How to make a TV stand with your own hands?

Today, despite the age of high technologies, televisions in most households remain an indispensable piece of furniture, in front of which the whole family gathers for free evenings.

Modern TV models can be both compact and widescreen, with the ability to mount on the wall using brackets, or simple with installation on a special cabinet or chest of drawers. In order to optimize space, especially in small apartments, flat TV screens are hung on the wall. However, the interior and construction features of the room do not always allow you to install the TV on brackets. Window openings, bends, thickness and material of the wall itself can interfere with this method of installation.

In this case modern cabinet furniture manufacturers offer a wide selection of TV stands that can easily fit into any interior style. Wide and narrow, high and low, simple and multifunctional, as part of modular furniture and representing an independent piece of furniture - any online store is literally replete with a variety of options.

But it also happens that living room interior features require an individual approach. Products presented in furniture stores may not suit the customer in terms of size or other characteristics. It is quite difficult to find the perfect ready-made version that will correspond to the given dimensions, design, color and functionality.

That's why more and more TV cabinets are made to order. But this option is quite costly. An alternative and interesting solution would be the ability to make a cabinet yourself with your own hands.

In order to build this piece of furniture, it is not at all necessary to have the skill and professionalism of a carpenter. It is enough to have imagination and the simplest woodworking skills.

The first step is to determine the dimensions of the future product and sketch out the drawings. It is preferable to draw several variations, having previously familiarized yourself with the models of TV stands that are presented in online stores. Sizing should be done very carefully, especially if the cabinet will be installed in a wall opening. First, it is necessary to determine the main parameters - the length of the product, the width and depth of the countertop. Secondly, you need to decide on the choice of material from which the conceived piece of furniture will be made.

TV tables can be made of various types of wood, plasterboard, chipboard, MDF, plastic or professional pipes. Let's take a closer look at the advantages and disadvantages of each.

• Solid wood furniture fits perfectly into classic or Scandinavian interiors, looks luxurious, is environmentally friendly, resistant to mechanical damage, has a long service life, and is easy to restore. Among the disadvantages of this material, it is worth noting the high cost, the need for special care, high weight and labor intensity in production. It should also be borne in mind that the tree is quite demanding on environmental conditions: it does not like high humidity, temperature drops, prolonged exposure to direct sunlight, and absorbs surrounding odors.

• An alternative to wood is chipboard... This material has gained popularity in the manufacture of cabinet furniture for home and office due to its low price, strength and wide range. Laminated DPS panels, in addition to the properties listed above, are not afraid of high humidity and temperature drops. Speaking about the disadvantages of chipboard / chipboard, it is worth mentioning the toxicity of this material (various formaldehydes, resins and glue are used in the manufacture of the plate). In addition, this material is not suitable for the manufacture of small parts, carved surfaces.

• MDF boards in contrast to wood-shaving, they are more environmentally friendly, since in the process of manufacturing by the press and high temperatures a natural substance is released from the sawdust, which has the properties of glue. This material is strong enough and at the same time soft, which makes it possible to use it in the manufacture of carved details of future furniture. However, MDF also has a drawback - it is high, in comparison with laminated chipboard, the price.

• In modern interior design, we often find artsy partitions and drywall shelves... This material is multifunctional and easy to use, has high thermal insulation properties, moisture and fire resistance, flexibility and lightness. However, drywall is a rather fragile material, not suitable for high loads, and it is also not capable of supporting weights.

• Plastic furniture acts as a modern alternative to wooden materials and their cheaper counterparts. The indisputable advantages of plastic curbstones are low weight and safety, which allows them to be used in children's rooms. Also, among the pluses, it is worth noting the ease of care, practicality, and cheapness. Among the disadvantages can be called instability to mechanical damage and heavy loads. Therefore, placing a 75-inch TV on a plastic stand is hardly a good idea.

• Using a profile pipe in the manufacture of furniture will be an unusual design solution. The combination of metal and wood will perfectly fit into any modern interior. Simple forging and welding skills will help you create a unique, reliable, sturdy cabinet or TV shelf. Products made from a four-ribbed profile pipe have strength and durability, and the shape of the profile contributes to a snug fit of other parts. Also among the advantages it is worth noting the low price, ease of transportation, resistance to stress and deformation. Of the shortcomings, perhaps, it is necessary to highlight the tendency to corrosion.

From additional materials, it is possible to use forged metal, glass, plywood. Based on this, the choice of tools is built:

• roulette;
• a circular saw;
• jigsaw;
• Grinder;
• plane;
• screwdriver;
• milling machine;
• set of drills.

A homemade TV stand should be made according to a previously worked out scheme. If the master does not yet have sufficient experience in furniture business, on the Internet you can see numerous videos on how to make a cabinet with your own hands. You can create a drawing either independently or using special computer programs that allow you to create a 3D model of the future product.

First of all, all the details are marked and cut. In the case of using chipboard, after cutting, the bare end of the workpiece remains visible. You can hide it with a melamine edging. When choosing, it is necessary to take into account that its size is wider than the bare end by a few millimeters.At home, when applying the edge, you can use an iron to heat the adhesive side of the product over the entire surface, after which the corner must be sanded.

Then the frame is assembled: the side and rear walls are installed, the table top and the bottom shelf are superimposed. A perforated angle can be used to fix the housing parts. After the legs are fastened, and the object is installed vertically. Next, shelves, drawers or doors are mounted, depending on the conceived model. Fittings are attached last.

In order to make the curbstone attractive and unique, all details must be carefully decorated and the bolt attachment points must be hidden. Decorating the finished product is done by engraving or applying patterns, carving the end surface, painting parts, applying paint and varnish. Self-adhesive PVC foil can be used as a restoration or a cheap decoration.

• If the cabinet will be used for a Widescreen Flat TV, it should be installed on six legs instead of four for added strength.
• When choosing the length of the screws, it is necessary to take into account the thickness of the parts in order to exclude the through passage and damage to the appearance of the product.

How to make a TV stand with your own hands, see the video.