A €35 IKEA home data center that’s been running perfectly for 15 years
Ever wondered where to hide all those blinking boxes, tangled cables, and humming devices that keep your smart home running?
Building a data center doesn’t require a dedicated room or professional setup. This clever IKEA hack transforms a simple IKEA PS cabinet into a fully functional home data center that’s both practical and apartment-friendly.
Meet 6rylou, a Paris-based hacker who solved the eternal struggle of computer equipment sprawl with a €35 solution that’s still going strong after 15 years.
In this guide, you’ll learn how to create your own micro data center using basic IKEA furniture, simple ventilation, and weekend DIY skills. Perfect for small spaces where every square meter counts.
Turn an IKEA Cabinet Into a Home Data Center
IKEA Items:
Additional Materials:
Tools:
- Jigsaw
- Drill
- Masking tape
- Sandpaper
- Adhesive backing
Budget: €35 total (€20 for secondhand cabinet, €15 for fan system). Note: A new PS Cabinet retails for $179.99 in the US at the time of writing this post.
Time Required: One evening
IKEA Hacking A Micro Data Center
“Living in Paris, where space is tight, I needed one piece of furniture that could hold everything,” 6rylou explains. The lineup was substantial: a Freebox modem, 8-port switch, 400W UPS, two NAS units, and various other bits, housed in a rack and on the floor. (See the ‘before’ image)
“Cooling was absolutely essential,” he adds. That simple ventilation system became the key to making this hack work for over 15 years.
“I started with a 92 x 92 mm fan I already owned,” 6rylou says. The size worked perfectly with standard PC accessories. An old 7.5V power supply handled the power. “I didn’t want to invest much before testing thoroughly.”
Smart move. After confirming the concept worked, he upgraded to a whisper-quiet Noctua fan a few weeks later.
How to Build a Home Data Center in 7 Steps
1. Plan Your Ventilation Placement
Decide where air will flow. Hot air rises, so plan exhaust at the top and intake at the bottom or back.
Mark your cutting areas on the cabinet exterior using the fan as a template.
2. Cut Ventilation Holes
Apply masking tape over your marked cutting area. This prevents splintering and catches wood chips during drilling.
Use your jigsaw to cut carefully along the marked lines.
Pro tip: When drilling pilot holes, place masking tape on the backside to catch debris.
3. Sand and Finish Edges
Smooth all cut edges with sandpaper.
Apply adhesive backing to cover rough edges and create a finished look.
4. Install Fan System
Position the 92 x 92 mm fan over the cut hole.
Mark mounting holes (8-10 mm diameter).
Drill mounting holes and secure the fan.
Connect to your speed controller and power supply.
5. Add Protection
Install protective grills on the exterior.
Add dust filters to minimize internal dust buildup.
Mount filters on cabinet doors if adding additional intake vents.
6. Prepare Interior
Place anti-vibration pads under equipment with moving parts (especially NAS drives).
This reduces cabinet resonance and noise.
7. Monitor and Adjust
Install a temperature gauge inside the cabinet.
Check temperatures daily for the first few weeks.
Adjust fan speed as needed using your controller.
Understanding Airflow
Here’s the math behind proper ventilation. Fans display efficiency in CFM (Cubic Feet per Minute).
Conversion: 1 CFM = 1.399 m³/h or 1 m³/h = 0.5886 CFM.
The PS cabinet dimensions (63 cm H × 119 cm W × 40 cm D) equal approximately 0.299 m³ volume.
A 92 mm fan theoretically expels all cabinet air every 30 seconds. Since cabinets aren’t airtight, actual circulation is even better.
You don’t need these calculations, but they’re helpful for understanding capacity.
Home Data Center Maintenance: 4 Things to Monitor
1. Noise Management
Cabinets amplify vibration. What sounds quiet outside the cabinet can buzz loudly through the metal.
Solutions:
- Use premium quiet fans (Noctua brand is excellent)
- Install anti-vibration pads under all equipment
- Consider adding foam dampening material
2. Temperature Control
Heat kills electronics. Monitor internal temps closely at first. Adjust accordingly.
Watch for:
- Equipment running hotter than usual
- Cabinet exterior feeling warm
- System slowdowns or crashes
Add a digital temperature controller if you want precise monitoring, though it’s somewhat overkill for most setups.
3. Dust Accumulation
Ventilation pulls in dust. Accept this reality and plan accordingly.
Manage it:
- Use quality dust filters on intake vents
- Clean filters monthly
- Schedule quarterly interior cleaning
4. WiFi Signal
Don’t worry—this isn’t a Faraday cage. Your WiFi will work fine through the cabinet doors. 6rylou specifically notes this was the hardest part of the build: convincing forum skeptics that wireless signals would pass through just fine.
Benefits of Building a Micro Data Center at Home
Simplicity: No complex modifications. Basic cuts, one fan, done.
Practicality: Everything in one place. Cable management becomes infinitely easier.
Longevity: 15+ years of reliable operation proves the concept.
Affordability: €35 total investment for a complete solution.
Scalability: Start basic, upgrade components as needed.
Lessons Learned from 15 Years of Home Server Storage
6rylou mentions possibly adding a digital temperature controller, though admits it’s probably overkill. The basic temperature gauge works perfectly fine for monitoring.
Otherwise? No regrets. The system works exactly as intended after a decade and a half.
Upgrade Ideas for Your DIY Data Center Setup
While 6rylou’s build used recycled components, today’s builders might consider:
- Smart temperature monitoring: WiFi-enabled sensors for remote checking
- RGB lighting: Because why not make your data center look cool?
- Cable management additions: 3D-printed cable clips or adhesive channels
- Power management: Smart plugs for remote equipment control
- Better dust filtration: Magnetic frames for easy filter replacement
Is This Right for You?
This hack works brilliantly if you:
- Live in a small space
- Have multiple network devices
- Want everything centralized
- Don’t mind basic DIY
- Need affordable solutions
- Prefer hidden technical equipment
Skip it if you:
- Have dedicated equipment rooms
- Need frequent physical access
- Require extensive cooling for high-performance servers
- Want rack-mounted professional setups
One secondhand console, one quiet fan, one evening of work. That’s all it takes to transform a bunch of equipment into an organized, properly cooled home data center that sits quietly in your living room.
6rylou’s micro data center, still humming after 15 years, shows that simple solutions can work just as well as specialized network storage equipment. It definitely looks better!
Ready to consolidate your equipment? Grab that jigsaw and get hacking.
Have you built your own home data center? Share your IKEA hacks and storage solutions in the comments below.