How to Make a Home Media Cabinet

The living room is one of the most versatile spaces in any house. This area will usually be a place to relax and a place to entertain. One of the biggest issues surrounding the entertainment side of this room is all of the electronic items which need to be housed. One of the best ways to store the media equipment is with a storage cabinet. A media cabinet is easy to build and you will be able to match it to the room it will be housed in.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Four pieces of 2-inch-by-4-inch boards which are 3 feet long
• Two pieces of 3/4-inch plywood which are 3 feet long by 2 1/2 feet wide
• One piece of 3/4-inch plywood which is 3 feet, 9 inches wide by 3 feet tall
• Two pieces of 3/4-inch plywood which are 3 feet, 9 inches wide by 2 feet, 11 1/4 inches tall
• One piece of 3/4-inch plywood which is 3 feet by 4 feet
• Two pieces of 3/4-inch plywood which are 2 feet tall by 1 foot, 10 1/2 inches wide
• Square
• Measuring tape
• Level
• Hole saw
• Four hinges
• Two door handles
• Drill
• Wood screws

1. Take two pieces of 2-inch-by-4-inch board and place a piece of 2-foot, 5-inch by 3-foot plywood in between them. One surface of the plywood should be even with the the longer sides of the boards and the top and bottom of the plywood should be even with the top and bottom of the 2-inch-by-4-inch board. Make sure these pieces are square and screw these pieces together. This is one side of the cabinet. Repeat for the other side.

2. Place your piece of 3/4-inch plywood which is 3 feet, 9 inches wide by 3 feet tall in between the sides. This is the back of your cabinet. This piece should be even with the outside edges of the sides. Screw this into place. You should now have a cabinet shell.

3. Take one of your pieces of 3/4-inch plywood which are 3 feet, 9 inches wide by 2 feet, 11 1/4 inches tall and place it in the interior of your cabinet shell. This is your lower shelf. Measure 1 inch from the bottom of the cabinet. This is where the bottom of the lower shelf will be located. Place the shelf in position, make sure it is level and screw the lower shelf into place.

4. Measure up 2 feet from the top of the lower shelf. This is the location of the upper shelf. Place the other shelf piece in this location, make sure it is level and screw it into place.

5. Drill two holes with the hole saw in the back of the cabinet. These holes should be centered on the back of the cabinet and in between the shelves.

6. Place your 3-foot-by-4-foot piece of plywood on top of the cabinet. This piece should fit squarely on top of the cabinet. Make sure its square and screw it into place.

7. Attach the hinges on either side of the interior of the cabinet inside the space between the lower and upper shelves. These should be evenly placed along the sides. Attach the remaining pieces of plywood to the hinges and attach the door handles to the pieces of plywood on the opposite sides of the hinges. These are the doors to your cabinet.

Tips & Warnings

• This cabinet should fit most media elements. If you need more or less room, just change the dimensions of the wood you use. The process is the same. You may think the top is too big to fit on the cabinet. It's not. There is supposed to be some overhang on the sides.

References

• Cabinet Plans