaped, so mounting is simple. A few paint tricks create convincing cratered texture, and a concealed LED strip produces an atmospheric backlight whose intensity you control by how far each disc sits off the wall.1
You get strong visual impact from cheap, modular parts. The trays and coasters are lightweight and uniformly shaped, so mounting is simple. A few paint tricks create convincing cratered texture, and a concealed LED strip produces an atmospheric backlight whose intensity you control by how far each disc sits off the wall.2
You get strong visual impact from cheap, modular parts. The trays and coasters are lightweight and uniformly shaped, so mounting is simple. A few paint tricks create convincing cratered texture, and a concealed LED strip produces an atmospheric backlight whose intensity you control by how far each disc sits off the wall.3
You get strong visual impact from cheap, modular parts. The trays and coasters are lightweight and uniformly shaped, so mounting is simple. A few paint tricks create convincing cratered texture, and a concealed LED strip produces an atmospheric backlight whose intensity you control by how far each disc sits off the wall.4