Materials: Ikea Lack shelf, Ikea Capita Legs, MDF, Acoustic Speaker Cloth, staples, cabinet magnets
Description: I wanted a TV stand that looked clean, modern, and would hide all of my components but leave them usable by remote. I had seen this Ikea shelf used as a tv stand a couple times and liked it but thought I could contribute something. On another Ikea hack I saw someone use speaker cloth stretched on a frame to cover up an opening and thought it was clever so I combined the ideas here.
Step 1. Acquire Lack shelf : )
Step 2. After putting the shelf together I made the necessary measurements to know what size to cut the MDF strips to for the frames.
Step 3. After having the MDF cut and tacked together into rectangular frames I screwed the cabinet magnets into place on the shelf. This was the hardest part. Getting those screws to penetrate the veneer on the shelf on the insides of the shelf was quite frustrating but we found beer helped with that.
Step 4. I then cut the speaker cloth to the appropriate sizes and stapled them to the MDF frames.
Step 5. I decided to use the feet to raise the level of the shelf and TV a bit higher and to give a more 'open' and 'clean' look. I used 8 legs total as I wanted it to be as sturdy as possible, my plasma TV is quite heavy. I arranged them with 2 on each end and in the middle. The other 2 legs were mounted in the middle a quarter of the way in from the ends to provide good support where the tv would be.
*Note: You'll notice there is a bit of a gap inbetween the frames and the shelf openings, this was unintentional. The Home Depot guy cut the MDF the wrong size and we had to re cut them to even it out and thats what happened. I decided it wasn't the end of the world. Oh, and dont mind the SNES hiding under there.
What we're left with is a TV stand that looks really clean, hides aways all the components and gives me easy access to them when necessary. The whole project was finished over the course of a few days. I'm quite happy with how it turned out but I need to do some serious cable management behind this thing. I'm thinking about screwing some zip ties to the back and running the wires through there....I'll get around to it.
~ Justin Clark, Lakewood, Ohio
Great build! Would you be able to provide a little more info on how you attached the legs? Thanks
ReplyDelete@Marco Sure! If you look closely in the third photo you'll see I just screwed them down with some drywall screws (4 for each leg). The photo also shows the arrangement. Not sure if I answered your question so let me know. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteJustin
I really like what you did. Very clever idea with the speaker cloth frames. I may have to use this trick in an upcoming project ;)
ReplyDeleteSo do your speakers play music. I WILL NOT do this unless they play music. Plus white on wood w/ black... Eh....
ReplyDeleteI really like your idea, but I dont think that the setup would be able to hide your average size stereo receiver and cablebox/dvr. Am I misunderstood?
ReplyDeleteLooks great though.
@Richard, it sure is. My Scientific Atlanta DVR is in there, along with a modem, a center channel speaker (all in one of the shelfs), in the others I have my 15" PowerBook G4, an Apple Tv, a Time Capsule, my Logitech reciever (which is quite small) and a pacman and spongebob game. Id say you can fit quite a bit in there, tho results will vary of course.
ReplyDelete@Anonymous, Do my speakers play music? Huh? I have a 5.1 Logitech Z5500 system that, yes, plays music thanks to my apple tv and airplay setup.As far as the color scheme, I chose white to stand out in my living room. I understand other may not like it, the Lack shelf used comes in a variety of colors.
@Justin, Does a turtleneck come with the Apple remarks? I am glad you have an Apple TV and Apple Airplay, Shows that your lazy. I was curious though as to if the speakers play music. I see 4 speakers. Can you hear music from them?
ReplyDeleteJeremie, you're an ass lol.
ReplyDelete@ Anonymous
ReplyDeleteIt's "you're", not "your"...among your other errors.
Nice idea. Might copy it and attach speaker cloth to the back as well to prevent dust from getting on my stuff. Cause no matter how much you vacuum, those electronic devices are really dust magnets.
ReplyDeleteBut before I will do that, I might get a color advice from Anonymous. We too have wooden floors! ;-)
I think you did a fantastic job! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteHey I'm from Lakewood too! Which Ikea do you go to?
ReplyDeletei didn't figure out how you're get off speaker "door" , is there an opening system or you're simply get off the whole mdf frame ?
ReplyDeleteby the way the gag inbetween is a accidentaly realy good idea :) more stylish
excuse my poor english
sure i 'll pich up this idea for a door opening system horizontally :) more convenient then my first thought with a glass/acrylique door
How do the speaker cloth doors work exactly? I don't see how they stay in there. I was thinking you could use a cabinet door hinge to essentially turn them into doors. I have a 14 month old, so this seems like a great way to keep little hands off of tech...
ReplyDeleteHey guys, the mdf frames simply attach via cabinet door magnets, on on each side. Take a close look at the pic you'll see them. And when I need them off they just pop right out. You could intact install a hinge if you wanted the door effect, I found it to fit my purposes better to be able to take the whole frame out when needed.
ReplyDeleteJustin
Sorry, I do not see an Ikea Lack which mimics this frame/base.
ReplyDeleteDid you just build the screen covers and assembly, or did you also build the bottom/sidewalls/top out of say a Lack Wall Shelf (and shorter shelves turn onto their sides)?
Also, what is the actual length of each compartment. You answered someone else by stating it fits your Scientific Atlanta DVR, but that doesn't tell us how wide your compartment is. Some DVR boxes are over 20 inches/508mm wide (unfortunately).
I really like the idea with the speaker cloth! But do IR remotes still work with this? I mean can you control your equipment w/out taking the grille off?
ReplyDeleteyes, ir works through the cloth
ReplyDeleteHi Justin! :) Love this hack. I also have a Lack TV stand with Capita legs, but I think I will have to unscrew the legs and re-attach them. They aren't holding up very well because I used the screws that came with the legs and the Lack's material is WAY too soft to support the screws. :(
ReplyDeleteDo they even sell Lack TV stands anymore? I can't find it...
ReplyDeleteI love this hack. Did you buy 3 long shelves and cut 1 of them down, or did you buy the small square shelves? Also curious about how heavy your TV is. Thanks!
ReplyDelete