How to Make Television Cabinet Design Dimensions

Meaure the television first, since the cabinet is designed around it.

Designing a television or entertainment center is not that difficult, however, a lot of planning and drafting must take place before making the fist saw cut on lumber. You must take several factors into account. Making a cabinet the wrong size means added rework, and you may even have to start over. You can make the outside style you want, however, the inside dimensions are dependent on the size of the equipment. Bear in mind you are designing around boxes, and the equipment must fit inside an internal box in order for the cabinet to function correctly.

Things You'll Need

• Tape measure
• Notebook
• Pencil
• Eraser
• Ruler

Instructions

Dimensions of a Television Cabinet

1. Grasp your tape measure, and measure the length, width, and height of your television. Obtaining the proper dimensions of the equipment is crucial, and is recommended by Home and Garden Television. Write down the dimensions on your notebook. It helps to draw a box, and write the dimensions of the television on the box edges.

2. Measure your DVD player's height, width and depth. Write down the dimensions. Again, it helps to draw a box, and write the dimensions on the edges of the box.

3. Measure your cable or satellite box, again recording the height, width, and depth. Repeat this process for all components you want in the cabinet, such as a home theater amplifier or speakers.

4. Sit down at your drafting area, and start laying up the cabinet. Add 3 inches to all your dimensions. This will allow 1 and 1/2 inches of clearance between your components and the cabinet, all the way around. This gap is needed for proper ventilation of the components, since many get warm with use.

Tips & Warnings

• Draw an isometric view of boxes. Isometric means on a diagonal, so you see the front, top, and one side.This is like looking at a box from and angle, instead of straight-on.

• Designing a television cabinet requires an in depth knowledge of drafting. If you are not comfortable doing the design work, a qualified drafts-person or designer can assist you. Double check all your figures before proceeding to cut the lumber.

References

• Home and Garden Television: How to Build a Television Cabinet