Gone are the days of those televisions that are 2 feet deep, 1000 pounds and require their own piece of furniture. As a result, half of the population is left with television cabinets they no longer use. Many thrift stores are so overrun with these cabinets that they will no longer accept them. Most have cardboard backs that have giant holes punched out to accommodate the back of the TV.
Let me tell you, these bad boys can be easily converted into fantastic armoirs. A few adjustments and they can be holding linens, sweaters, baby clothes or “dress up” clothes for kids with budding imaginations. By simply removing the back and replacing it with plywood, you now have a structurally sound cabinet. From there, you can add shelves or a hanging rod and the possibilities are endless. These cabinets can then be painted, refinished or decorated to feel at home in any room. Check out my latest transformation!
This cabinet was in excellent condition. It had minor damage on the bottom corner that was easy to repair. It did need a little tweaking since it had a turntable base for the television and the doors opened and slid back into the unit. This is a great feature for watching TV but requires removal if you want to add shelves or a hanging rod. I removed the turntable and all of the hardware for the doors, filling all of the holes that remained. 
I also removed the back and replaced it with plywood for strength and stability. Next came the shelves, which were cut to size out of 1/2″ plywood. I trimmed out the front edge of each shelf with a small piece of decorative wood to give a clean edge.
The shelves and interior were painted black, and the exterior and decorative trim on the shelves were painted Dark Teal by Benjamin Moore. I remounted the doors to the sides with the addition of small wooden blocks to adjust for the depth of the old hardware. A light dry brushing of black over the Dark Teal created depth and interest. The entire unit was sealed in Minwax Polycrylic in Matte.
Next time you are in need of a storage cabinet, keep old TV cabinets in mind. They can be easily customized and are certainly in abundance on Facebook Marketplace, garage sales and thrift store.
Hold my wine, I’ve got this…
Amy
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