How to Make an Armoire Into a Computer Cabinet

Test the height of the center, nonadjustable, shelf. Pull your desk chair up and see how the height works. Adjust the height of your chair if necessary. Ideally, the center shelf should be between 30 and 35 inches from the floor. This is the where the monitor will be placed.

Use a hole saw to cut 2-inch holes for wires and cords. The holes will be cut into the back of the center shelf and the shelf directly beneath it to allow wires and cords to pass through. The final hole cut will be into the back of the cabinet above the bottom shelf. This hole allows electrical cords to pass unseen out the rear of the armoire and into an electrical outlet.

Attach a keyboard tray to the underside of the center shelf. This tray allows the keyboard to be pulled out when needed and slid under the shelf when not in use. The keyboard tray will come with brackets and screws. Follow the installation instructions included with the tray. Generally, you will attach the brackets to the underside of the shelf and then slide the tray itself into the space until it snaps into place.

Attach the cork squares and wall-mounted file pockets to the inside of one of the doors. Brush adhesive to the backs of the cork squares and position them one above the other on the inside of one of the doors. Once the adhesive dries, you have a place to pin small notes and pieces of paper that would otherwise be in the way. Under the cork squares, attach the wall-mounted file pockets. These attach with small screws and allow you to keep files handy but out of the way while working. Both the cork squares and the wall-mounted file pockets are available at your local department store, home-office supply center or online.

Sand and paint the inside of the other door. Lightly sand the door and paint with a coat of primer. When the primer dries, paint with two coats of chalkboard paint. This will give you a chalkboard to jot down notes, ideas and lists.

Attach a lighting source to the underside of the top shelf. This will normally screw into place with two small screws. Run the cord to the back of the shelf and clip it into place with a cord clip. This clip mounts to the rear of the shelf and guides the cord. The cord can then run down the back wall of the armoire and pass through the hole in the shelf.

Set up your computer. Place the monitor, speakers and mouse on the center shelf and run any necessary cords and wires through the hole in the shelf. Put the computer tower on the shelf directly beneath the center shelf and attach all cords and wires. Place the printer on the shelf next to the tower and hook it up to the tower. Pass all electrical cords through the hole in that shelf and out to the electrical outlet. Plug in the electrical cords to the outlet.

Place baskets, a file basket or storage cubes on the top and bottom shelves as needed. A file basket or cube is a portable file cabinet that can be purchased at most office-supply centers and department stores.