Stylish cabinet for the lounge

This low cabinet unit is ideal for a TV but works equally well without one. Follow the steps and you should be done in two hours

Project notes

• The cutting list (A-D) can be cut from four 1 800 x 455 x 18mm laminated pine shelving boards.
• The optional shelves (H) will need to be cut from an additional board.
• The supports (E and F) are cut from three 1 800 x 69 x 32mm pine boards.
• Make sure that your wood merchant cuts the wood accurately to specification. Even a 1mm mistake can cause problems when you try to build the project.

Shopping list

Cutting list (laminated pine)

A - top and bottom: two 1 800 x 455 x 18mm planks
B - uprights: four 455 x 414 x 18mm planks
C - middle shelf: one 568 x 455 x 18mm plank
D - doors: two 572 x 406 x 18mm planks.
E - long base supports: two 1 740 x 69 x 32mm planks
F – short base supports: two 257 x 69 x 32mm planks

Cutting list (other)

G - back: two 600 x 450 x 3mm hardboard planks
H - optional cupboard shelves: two 576 x 400 x 18mm pine planks

Other

• 16mm chipboard screws
• 45mm chipboard screws
• wood glue
• four (brass) hinges
• two handles
• panel pins
• four 75mm castors (two with brakes)
• wood filler
• rough and medium grit sandpaper
• wood primer
• enamel/acrylic PVA
• corner blocks (optional

Equipment

• sharp pencil
• tape measure
• cordless or power drill
• 3mm drill bit
• countersinking drill bit
• jigsaw
• steel ruler
• slide rule or try square
• hammer
• orbital and belt sanders
• paintbrush
• foam roller

Get started

1 On both the top and bottom planks (A) mark the following measurements from one 455mm side: 18mm, 576mm, 18mm, 576mm, 18mm, 576mm, and 18mm. You can use one of the 18mm uprights (B) as a guide to measure the 18mm sections to ensure that they will fit accurately later on.

2 Use the drill and 3mm bit to drill five equally spaced pilot holes along the 18mm wide strips, which were made in the previous step, on both the top and bottom sections (A). Use a countersinking drill bit to recess each of the holes.

3 Draw 18mm-wide markings midway (198mm in from both 455mm edges) along the two of the upright sections (B). Drill four equally spaced pilot holes along the 18mm-wide strips and use a countersinking drill bit to recess each of the holes. Place 45mm chipboard screws in the holes, ready to fix the middle shelf in place.

4 Glue and screw the two uprights to the middle shelf (C) to form an H shape.

5 Place the top plank (A) onto the two uprights joined by the shelf and glue and screw it in place using the markings created in step one as a guide in order to position the uprights correctly. Remember to glue all joints before screwing sections together.

6 Repeat step 5 using the bottom plank (A) and then place the remaining two uprights (B) in position at the ends. Fix everything in place using 45mm chipboard screws.

7 Glue and, using 45mm chipboard screws, screw the two long supports (E) and the two short supports (F) underneath the cabinet. Positioned the supports 30mm in, all round, from the edges of the bottom plank. These supports need to be thoroughly glued, as they will provide strength to the structure.

8 Attach the brass hinges to the insides of the two doors (D) using 16mm chipboard screws. Hang the doors in place in the openings on either side of the central uprights Screw a handle of your choice to each door.

9 Use a hammer and panel pins to fix the hardboard backs (G) behind the unit on each end to complete the two side cupboards. The middle section of the unit is left open so that it can accommodate your appliance cables. It can, however, also be closed with hardboard – just used a hole saw to cut circular openings in the wood so that you can thread your cables and wiring through.

10 Use 16mm chipboard screws to fix the castors to the support struts, as shown. Place the two castors with brakes at the front of the unit. Finish the unit by filling all exposed screws and blemishes with wood filler. Sand the unit to a smooth finish before painting it with an enamel or acrylic PVA in the colour of your choice. You can install optional shelves (H), measuring 576 x 400 x 18mm, included inside the cupboards, using corner blocks and 16mm chipboard screws.