Steps to Building a DVD Cabinet

Designing the Cabinet

• Determine your needs. The number of DVDs you plan on containing will affect the size of your cabinet. Determine how many DVDs you want on each shelf, and multiply that by the width of a DVD case, approximately 1/2 inch. Considering the number of DVDs you have now and how many you will have in the foreseeable future, plan on an accommodating number of shelves. The shelves need to be higher and deeper than the dimensions of a DVD case by about 1/2 inch either way, or about 8 inches high and 6 inches deep.
  The back, sides and top of the cabinet can be determined by simple math. The top and bottom should be identical to the shelves. The sides need to be 8 inches plus the height of the shelf itself, times the number of shelves you want and 6 inches wide. The back should be as tall as the sides and as wide as the shelves. If you plan on adding a door, the doors should be measured as the same as the back and cut into two halves.

Wood Cutting and Assembling

• Go to a lumber yard or home improvement store and acquire the wood of your choice. Before you cut anything, be certain that the wood is accurately measured, even checking twice, as a mistake in cutting can render your cut useless to you.
  Join the bottom and top to the sides. Use wood screws for maximum strength, at least two screws attaching each piece to each other piece. You should now have a box. Put the shelves into place and fasten them like the other pieces with wood screws. Secure the back similarly. The front doors will need to be attached by at least two hinges on each half, secured to the sides.

Finishing Touches

• Stand the cabinet up on a flat surface to determine stability. Use sandpaper or a file to file it down if necessary and smooth rough edges. Small pieces of wood can be added to make the cabinet level. Once you are certain it is both stable and level, you can begin staining or painting the cabinet to your liking.