Build a custom home entertainment center with simple and inexpensive materials.
A home theater is ideal for entertaining or family gatherings, but before you can revel in the luxury of a home theater you have to build a space for all of your components. Purchasing a bulky entertainment center is expensive; instead, consider building your own entertainment center on your own budget. From skilled woodworkers to ambitious homeowners with good intentions, do-it-yourself home entertainment centers are adaptable to several levels of skill.
Built-In Centers
Building a custom entertainment center requires considerable architectural skills including drafting and woodworking. If you are considerably handy, a built-in entertainment center provides customizable storage space for all home theater components. Build an entertainment center into an existing alcove or design a standing center that fits against a main wall. During the drafting phase, be sure to take several measurements to ensure accuracy in the final designs. A hand-drawn sketch is usually suitable for simple designs while more complicated or larger structures benefit from a drafting software program like AutoCAD. To cut down on materials cost and to save time, visit a local hardware store or design center and purchase pre-made kitchen cabinetry that fits into your space; remove the cabinet doors for open shelving space that surrounds the center of the entertainment piece.
Repurposed Furniture
Repurpose existing pieces of furniture in your home to create a personalized entertainment center. A coffee table with under table storage is a suitable television stand. Place components like a DVD player, receiver or cable box on the shelf below the table; two matching end tables on either side of the television offer additional storage for lesser used components or remote controls. A sturdy set of standing bookshelves turn into an entertainment center when a central rectangle of shelving is removed to fit a television; due to the size of the piece, be sure to screw it into the wall to prevent tipping. For a classic look, place the television in the center compartment of an old hutch or armoir; larger pieces are ideal for entertainment rooms that double as family rooms because the closed doors hide the television when not in use.
Container Center
For a low-cost option for DIY entertainment centers, create a unit from several containers to provide ample storage for your components. Though some configurations provide space for a television, a wall mounted television is best suited for this project due to the potential of tipping when stacking crates. For a rustic look in a country home, collect several wooden milk crates and lay them on their sides so that the open end faces forward. If you are a bit more playful, the more modern plastic crates in a variety of colors are also an option; secure the crates to one another with zip ties to prevent sliding. Other designs combine plastic or fabric bins with metal storage racks placed on either side of the television to frame the television and provide utilitarian storage. Get creative with fabric bins by selecting a color scheme that matches your room decor or choose several different color to create a pattern.
Tags: home, entertainment, centers, entertainment center, home theater, either side, either side television, entertainment centers, fabric bins, side television, that fits, your components