DIY Wall-Mounted Recessed TV Shelves

Preparing the Wall Opening

• 1

  Measure the space where you intend to install your wall-mounted recessed shelves using a measuring tape. You may want to measure the width and height of your TV as well to ensure that you build the shelves large enough. You may choose to build a single shelf for your TV or build to the height of the wall to incorporate additional shelving.

• 2

  Use a stud finder to locate the studs in the wall where you plan to install your shelves. Mark the position of the studs on the wall in pencil.

• 3

  Draw a template of your recessed shelving unit on the wall in pencil. Use a meter stick and a level to keep your lines straight. If possible, position your shelving unit between two adjacent shelves. If your shelving unit is too wide for this you may need to remove wall studs to accommodate it.

• 4

  Align the blade of a drywall saw with one of the lines drawn on the wall. Tap the handle of the saw with your palm to drive the blade into the drywall. Move the blade in and out of the wall in a gentle sawing motion to cut along the line.

• 5

  Use the drywall saw to cut out the template for your recessed shelving unit. If there are studs present between the edges of the wall opening you may need to cut out individual panels between the studs. When finished, remove the drywall cutout(s) and set them aside.

• 6

  Cut through any wall studs that exist between the edges of the wall opening using a reciprocating saw. Use the saw to cut through all but a half inch of the interior studs along the top and bottom of the wall space. Use a hand saw to finish the cut, then pull the studs gently away from the wall and set them aside.

• 7

  Measure the length, depth and height of the resulting wall opening to find the exact dimensions of your recessed shelving unit.

Framing and Installing the Shelves

• 8

  Cut two pieces of 1-inch plywood to the length and depth of your wall opening using a circular saw. These boards are the top and bottom panels for your wall-mounted recessed shelving unit. Cut two boards to the depth of the unit and the height, minus 2 inches to accommodate the top and bottom panels.

• 9

  Stand the four boards you just cut upright on their longest narrow edges. Arrange the boards in a rectangular shape, sandwiching the side panels between the ends of the top and bottom panels. Drive 1 1/2-inch wood screws through the top and bottom panels into the side panels to secure the frame.

• 10

  Subtract 2 inches from both the height and length of the wall space and cut an additional sheet of 1-inch plywood to these dimensions. This board is the back panel for your shelving unit.

• 11

  Place the rectangular frame flat on the ground and lay the sheet of plywood you cut in Step 3 down inside it. The edges of the back panel should be flush with the interior edges of the frame on all four sides. Drive 1 1/2-inch wood screws through the rectangular frame into the back panel every 5 inches to attach it.

• 12

  Stand the rectangular frame upright and slide it into the wall space you prepared. Drive 2-inch wood screws through the inside of the top and bottom panels into the cutoff studs along the top and bottom of the wall space. Drive additional screws through the side panels into the end studs to secure the frame in place.

• 13

  Measure and mark the desired position of the shelves for your wall-mounted unit along the side panels in pencil. When determining the interval for your shelves, consider what you will be storing on each shelf. The shelf you will be using to mount your TV should be much taller than a shelf being used for DVD storage.

• 14

  Use the circular saw to cut your shelves to the depth of the wall space, minus 1 inch to account for the back panel, and the length of the space, minus 2 inches to accommodate the thickness of the side panels.

• 15

  Slide the shelves horizontally into place between the side panels where you made the pencil marks. Use a level to ensure that the shelves lay flat. Drive 2-inch wood screws at an angle through the back and side edges of each shelf into the side and back panels of the wall unit.

• 16

  Paint or stain your completed wall-mounted recessed TV shelves to match the existing decor scheme in your room. Once the paint or stain dries you may put your new shelves to use.