Below, we’ve assembled a huge list of free entertainment center plans. They range from simple plywood jobs for your Xbox to elegant designs that could become the centerpiece of your living room.
There’s a remarkable range of designs available to choose from. If you want something cheap- you can upcycle some spare plywood or even an old children’s playset.
There’s also an opportunity to go all out and build a massive, upscale entertainment center that’s big enough to contain 60″ flat-screen televisions, rows of books, and even drawers for extra living-room organization.
40 DIY Entertainment Centers
1. The Simple, Customizable, Minimalistic Entertainment Center Project
An affordable entertainment center to suit your room might be hard to find. But do you know what’s not hard?
Building one with the help of these free entertainment center plans.
Your large entertainment center is a picnic table top lying on its side with shelves placed in the gaps and dowels to keep it in place. You’ll also need some power tools and eight hooks for the wiring.
And in a couple of hours, you’ll have your TV entertainment stand ready. But read the instructions carefully and make sure that the stand is stable before placing your TV on it.
2. The Ammo Crate 11 Step Entertainment Center Plan
Do you have some ammo crates lying around your house?
Then use them and make a small entertainment cabinet. How? It’s not complicated at all, thanks to this fantastic design. What’s so great about it is that you’ll have a TV stand and a place to store all your DVDs and Blu-rays.
The builder recommends that you take the size of your DVDs into account when you’re building the shelves for the cabinet. And you can use magnets to keep the entertainment cabinet’s doors close.
3. The Corner Console Blueprint
When you look at this fascinating entertainment center, you will think that it’s bought from the nearest shop. But it’s a homemade 60″ TV entertainment center for a flat screen TV.
What’s also great about the design is that you’ll have plenty of space for storing books, DVDs, and gaming consoles.
In addition to this, there are a couple of closed drawers. The builder uses pine, poplar, and birth for building this home entertainment cabinet.
4. The Dark Wood Media Storage Center Build
This home entertainment stand impresses with its simplicity, elegance, and dark mahogany color. But that’s not even the best thing.
This entertainment center design features a built-in storage place for DVDs in the doors. To make this dark wood TV stand, the builder uses 3/4″ oak for everything and Minwax mahogany finish.
However, this is a complicated project that will take you a weekend to complete, and it’s more suitable for someone with experience in woodworking.
5. The Solid Cherrywood DIY Center Design
A TV entertainment console is a necessity for any TV or game maniac.
But why bother with all those expensive entertainment centers for sale, when you can have a unique entertainment center for $250? Just take a look at this TV stand which looks like an apothecary cabinet. In fact, the bottom part contains four drawers and two cabinets for storing your gaming accessories.
The builder uses dark walnut stain for the top and antique white paint for the bottom.
Watch The Slideshow
Check out our DIY entertainment center video rundown:
6. The Majestic White Console Center Idea
This white TV stand for flat screens is perfect for someone who wants to add style and character to his living room. The TV entertainment center is big enough for a 60″ TV, and there is plenty of space for storage thanks to the bookcases. Another unique feature of the stand is that it has inset doors and drawers.
However, it’s almost as expensive to build as a new entertainment center. You’ll need dark walnut stain and white latex paint for the finish.
7. The DIY Furniture Logan Project
If you are looking for large flat screen TV stands, this entertainment center plan will catch your eye immediately.
The DIY entertainment center features a spot for your TV, several shelves for books, and drawers. What’s great about this design is that you can modify it and make the bookshelves as tall as you need them. However, this is not the cheap entertainment center, and it will cost you $300-400 depending on the materials you have on hand.
8. The 4 Step DIY Center Plan
When buying an entertainment center is out of the question, you might take a look at this entertainment center idea.
The good this is that you’re not going to build everything from scratch. Instead, you’re going to use three bookshelves to create your entertainment corner.
What’s great about this plan is that you all you have to do is measure your TV and then extend the length of the bottom bookshelf. And then you can add two top shelves with the help of standard wood screws.
9. The Primitive Pie Cabinet Center Blueprint
A media cabinet might be an excellent choice if you want a long entertainment center to add style to your living room.
The entertainment stand measures 72″ x 36″, and you can make it as deep as you want to fit your DVDs. The builder provides you with detailed instructions, including a shopping list and a cut list. For the shelves, inside the living room media center you can use shelf pins or pocket holes.
10. The Contemporary Center Build
If you want an entertainment center to turn your living room into something special, you’ve found the right design.
This antique entertainment center is perfect for large flat screen TV, and there are several shelves and drawers for storing books, DVDs, odds and ends.
The builder uses birch plywood for the base, stain grade pine for moulding, and select pine for the trim. However, this is not a cheap TV entertainment center, and you’ll need a lot of material and time.
11. The Flat Screen TV Modern Center Design
This entertainment center design could be the right one for you if you want to upgrade your current TV stand to fit a 55″ TV.
What’s more, you’ll have a spot under the TV for your consoles and two side cabinets for your speakers.
You can also use these narrow entertainment centers for displaying stuff. However, since the builder’s plan is specific to his entertainment cabinet brand, you will have to modify it.
12. The Rustic Wood Media Center Idea
This is one of the best TV entertainment centers that you can find, and it’s entirely homemade. Hard to believe that you can build this beauty with your own hands, but it’s true. And it will be the perfect addition to any living room or bedroom.
This black entertainment center has two towers, a TV console, and a bridge connecting the towers. Just think how many things you can store on all these shelves! The height of the entertainment center is under eight feet so that it will work with any standard ceiling.
13. The Center Hutch Piece TV Media Center Project
The moment you see this black entertainment center wall unit you’ll fall in love with the beautiful, elegant design.
It has a long base, two towers, and a central hutch for your TV. The black entertainment unit will fit a TV up to 55″, and you have plenty of storage space for your media, speakers, or books.
However, this 55″ TV entertainment center plan is suitable for experienced woodworkers because it’s complicated and requires specific skills and abilities.
14. The Wall Mounted Built In Plywood Center Blueprint
Buying a mounted entertainment center for your living room usually costs a small fortune. But not this time.
Thanks to this plan you can make one of the best entertainment centers for wall mounted TVs for no more than $200. The builder provides you with general instructions on how to build the base of the TV stand and the mounted shelves and how to hide all the wiring. You’ll need some power tools as a miter saw, table saw, power drill, and high-quality plywood.
15. The Children’s Toy Storage Center Build
If you want to keep the TV safe from curious children, you can make them kids entertainment center thanks to these amazing plans from Ana White.
What’s great about the design is that you have a DVD storage spot, a small toy box, a large toy cabinet, and bookshelves for children books. To build it, you need 2×6’s, 2×8’s, 1×6’s, power tools, and a lot of screws. Take a look at the dimensions beforehand to make sure you have enough space.
16. The Modern TV Media Center Design
An entertainment center with a rustic look is perfect if you want something unique for your living room.
What’s great is that you have two closed drawers and several shelves for storage. However, there are no instructions on how to build this simple entertainment center. But the good thing is that the builder provides you with an explanatory video.
17. The Deer Head Center Idea
To build an affordable entertainment center all you need is a good plan, some free time, and a little bit of creativity.
This pine entertainment center, for example, can be made for $140. And you get some pretty amazing features for that money. You have two drawers, a large shelf four your DVD or media, and two small shelves.
What’s more, the beautiful mahogany color is bound to add character to your living room in combination with the stylish drawers.
18. The Kid’s Converted Center Idea
If you want to display your impressive gaming console collection, but you don’t want to spend a fortune on a big entertainment center, there is a simple solution.
Build a pallet entertainment center based on the dimensions of your consoles. Make sure that you pick pallets in good condition and that you stain all the part before you assemble them. The builder uses cleats for the whole assembly.
19. The Floating Corner Media Stand Project
Building a floating corner entertainment center for flat screen TVs can be a fun weekend project. You just need 3/4″ plywood (three sheets), 1x2s wood, cabinet knobs, and hinges. The finished small entertainment stand measures 40″ x 27″, and it has a hidden base to support its weight.
What’s more, you have two drawers and several shelves for displaying gaming consoles or DVDs. However, keep in mind that the TV entertainment stand should be attached to the wall to prevent it from tipping.
20. The Entertainment Center + Computer Desk Design
This entertainment center plan will help you build a simple, but solid entertainment stand for your big flat screen TV and a desk for your computer.
The builder uses 3/4″ pine for the construction, ripped to 16 inches. You’ll also need a circular saw, a Kreg jig, wood glue, and dark oak finish. There are no provided dimensions so you can make the entertainment center stand as tall or short as you need it.
21. The Wooden Console Idea
If you are looking for an entertainment center for a 55-inch flat screen TV, you can take a look at this modification of the popular Ana White’s entertainment center design. In addition to the TV spot, you have a couple of closed drawers and bookshelves for your consoles, speakers or DVDs. The builder uses pine and fir for the construction and Rust-Oleum stain and finish.
22. The Console With Cooling System Project
A glass TV stand is a nice option for adding character to your dining room and keeping everything out of the way.
But you might encounter a problem with the ventilation. Don’t worry. There is a solution to this problem thanks to this plan for building a cooldown system for a glass entertainment center. However, this is a project which requires knowledge of electronics so don’t attempt it if you’re a novice.
23. The Big Screen TV Entertainment Center Project
An entertainment center for a 65 inch TV can cost you a small fortune. But why spend so much when you have this fantastic entertainment center design at your disposal? You’ll have a place not only for your TV but speakers, stereo receiver, DVD, CD players, Playstation, Wi-Fi router and more.
And all you need is 1 x 2s and 1x4s pine for the construction, hinges, eight carpet sliders, masonite, and electric power strip. The builder recommends that you choose straight pine boards with little knots.
24. The Rustic Wood Bookshelf Blueprint
The entertainment center design is based on the e IKEA Lack Inspired Bookcase plan. Thanks to it, you can build a tall entertainment center with adjustable shelves, a bridge between the bookcases and drawers with doors. The height of the stand is 84″, but you can shorten it if it’s too tall for you.
The builder uses red mahogany to achieve this stunning color, and there are detailed instructions on how to build the TV entertainment stand and the bookcase bridge.
25. The White Cabinet DIY Build
At first glance, this looks like an ordinary cabinet with shelves. In fact, it’s an entertainment center with doors. When you’re not watching the TV, you can close the doors to keep the TV hidden. What’s great is that the builder provides you with step-by-step instructions on how to build this DIY entertainment center.
But it’s a costly project, and you might have to spend up to $1000 depending on what material you have available.
26. The Center Hutch Design
If you are wondering what to do with your blank white wall, why don’t you build an entertainment center? Now, thanks to this fantastic free entertainment center plan you can have a cool TV stand, several bookcases, and shelves at your disposal. There is so much space available that you can store tons of stuff.
The design also features a string of LED lights with a dimmer across the top.
27. The White Monster Idea
Do you want to build a media wall for your living room? Then you’ve found a design that will blow your mind.
It features a large center console, a media hutch, bookcases, and drawers. You can make it as big as want, but the plans are advanced. So if you are a novice builder get someone with experience to help you. And keep in mind that this is not a cheap entertainment center.
28. The Smart IPhone-Controlled Idea
You’ll hardly find an entertainment center for wall mounted TV such as this one in the shop. I’m not talking only about the sleek design. What makes this entertainment center unique is that you can control it your iPhone. The builder has also installed LED strips underneath for effect.
There are detailed instructions how to make everything from the TV console to the Arduino hardware and software. But it’s for the best if you have some knowledge of computer programming and electronics.
29. The 2 By Four Entertainment Center Idea
Who says that you can build a small entertainment center with materials at hand? Just take a look at this simple media center design. You just need two tabletops and four chairs, and you are ready to start. As a support of your small TV console, you can use a 1″x6″x46″ pine. However, the instructions are vague, so you’ll have to rely on your creativity as well. But you’ll have an entertainment center under $100.
30. The Floating Corner Project
This floating corner entertainment stand for flat screen TVs is perfect if you have limited space in your living room. It features two bookcases with a floating board between them and an area for mounting your TV.
Keep in mind that the floating shelf is not designed to hold a TV, so if you want to put the TV on it, you’ll have to reinforce it. However, it’s strong enough for your gaming consoles and DVDs.
31. The Backcountry Design
Are you looking for a TV stand under $100? Then you’ve found an impressive TV entertainment center which will leave your friends speechless.
What’s so great about this plan is that you can build it in one day for only $60. You just need pine, Burgandy Behr paint, Minwax walnut stain, and some skills in woodworking. And you’ll have enough space for your big flat screen TV, speakers, and gaming consoles.
32. The Children’s Playhouse Idea
Instructables provides a walk-through for upcycling an old kitchen play set and converting it into an entertainment center.
The guide helps you finding the kitchen play set, how to decorate it and add fun, realistic modifications.
33. The Happy Rustic Project
If you are sick of tripping over cables, it might be time to make yourself an entertainment center and keep everything organized in one place. For example, this entertainment center with storage is big enough to fit a large flat screen TV, and there’s plenty of space for speakers, gaming consoles, CDs or DVDs.
The builder uses MDF and pine for the construction and Behr pure white paint. It’s not a very complicated project, but it does require some skills and knowledge of woodworking.
34. The Tall Oak Armoire Build
Finding the perfect entertainment armoire for your TV is not always easy especially if you have limited space. But thanks to these free TV stand plans, you can build a tall corner media console for your bedroom or living room. It’s big enough for a 50 inch TV, and there is space for your consoles and a DVD.
And everything will cost you no more than $140. You can use 3/4″ plywood for the construction or whatever wood you have on hands if it’s strong enough.
35. The Black Storage Wall Media Design
When you take a look at this black wood entertainment center, you’ll fall in love with it. It has everything you need from a media center – a spot for TV, ample storage space for gaming consoles, speakers, DVDs, and a couple of drawers for your odds and ends. However, this is a complicated and expensive project, and it might cost you up to $1000.
Also, you must have someone to help you with the assembly.
36. The Royal Bookshelf Idea
Just take a look at this tall TV stand for a bedroom. Isn’t it everything you could ever want from an entertainment center? You have ample space for big flat screen TV, drawers to keep your clothes, and bookcases for your books, DVD collection, and family photos.
The construction is pretty simple – three boxes on the bottom and three large boxes on the top. You can use birch plywood, and you don’t need any nails. Instead, you’re going to use pocket holes and shelf pins.
37. The Rustic Entertainment Center Idea
This entertainment center under a wall mounted TV is a good option if you want something stylish with a rustic look and multiple applications.
The entertainment stand measures 90″ x 20″ x 36″, and it’s made out of pine. Even though the construction is not that complicated, the plan is more suitable for someone with experience.
38. The White Cube Entertainment Center Blueprint
If you are looking for an entertainment center with shelves, this cool design might catch your eyes.
Here we two bookcase towers with five cubes each and a six cube bookshelf functioning as a TV stand. The finished entertainment looks very stylish, and you’ll have enough space for PlayStation, speakers, and a DVD player. The whole TV stand is made out of pine and finished with white satin paint.
39. The Custom Wall Media Build
This black entertainment center is made out of pine and birch wood, and it features two bookcase towers with a bridge between them and a TV stand base.
The design is a combination of the Apothecary console, and the Media Hutch plans, one of the best entertainment center ideas.
What’s also great about these entertainment center plans is that you can design the opening to fit the size of your TV. You can also make the TV stand as high as you want to keep curious children away from the TV and the DVD.
40. The Planked Sideboard Entertainment Center Design
The design of this wooden entertainment center combines only the best plans you can find on Ana White’s website. And that’s not all. It’s made out of a Red Grandis wood. The builder highly recommends it because it’s easy to cut, drill, and stain. The finished entertainment center has plenty of desktop space for a huge TV and a place for a speaker.
A Historical Perspective
A stereo console (also typically referred to as a ‘console stereo’) is a type of stereo system that incorporates various audio components such as a stereo FM radio and a stereo record changer, all of which are contained in a single cabinet.
This style of stereo system was very popular back in the 60s and 70s. A stereo consolette (normally manufactured by the popular stereo manufacturers of the 60s and 70s, namely, Nivico and Delmonico) is a more compact form of a stereo console which is supported on splayed legs. The British version of this type of stereo system is called a ‘radiogram’.
In the 1970s, a few stereo manufacturers started designing stereo systems that were flashier and seemingly more lavish than the typical stereo systems of the time. These new and flashy designs were a response to the cultural changes happening at that time, such as the psychedelic era of the 60s and the disco era of the 70s.
One notable example of this new kind of stereo system was the systems manufactured by the New York Based ‘Morse-Electro Products’ which had built in organ displays. They had displays of light bars that would flash in sync with the rhythm of the music that was being played at the moment.
Eventually, stereo consoles were replaced by better sounding high-fidelity stereo systems which had speakers that were separate from the console system. These were also called ‘rack systems’ and became available in the mass market during the late 70s as the technology required to manufacture them became more economical. These rack systems provided much better sound quality and did not need to be attached to any specific piece of furniture and were not monopolized by just one or two major brands.
A few of these new rack systems had speakers whose covers could be removed in order to expose the tweeter and woofer. The design, manufacture and distribution of these rack systems continued during the 80s and well into the middle of the 90s. After that, they were replaced by smaller and more compact countertop or tabletop stereo units (like the ‘Bose Wave System’) and began to take over the market share of stereo sound units.
Around the same time, console televisions began to gain popularity amongst music lovers. These were simply television systems that were housed in a cabinet in the same way that stereo consoles were housed in cabinets. The manufacturing and distribution of these console televisions began in the 80s and lasted well into the 90s until they were replaced by the newer and more advanced flat-screen televisions.
As Home Solutions
A ‘home entertainment center’ refers to quadraphonic speakers or a high-fidelity stereo system paired with a television system or some other electronic gadget. When the early 2000s rolled around, these tech solutions were technologically advanced enough to provide high-quality audio and video output for home theaters. These systems usually incorporated more than the vanilla left and right stereo channels of entertainment systems that came before.
Previously, VHS tapes and televisions only encoded audio onto the two channels, namely, left and right. However, the newer, more technologically advanced digital systems encoded information into more than just these two channels. For example, digital DVD systems included multiple channels of information, namely; the main source data, subwoofer speakers, a center audio channel and two rear audio channels. Typically, the main problem people face with this setup is setting up all the wiring and positioning the rear receivers, along with having to purchase a receiver that is able to decode the sound properly.
As digital technology advanced over the years, larger and higher quality video monitors became more popular and economical in the markets, and now, instead of the typical 20 inch TV along with large stereo systems, it has become more common to have large and expansive flat screen televisions or video projection systems that come integrated with compact DVD players or digital cable or satellite receivers housed beneath the screen, along with small but powerful speakers and moderately sized subwoofer systems.
Nowadays, modern setups have audio and video components that are connected to a dedicated ‘smart’ box which is typically controlled by a single person in a household. These separate components are then connected to an electric outlet, normally combined with a surge protector to prevent any damage to any of the components in case of electricity fluctuations. Each of these separate components come with their own separate remote controls, although costly universal remote controls are also available in the market that can be used to operate all the various components with a single remote control.
Nowadays, the term has come to refer to the whole combination of various audio and visual components that have been mentioned above and all these components are bunched together in a single cabinet or a self-contained unit (typically made of glass and wood). These units also usually contain drawers or shelves for storing DVDs, old VHS tapes and other media storage devices.
In the majority of homes these days, this kind of console is placed in a central location for optimal viewing pleasure. These locations can be in the bedroom, or the lounge or family room or the living room. Although this is a modern luxury, the concept of this kind of entertainment center was first developed by Lloyd Wright back in 1917 in his home in Los Angeles, California.
He designed and developed customized cabinets that served the same functions as modern system units. Nowadays, you can also get custom-made furniture and cabinetry which can incorporate speakers and video screens in such a way that they blend seamlessly with the rest of the room instead of standing out in an awkward manner from the decor of the rest of the room. Thanks to technological advances such as wireless technology and local area networks, the need for messy wiring is greatly reduced and this increases the overall aesthetics of modern home entertainment centers.
The phrase first began to be widely used in the 80s, and then it was later replaced by ‘home theater systems’ for rooms with a lot of extra space in them. At that time, in order to get high-quality sound, you needed to set up large turntables, speakers and tape decks. In later decades, however, sound systems became much more compact as music storage technology allowed more audio to be stored in smaller and smaller devices. For example, iPod speaker systems or Bose desktop radios can output high fidelity audio while being small and compact, thus making them perfect forhome music enjoyment.
These kinds of devices relegated large entertainment setups a thing of the past or for the small niche market of audiophiles who collect vintage audio and video equipment.
How Much Does It Cost To Install A Built-in One?
If you are interested in installing a customized entertainment center in your home, then consider the example of a 12’x10′ built-in entertainment center that is made up of shelves and cabinets of oak wood. This customized entertainment center will cost you around $7500 to $9500. Instead of designing and installing this system yourself, it is recommended that you hire a professional to do all the work for you.
Cost Breakdown
Once you have decided to install a custom made entertainment system for your home, you should first plan everything you will need to do in advance so that you have an idea of how much it will cost before you begin the project.
In the planning phase, you will need to consult carpenters and contractors and calculate how much their consultation will cost as well as the price of their design process as well as preliminary estimates of the cost of labor. In typical scenarios, the initial calculations, measurements and design making will take about a week, which amounts to 20 to 35 hours of labor, which equates to an expense of $1400 to $2450.
Next comes the cost for the materials needed to create the entertainment center. Be prepared to spend upwards of $1000 to $1500 for oak wood cabinets and shelves. Customized cabinets typically cost around #500 to $1200 per linear foot.
After that, you will need to dish out the cash for the labor costs. These days, professional carpenters charge an average of $70 per hour. As this project will likely take around three to five days to complete, this equates to 24 to 40 hours of labor, which means a total labor cost of $1680 to $2800.
Additional Considerations And Costs
As you probably might have an idea by now, these options can be complex and sophisticated pieces of hardware that come with a lot of wiring and various kinds of technical equipment and gadgets. Those that are built in such a way as to blend in seamlessly with the decor and furniture of the room are a great way to hide all the wiring and give the appearance of a stylish and clean portion of your home.
If yours consists of a number of devices and gadgets that come with a large amount of wiring, then you should discuss with your contractor the ways and methods by which you can hide all that wiring so that they don’t become an awkward eyesore.
You should keep in mind that some carpenters and contractors sometimes offer discounts if you are installing an entertainment center while you are remodeling the overall design of the room or are doing some other architectural project. Discuss these possibilities with your contractor beforehand and you might just get a great discount deal.
Also keep in mind that if you plan to put your new entertainment center in a hard to reach part of your home, such as in an upper story bedroom or in the basement, it will require a lot more time and labor to construct because of the difficulties involved in getting all the equipment and supplies to that area of the house.
Hi, my name’s Elena Coolidge. I’m a DIY enthusiast who loves building fun woodworking plans. These DIY plans are fun hobby projects for enthusiasts or even more advanced builders that want to build things like bunk beds, end tables or even a duck box!
