TV Shelf

[Matt Meiser]

I'm looking for ideas for a shelf for a small TV (13") and VCR or DVD in the bedroom. We don't have floor space for a pedestal or cabinet and would like something that mounts up high, perhaps about 7-8 feet off the floor (we have a cathedral ceiling.) The rest of the furniture in the room is shaker style so we want something to go with that. I really don't want to use one of those metal brackets, but my wife saw the one my brother and his wife used and likes the concept.

[Chris Messier]

There are a couple sites you can go to to get links to free plans which you can check out to see if you find something you like or use a couple of them to come up with your ouw plan.

http://members.cox.net/messman123/messman.htm
http://absolutelyfreeplans.com/
http://www.woodworkersworkshop.com/resources/index.php?cat=102

If you don't find anything at those please let me know I have a slew of other sites as well I can send to you.

[Jamie Buxton]

I'm looking for ideas for a shelf for a small TV (13") and VCR or DVD in the bedroom. We don't have floor space for a pedestal or cabinet and would like something that mounts up high, perhaps about 7-8 feet off the floor (we have a cathedral ceiling.) The rest of the furniture in the room is shaker style so we want something to go with that. I really don't want to use one of those metal brackets, but my wife saw the one my brother and his wife used and likes the concept.

Well, Matt, you're just not going to find a Shaker TV stand. :D Shakers didn't have TVs.

You might make a simple five-sided box -- that is, top, bottom, sides, and back. The back should be 1/2" or 3/4" thick, and dadoed into the other pieces. The dimensions are set so that the video player fits inside the box, and the TV sits on top. To install it, you run screws through the back into studs inside the wall. There's enough height in the unit to be sturdy under the weight of these components. The good thing about this design is that you don't have to look at those ughly metal brackets. Make it from nice cherry, or pine with milk paint, and you can call it Shaker!

If you want to get trick, you could slant the top so that the TV looks down toward you, instead of looking over your head. You'd want to put a little lip on the front to make sure it stays up there.

While you're avoiding ugly things in your bedroom, see if you can find a way to get power and cable to this unit without having the wires run up the wall in plain sight.

[Jim Becker]

I didn't particularly like the look of the metal systems, either, but after thinking about it, they are somewhat the most practical and functional solution. Why? Because they allow you to position and reposition the screen, both for viewing and cleaning. Far be it for me to discourage a woodworking project (!), but after four years of use, I'm pleased I did go with the articulating bracket in our bedroom...so much so, I used a small one for our kitchen project.

Of course, you could replace the tube with a flat screen and a VESA wall mount that wouldn't even show! Might cut into the tool budget, however... :D

If you do go the shelf route and tip it as suggested (almost a requirement), be sure you make arrangements for a strap to hold the television in place. A lip on the front by itself is not sufficient for safety.

[Matt Meiser]

Thanks everyone. We decided to go with the bracket. I did use my new Dewalt impact to put it up though, so I still got to use some power tools.

[Paul Comi]

Matt-I'm too late on this one, but this is what I would have suggested. I built this wall mounted tv stand for my shop to get the tv and vcr up and out of the way in the corner. It hangs using a french cleat. You can use a face frame that is shaker style and tie it in with other furniture. I designed it myself to fit my needs and built it out of birch veneer plywood.

http://img50.exs.cx/img50/9648/tvstand.jpg
http://img50.exs.cx/img50/4936/tvstandgutts.jpg
http://img50.exs.cx/img50/820/tvstandcleat.jpg

[Chris Padilla]

Paul,

That is very nice and good to see french cleats all over the place...my shop walls should look similarly....