DIY: Built-in Wall Unit

Use a measuring tape to measure the space in which you plan to install the built-in wall unit. Measure the length and depth of the space and decide whether you want your wall unit to extend from floor to ceiling or only partway up the wall. Record these measurements on a piece of paper.

Remove any trim or baseboards from the wall near the ceiling and floor to create a smooth surface to install the wall unit. To remove trim and baseboards, carefully pry it away from the wall using the curved end of a hammer or a pry bar.

Cut four pieces of 2-by-4-inch lumber, using a table saw to construct the base for your wall unit. Cut two pieces of lumber to the length of the wall unit and two pieces using the depth measurement minus 4 inches.

Use a stud finder to locate the studs in the walls where you plan to install the built-in and mark their position on the wall lightly in pencil. You will be attaching the wooden frame directly to the studs for support.

Create a rectangular frame on the floor using the four pieces of 2-by-4-inch lumber you just cut. Lay one of the longer boards upright on its narrow end and place the other long board across from it. Sandwich the two shorter boards between the ends of the longer boards and, using a nail gun, drive nails through the longer boards into the shorter boards to secure the frame.

Cut two sheets of 1/2-inch plywood using the length and depth measurements of your wall unit to serve as the top and bottom panels. Using the depth measurement and the height measurement minus five inches, cut two sheets of 1/2-inch plywood for the side panels. Cut a final piece using the length measurement minus 1 inch and the height measurement minus 4 inches for the back panel.

Slide the wooden frame you constructed out of 2-by-4-inch lumber so the back side of one of the longer pieces of wood is flat against the wall and the shorter pieces are flush with the walls on either side. Secure the frame in place by driving 3-inch wood screws through the frame into the wall studs.

Lay the bottom panel flat on top of the wooden frame you just installed and secure it in place by driving nails, with a nail gun, down through the plywood and into the wooden frame.

Stand the two side panels upright so the bottom edge rests flat on the bottom panel and the panels themselves are flush with the side walls. Secure the side panels in place by driving nails, with a nail gun, through the panels into the studs in the wall.

Slide the top panel into the half-inch gap between the ceiling and the top edge of the side panels and secure it in place by driving nails, with a nail gun, through the panel into the wall studs. If your wall unit is not being built floor-to-ceiling, secure the top panel to the side panels by driving nails down through the top panel into the thickness of the side panels.

Position the back panel upright inside the frame you just constructed, so it sits flush against the wall. Using a nail gun, secure it in place by driving nails through the plywood into the wall studs.

Cut additional sheets of half-inch plywood to the depth measurement minus a half-inch and the length measurement of the wall cabinet minus 1 inch to serve as shelves. Measure and mark the position of these shelves in pencil on the side panels then slide them into place. Have someone hold up the shelves as you toenail 2-inch wood screws through the top of the shelves into the side panels and the wall studs beyond.

Create plywood doors to enclose a portion of your wall unit. Cut sheets of half-inch plywood using the length measurement of the cabinet and the desired height of the enclosed area. Cut the plywood sheet in half to create two smaller doors, and attach them to the face of the cabinet by installing a metal hinge about an inch from the top and bottom edges of each door.

Paint or stain the built-in wall unit to match the existing decor scheme in your room. If you decide to paint the unit, apply a coat of interior-grade latex primer before applying a coat of interior-grade latex paint. If you choose to stain the wall unit, apply thin coats of stain with a soft brush and wipe away the excess with a clean cloth.