Build the Media Cabinet You Really Want

So you want a good quality media cabinet but you are not prepared to pay the price; however,  you don’t really want to settle for the cheaper alternative because it’s not quite what you want. Does this sound familiar?

Being frugal doesn’t mean you have to settle for anything less than fabulous! My advice to you is to get your hands on some tools and build the media cabinet you really want by yourself. Yes, I just said build it yourself.

Not only is building stuff pretty easy, it’s empowering and a lot of fun. Okay, some wouldn’t agree with me about the fun or easy part but it’s definitely an empowering experience. Each time I complete a project, I feel an enormous sense of pride and accomplishment. I could go on and on about how great building things can be but I’d rather show you my latest project!

Today I’m excited to reveal my latest completed project, a DIY media cabinet for our basement family room. Here she is!

The actual cabinet is extra wide and is large enough to accommodate a 55″ television. Our TV is 46″.

I love the deep storage cabinets. You can never have too much storage!

You can’t see them in the photo but the top two shelves have round cut outs at the back for easy cable management.

I’m very relieved to be finished this project because now we can start working on the rest of the room!

After talking to friends and family about my project, I want to share with you some of the FAQs I’ve received!

Classic Media Cabinet/ TV Stand FAQs

What kind of wood did you use?

I chose cabinet grade poplar plywood. If you want to keep the cost down choose poplar or birch plywood, especially if you plan to paint. If staining, I would go with maple or oak.

Did you cut all the pieces yourself?

I had Windsor Plywood cut all the large pieces. They do charge a fee for cutting but I found them to be much more accurate than Home Depot. At HD it depends on who is working.

Do you have a saw?

I have a 10″  sliding compound mitre saw. It’s very handy to have around for smaller cuts.

Did you sand your cabinet before finishing?Do you use a power sander?

Yes! I started sanding with 120 grit paper, then 150, 220 and ended with 400 grit to get a smooth finish. I don’t have a powder sander. Sanding by hand is fairly easy, just messy. Make sure you wear a dust mask and eye protection.

Painting Details Please

After sanding my cabinet, I wiped the excess dust off with a tack cloth. I applied 2 coats of water based primer (Zinnser Bulls Eye 123) and 4 thin coats of Behr Ultra Satin Enamel Paint in Polar Bear. Many people swear by paint brushes but I just used a cheap foam roller to apply the paint and primer.  I find that building your coats in thin layers keeps the finish a lot smoother.

Why build when you can buy? 

A lot of people ask me this and I always get the same jaw dropping response when I give them my straight up answer. I build because I don’t have $1047.29 to spare. Yep, that is how much the inspiration media/tv stand costs.  Oh and that doesn’t include assembly. You still need to put the cabinet together yourself. That’s what you get for a thousand bucks – a big box of pieces. It’s a very expensive jigsaw puzzle!

How much did you spend on your media cabinet?

Approximately $250 CAD. The price includes cabinet grade plywood (not MDF), edge banding, primer, paint and miscellaneous costs like screws and door hardware.

Why type of hinges did you use for the doors?

Adjustable full-wrap hinges by Amerock. I bought them from Lee Valley Tools.

Where did you get the plans?

If you’re into DIY blogs then chances are you’ve already heard about ana-white.com (and you’ve probably completed 5 times as many projects!). If you haven’t, then where have you been???? The website only gets like a gazillion page views a month! In case you don’t have a clue about Ana’s blog, formerly known as Knock Off Wood, then do yourself a favour and head over there after letting me know what you think about my brand new DIY media cabinet (made using Ana’s plans of course!).

Want to build your own media cabinet? Click here to view the plans!

If you have any questions about this project, please feel free to email me: shani at inspirednest dot ca. I look forward to hearing from you:-)

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