TV Wall Unit

Flat screen televisions are great, since you can mount them directly to the wall and they don't take up so much space in the room. However the problem for renters is that there are often unsightly cables and cords running from ground level electrical outlets and other sources.

I wanted to create something akin to a fireplace mantel that would obscure the cables, accomodate a power strip, and provide a shelf up top that could be used for anything from displaying keepsakes and mementos to providing a passageway for cats :-)

I could have put this together using just a simple sketch, but I wanted to use the project as an opportunity to familiarize myself with AutoCAD 2014 for Mac. Using that app, I designed all my parts.

After a trip to the lumber yard, I was ready to measure and cut.

Next, assembly. I used an oversized L-bracket and clamps to hold the wood pieces in place at right angles while I drilled and screwed them together. The brackets themselves aren't a part of the finished project.

Next, paint. I went with a black satin interior paint for the base, sides, and AppleTV shelf. This matches the TV and provides zero visual distraction when watching. I had considered using a clear-coat for the top shelf - but with this piece the top shelf would primarily be used as a walkway (and nap-space) for cats, so I chose to leave the shelf untreated.

The finished unit. While the design is completely stable on its own, for added safety and security (against earthquakes and jumping cats) the unit is screwed into the wall just beneath the top board.

The gap between the top of the television and the top shelf is intentional. Though the unit does not run particularly hot, I wanted a space for warm air to vent. From this angle the wall is visible, but from a sitting position the black backboard obscures that gap. I'll probably circle back around and staple in a short strip of black fabric so the gap is invisible from any height.

Detail shot shows the shelf for the AppleTV hockey puck.

Detail shot shows the rounded corner of the top shelf. I also used a router to round the top/bottom edges, as well as the left/right edges of the side pieces near the TV.