Entertainment Center
This is a simple entertainment center which keeps the A/V equipment protected and out of view behind smoked glass. You can still see the display lights on the components and the components can see the remote control.
I built this entertainment center a few years ago before my first child started crawling. It replaced a open shelving system…not the best idea for a child about to explore the world. The challenge was making a piece that would protect the equipment but not be a huge armoire.
It is constructed mostly out of MDF (medium-density fiberboard), which is easy to shape. Every corner is rounded, a design decision to protect the coming toddler, but also gives it a nice soft look.
The finish is two-tone. The body of the box is painted with a gloss black, giving a lacquer look, and nicely complementing the smoked glass. The top and the doors are simply MDF with a clear polyurethane finish, a look I have come to like.
Another great feature is that the doors are fairly childproof. There are no knobs and the spacing around the doors is too small for fingers, even little ones. The trick is the doors overhang slightly on the bottom, providing just enough of a finger-hold to open the door.
It worked well for child number one. She was about 3 years old before she figured out how to open it. It didn’t work quite as well for our son. Our daughter taught him how to get inside before he was 2. It is possible to install a childproof magnetic latch, but the contents of the cabinet are mostly kids DVD’s anyway! Having kids definitely changes your definition of entertainment.
Materials
- ½” MDF
- Smoked plexiglas panels
- Invisible hinges
- 1? x 3? pine (for the base and to help support the top surface)
- Paint, polyurethane
Cost to Build
Under $50
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