Hi guys it's Warren here and today I'm going to show you how you can make your very own electric
TV cabinet. This is surprisingly easy to make plus the mechanism is quite cheap as well. This
will sit perfectly at the end of any bed and trust me, it's the ultimate talking point in any room.
Firstly you'll need to cut all the pieces of structural timber you'll be using to make your
cabinet frame to size. Here I use 1.5 x 2.5 inch wood. Ensure you make your measurements so the TV
and TV mechanism will fit inside the cabinet then use a saw to cut all your wood to size.
Once you've cut everything you need, we'll start by building the first frame. This involves making
the frame for the front and back of your cabinet by securely fastening the wood into place with
some screws. Next, fasten some wood onto each corner of one of the frames like shown.
Then fix the second frame to these pieces of wood to make the shell of your cabinet. Always
remember to make pilot holes where possible to avoid the wood from splitting. Next we'll attach
a base to our cabinet frame. All you'll need to do this is get a sheet of OSB board and put the
frame on top of the board. Measure it out, cut it then securely screw the board into place.
Once you've attached the base, to improve the structural integrity of your cabinet,
secure some more pieces of timber to the frame - Just like shown.
At this point we'll want to check the TV mechanism and the TV will fit inside the cabinet like we'd
hope. Securely fit it inside the cabinet frame as per the instructions that came with the mechanism.
Plug it in then check it works just right. For more information about
the specific mechanism I used for this project, click on the link on screen.
Once you're happy it's working as you expect, remove the mechanism then use a sander to sand the
frame so it's all nice and smooth and flush. Our next job is to board up the front and back of the
frame. So I got some big sheets of 6mm MDF then laid the frame on top and then measured them out.
Also be sure to add 2x the thickness of your boards to the width of your front
and back board. So, when using 6mm thick MDF this means adding an additional 12mm.
Cut your MDF to size then check your sheets fit on the front and back of the cabinet. When you're
happy with them, use generous helpings of No More Nails to attach the boards to the front and back.
Make sure they're securely fastened down, being aware you may need to use G-clamps or heavy
objects in parts to make sure it sticks properly. You may also also want to use nails as well.
Once you've done one side and it's set, then attach the board to the other side of your TV
cabinet. At this point and before you attach the boards to the sides of your cabinet,
whilst you still have side access, we're going to put in place all our electrics.
Take a drill and drill a big hole in the back, where we can feed through our wires.
I'd also recommend installing an extension lead on the inside so you can neatly plug
in your TV. At this point you'll also want to re-install the TV mechanism we removed earlier.
Once done it's then safe to board up the sides of your TV cabinet - Again using No More Nails
and sheet MDF. Our next job - we're going to add some panelling to the front of our cabinet.
To do this you'll need some strip wood you've measured to fit the front of the cabinet, all
cut to size. Then again use some No More Nails to fix this to the front of the cabinet. We'll later
be adding some skirting board to the bottom of the cabinet, so be mindful of this when attaching
the paneling - Making it deeper at the bottom. As mentioned, to tidy up the cabinet, we'll add some
skirting board to the bottom. Simply do this by measuring your skirting board to size then cut it
using an angled mitre saw or block. Then fix it into place with, you guessed it, No More Nails.
Next we'll take a sander again to finish off all the edges to make sure they're all
nice and smooth. You may also want to get some flexible decorators caulk to fill in any gaps.
The next job is to make the lid for the cabinet. Do this by simply measuring the width and depth
of the cabinet. Add a little bit on t give your lid a bit of an overhang. Using 12mm thick MDF,
cut it to size then check it fits. For the lid, I just want the centre to lift up - Leaving a
space on the left and right hand side that will remain static when the TV is lifting out the
cabinet. To do this, simply cut the lid into 3 as shown, ensuring the middle bit is wide enough for
the TV to fit through. Fasten down the two end sections then your TV cabinet is ready to paint.
Give the cabinet and lid a good couple of coats. When it's dry remove the lid and we're
going to attach it to the cabinet using a piano hinge. Carefully measure where the hinge needs
to attach to the cabinet and lid to ensure the lid sits flush with the two sections of the lid
which we secured down to the left and right hand side of the top of the cabinet.
Once you've fully fastened the lid to the hinge, you may find it doesn't sit flat with the other
parts of the lid when it's closed. This can easily be rectified simply by using screw
covers or sponge pads to give the lid a bit of a raise. Now for the exciting part, your TV cabinet
is now ready to be put into place. If placing at the end of a bed, make sure the panelling
is on the outside then turn the mechanism on and leave it to rise out of the cabinet. Carefully and
securely attach the TV onto the mechanism whilst making sure all cables are attached to the back.
Test everything works whilst adding any additional finishing touches. Remember you can make this not
just for the end of the bed, but also so it sits up nicely against a wall as well. There you have
it, that's how easy it is to make your very own electronically lifting TV cabinet as easy as
that. If you loved this DIY project remember to give this video a thumbs up and subscribe to my
channel. Also check out more of my DIY projects by clicking on one of the videos on screen.