How to Build Hanging Wall Cabinets for a Living Room

Position two 1/2-inch-by-24-inch-by-36-inch boards up on their small, thin ends. Make them parallel to each other about 2 feet apart, as these are the side boards of the cabinet. Set a 1/2-inch-by-24-inch-by-24-inch board across their tops, with the outsides of the side boards flush with the edge of this board, which is the top board.

Drill five holes down through the top board in an even arrangement along both sides of the board and into the side boards underneath, for a total of 10 holes. Place 1-inch wood screws into these holes and use a drill to tighten them snugly. Invert the structure and add a 1/2-inch-by-24-inch-by-24-inch bottom board with the same method.

Turn the structure over onto its side so that an open rectangle is facing upward. Position a 1/2-inch-by-24-inch-by-37-inch board on top of the rectangle and make it evenly spaced around the edges. Drill holes every 6 inches around the entire edge of the board and into the side, bottom and top boards which adjoin it. Place 1-inch wood screws into each hole and tighten them securely.

Flip the structure over again and set another 1/2-inch-by-24-inch-by-37-inch board on top of the hole. Lift one side of the board as if it were a door, which indeed it will be, and position two hinges along the edge of the board between it and the cabinet structure. Mark hinge screw holes with a pencil. Remove the board and drill holes into each marking. Fasten the hinges to both door and cabinet using 1/2-inch wood screws.

Find the studs in the wall of the living room using a stud finder and mark their locations. Position the cabinet over the studs with the carpenter's level on top to make sure it is straight. Drill through the back of the cabinet and into two of the studs. Make at least two rows of these holes, then put 3-inch wood screws with washers in the holes and attach the cabinets to the wall.