How to Build an In-Wall Media Shelf

Use a stud finder to locate the studs in the wall where you intend to install your in-wall media shelf. Mark the position of the studs on the wall in pencil. You will be installing your shelf between two adjacent studs.

Draw a rectangular shape on the wall in pencil using the inside edges of the two adjacent studs as the sides of the rectangle. Draw the top and bottom edges of the rectangle where you intend to locate the top and bottom of your media shelf. Use a ruler or meter stick and a level to draw these lines straight.

Cut out the rectangular shape you just drew using a drywall saw. Set the rectangular piece of drywall aside. Measure the length, width and depth of the resulting opening between the studs and record these measurements.

Use a circular saw to cut a piece of 1/2-inch plywood to the length and height measurements of the space to serve as the back panel. Stand this piece of plywood upright inside the space so it is flush against the back of the space. Drive nails from a nail gun through the back panel to secure it in place.

Cut two pieces of 1/2-inch plywood to the length and depth measurements you took earlier. These boards will serve as the top and bottom panels for your media shelf. Cut two pieces of 1/2-inch plywood to the depth measurement and the height measurement of the space, minus one inch for the side panels.

Slide the bottom panel horizontally between the wall studs at the bottom of the cutout space. Drive nails from a nail gun at a downward angle through the edges of the bottom panel into the back panel and wall studs to secure it in place. Install the top panel horizontally across the top of the space and drive nails at an upward angle through the edges to attach it.

Insert the side panels vertically between the ends of the top and bottom panels. The widest edge of each side panel should be flush with the adjacent wall stud. Drive nails through the side panels into the wall studs to secure them.

Measure and mark the position for the shelves of your media unit along the side panels in pencil. CD shelves should be at least six inches tall and DVD shelves should be at least eight inches tall. Be sure to accommodate for the 1/2-inch thickness of each shelf when measuring the intervals.

Cut the shelves out of 1/2-inch plywood using the depth measurement and the length measurement of the media unit, minus one inch. Slide the shelves horizontally between the side panels at the desired interval. Attach them by driving nails at an angle through the edges of each shelf into the side and back panels.

Paint or stain your completed in-wall media shelf as desired. Allow the paint or stain to dry completely before using your media shelf.