How to Build a Hidden Entertainment Center

With all the electronic gear in the average living room these days, an entertainment center can be a great way to keep it all under control and out of sight until you need to use it. Effective storage adds a less-cluttered look to the room and stops cables and cords from snaking everywhere. With some ingenuity, it’s surprisingly easy to make your own hidden entertainment center.

Step 1 - Selecting Furniture

You need bookcases and a cabinet that match each other in terms of their finish and the materials they are made from. Also, the two pieces of 17x35 inch wood should also match irrespective of whether they’re finished in wood or veneer. The cabinet will need two shelves, as you’ll be using these for storing your DVD player and audio equipment. Ideally, the shelves should pull out for better access, if possible. Doors on the cabinet will keep all this equipment out of sight.

The bookcases won’t need doors and will be used for storing DVDs, CDs and books.

Step 2 - Assembling Furniture

In all likelihood, the furniture you select for your entertainment center will be flat pack, so you’ll need to assemble it according to the instructions. It’s best to do this as close to the place where you’ll be putting together your entertainment center as possible.

Step 3 - Entertainment Center

When the cabinet and bookcases are assembled, put them together with the cabinet in the center and a bookcase on each side. For stability, screw the bookcases to the cabinet. Make sure the screws are long enough to secure fully, but not so long that the points will show through.

Cut your molding to the right length to fit across the entire top of your entertainment center and fix in place with glue. Allow it to dry.

Step 4 - Doors and Hardware

The two pieces of wood that are each 17x38 inches will make the doors above the cabinet to hide the television, which will sit on top of the cabinet. Check the fit and adjust with a plane if necessary.

It’s important that these two doors open and close smoothly. To help with this, check that the angles between the cabinet and the bookcases are square. If they are, add hinges to the wood before screwing the hinges to the sides of the bookcases. Check the way the doors open and close. If it’s not smooth, adjust the angles and width slightly until a perfect fit is achieved.

You are now ready to add your hardware to the cabinets. To ensure that the doors of the hidden entertainment center don’t come open by themselves, install a small magnet lock on the back on the doors hiding the television. This will keep the doors closed until you pull lightly on the handles. Put your audio and video equipment in place. You can add a turntable on top of the cabinet if you desire. This will let you turn the television to the best viewing angle.