Entertainment Center

Corey Tays
by Corey Tays
$150
2
Medium
I was tired of my tv taking up so much space in front of my window. I'm cheap and didn't want to fork out a lot of money on an entertainment center. So I decided I could make one on my own and build it around my current tv stand.
This was my setup. Pretty dull.
I went to Walmart and purchased two cheap bookcases. I tried painting them but paint wouldn't stick because of the finish. So I sanded it all off before I put the pieces together.
With the finish removed, I was able to paint. Fortunately I was able to paint my existing tv stand without sanding it.
The cardboard pieces that go on the back of the shelves could not be sanded or painted. Plus, the shelves were not very durable. So I bought 1/4 inch luan plywood and nailed it to the back of the shelves after I painted them. I set the tv stand on concrete blocks and built a base to cover them up. The top is from an old piano that I loved but was beyond repair.
I'm very happy with the final outcome. If I ever need to move it, it will be easy because the individual pieces are not nailed together. All in all, it was pretty easy. I just took my time over a couple of months to complete it.
Frequently asked questions
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  2 questions
  • Barb in Texas Barb in Texas on Mar 22, 2016
    Wouldn't it just be easier to buy cheap wood then to sand the laminate finish off WalMart book shelves?
  • NancyMaria NancyMaria on Apr 12, 2016
    Not a question, but a suggestion. You might want to attach the tall shelves to the wall with a couple of screws. It would be a shame to have them fall forward and ruin your day.
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  • Lisa House Lisa House on Apr 29, 2016
    Fabulous idea, nicely done!
  • Debi53 Debi53 on May 03, 2016
    We also add luan to replace the cardboard backs to bookcases (we just did another today). It makes them much sturdier. You really don't have to sand the finish off. You can use liquid sandpaper-just wipe on. Then use a bonding primer and any type of paint--chalk, latex, oil, spray. I have painted every kind of surface you can think of using this method. Just mentioning this for future reference. I love your creativity and your TV area looks great.
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