A DIY television cabinet can save you money.
Television cabinets and large dressers have a similar shape and size; instead of throwing out an old dresser, turn it into a television cabinet for your bedroom. To make the project a success, you will need a dresser with drawers that are about 5 inches wider than your television. With a few simple supplies, you can make a beautiful, functional piece for a fraction of the cost of a new piece of furniture.
Instructions
1. Measure the height of your television, from the bottom of the base to the top of the frame. Take out the top drawer of the dresser. Starting from the top of the drawer opening, measure down the front of the dresser and mark off the height of the television. Remove all the drawers in between, including the one with the bottom mark. If you have a tall dresser, you may have additional drawers on the bottom; leave them in place.
2. Take off all the interior hardware for the drawers that you removed. Use a screwdriver or drill to take out the screws that secure the drawer slides, side brackets or hinges.
3. Use a small hand saw or an electric saw to cut out the pieces of wood that separate the drawer openings. Cut as close to the outside frame as possible, aiming to leave a straight edge. If your dresser has any interior wooden supports, cut them off as well. When you are done, you should have a large opening where the drawers used to be; this will become the space for the television.
4. Measure the interior of the dresser and cut a piece of plywood that will fit smoothly inside the opening; this will form the base for the television to sit on. Create supports for the base by cutting four lengths of 1-inch-by-1-inch boards, one for each side.
5. Nail or screw the supports to the interior of the cabinet. Arrange the supports so the base board will sit flush with the bottom edge of the large opening; the height will vary based on the structure of the dresser and the amount of space between drawers. Set the base on top of the supports. If your television is particularly heavy, add an additional cross-support across the middle.
6. Remove the television base board and the bottom drawers. Take off the remaining hardware and set it aside. Use sandpaper to smooth out any rough edges, particularly on the large television opening. Fill in any large holes with wood putty.
7. Cover the dresser, drawers and television base board with a new finish to create a cohesive look. Prime the surface with a bonded primer and cover each piece with a coat of stain or paint, depending on the look you want. When the paint or stain is completely dry, reattach the hardware and put the drawers and television base back in place.
Tags: base board, television base, your television, drawers television, drawers television base