Here’s How to Make an Entertainment Unit

Create your own customized, built-in entertainment or media unit. It’s easy when using our ready-to-assemble cabinetry. Set up a surround-sound movie room, rec room, media centre, or boost your home’s extra built-in storage space. Whatever your home-improvement or updating plans, this versatile, off-the-shelf cabinetry is the perfect solution for savvy do-it-yourselfers.

Supplies:

• ready-to-assemble cabinets

• 1” x 4” lumber

• cabinet fridge panels

• cabinet crown moulding

• cabinet kick plates

• 1-1/4” construction screws (to join cabinets)

•  3” construction screws (to screw cabinets to wall)

•  finishing nails

• cabinet door hinges

• cabinet door hardware

Tools:

•  power drill

•  tape measure

•  level

• ladder

Steps:

1. Plan out your entertainment unit with the dimensions of the ready-to-assemble cabinets. Make sure to account for crown moulding. Assemble all materials, and build cabinet boxes, without doors, according to manufacturer’s instructions. 

2. Position and secure base cabinets against the wall. Secure adjacent cabinets together with screws, ensuring level. If necessary, add shims at cabinet base. 

3.  Place 12” deep wall cabinets on top of base cabinets, flush to the front, to form your side sections or towers according to plan. For living room built-ins, leave space in the centre for your television. Secure adjacent cabinets together with screws. 

4.  At the top of the side sections or towers of your unit, secure 24” deep upper cabinets to the cabinet below, and to the wall. 

5. Attach a straight 1” x 4” ledger to the wall, spanning the centre space between each side tower. Ensure it is level and then use this as a guide for placement of upper cabinets. The ledger will also help support the cabinets while you work. 

6.  Secure uppers of this top row of cabinetry to adjacent cabinets and to the wall using screws. Once secured, remove the ledger. 

7.  Use fridge panels, cut to size, to face all sides of the centre opening. Secure fridge panels in place with screws from the cabinet side. Ensure screws don’t break through the front. 

8. Attach all door fronts to cabinets, according to plan. 

9.  Paint open area of wall with a matching BeautiTone paint colour. 

10. Measure, cut and nail all cabinet kick plates into place. 

11. Position cabinet shelves in place for the entire unit. 

12. Measure for placement of door hardware; drill holes, then screw knobs or pulls into place. 

13. Measure, cut and attach crown moulding to top of cabinetry using finishing nails. 

14. Accessorize your unit with entertainment essentials and décor to achieve the look of custom built-ins.

Total time: 1-2 days