Building Media Wall-Unit Shelves

Count the number of DVDs and CDs in your collection. Divide the total number numbers by two to find approximately how many inches of shelf space you need to accommodate them.

Measure the wall where you intend to install your media shelves with a measuring tape. Compare these measurements to the calculations you made in the previous step. If the amount of shelf space required is greater than the width of the wall space available, plan to build two or more shelves whose lengths add up to the total required shelf space.

Cut two pieces of 1/2-inch plywood to a height of 6 inches and a depth of at least 6 inches, using a circular saw. These boards will serve as the side panels for one of your CD wall-unit shelves. Six inches is the standard depth for a CD shelf, but you may cut your shelves deeper if you like.

Use the circular saw to cut two sheets of 1/2-inch plywood to the desired depth and length of the CD wall-unit shelf. Stand these boards upright on their longest narrow edges and sandwich the two side panels between the ends. The resulting frame should be rectangular in shape.

Secure the frame by driving nails from a nail gun through the top and bottom panels into the side panels.

Measure the exact length and height of your CD shelf and cut a sheet of 1/2-inch plywood to these dimensions for the back panel. Lay the piece of plywood flat on the open back of the frame you just constructed and align the edges. Attach the plywood panel by driving nails from the nail gun through the panel into the frame beneath. Repeat steps 2 through 5 to make as many shelves as you need.

Paint your shelves to match the existing decor in your room, using interior-grade latex paint. You may paint all of your shelves the same color or select two different colors and alternate between the two when painting your wall units. Allow the paint to dry completely.

Measure out the desired position for each of your wall unit shelves on the wall in your room, using a measuring tape. Extend the measuring tape up from the floor to the desired height of the shelf on the wall for each unit. Make light pencil marks on the wall to indicate where you intend the center of each unit to hang.

Use a stud finder to locate the wall studs. Mark their position on the wall lightly in pencil. You can erase these marks later.

Have someone hold up each media shelf in the desired position so the back panel is flat against the wall. Lay a level across the top of each shelf to be sure it is level before mounting it. Install the shelves by driving 1 1/2-inch wood screws through the back panel of each shelf into the wall studs beyond.