DIY Network

Entertainment Wall Clear the floor with a swanky entertainment system recessed in the wall. From "Wasted Spaces" episode DWSP-313

The new entertainment center frees up floor space.

Kim and Simmon Mwangi's family room has a fireplace and a lot of space — but an awkward layout makes the room hard to use. It's become more of a clutter catch-all, while the family crowds around the TV in a smaller room upstairs. They called on Wasted Spaces host Karl Champley to help them reclaim their neglected den.

Karl spotted the main problem right away: The room is large, but narrow, and bulky items like the entertainment center and aquarium stick out into the main space to make it even harder to use. His solution: Ditch the entertainment center, hang a flat-screen TV on the wall and tuck the aquarium and electronics away in deep compartments that extend into the next room. To finish off the room, he dresses up the fireplace area with a new hollow plywood mantel.

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Entertainment Wall

Tools and Materials:

TV mounting bracket socket wrench lag screws safety glasses measuring tape level pencil work table nail gun screw gun sandpaper joint compound joint compound pan joint compound trowel painter's tape

drywall corner bead paint and primer paint trays, rollers and brushes drywall saw jigsaw or reciprocating saw hole saw fish tape staple gun 3/4" birch plywood 2x4s crown molding nails screws wood glue staples

	Figure A
	Figure B

Prepare the Wall

Note: This project involved a load-bearing wall. Whenever working with a load-bearing wall, have a structural engineer go over the plan to make sure you're not compromising the stability of the wall and house. He or she also can help you deal with any needed permits or building codes.

• Prep the wall. The wall in this project had several unsightly bumps. To correct these, sand down the rough spots and smooth out the irregularities with a skim coat of joint compound. Once the compound is dry, sand it smooth (figure A).

• Mount the TV bracket. Everything in this project wall is based on the flat-screen TV, so the TV mounting bracket goes up first. Use lag screws to attach the wall bracket to the wall studs (figure B).

• Start holes for wall boxes. Measure and mark the locations for the recessed wall boxes that will hold audio and video equipment and accessories. Use a straight edge and level to outline the holes on the wall; the holes should be sized to fit snugly around the finished entertainment center boxes. Cut a small hole inside the outline to see whether electrical or plumbing lines are in this part of the wall. If everything checks out, carefully cut along the outline and remove the drywall.

  Safety Alert: Use caution when cutting into any wall, especially if electrical or plumbing lines may be present. If either of these is in the way of the project, either adjust the plan to avoid the utility lines or have a qualified professional move them.

  Tip: Measure the equipment to be stored when determining the size of the recessed boxes. Allow a little extra space for the double-thick walls of the boxes.

• Cut through the back of the wall. To transfer the corners of the original holes to the other side of the wall, fit a drill with a long bit into each corner of the hole and drill through the drywall on the other side. On the other side of the wall, use a straight edge to "connect the dots," then cut away the drywall with a drywall saw.
  

  	Figure C
  	Figure D
  	Figure E
  	Figure F

• Remove the studs. Use a jigsaw or reciprocating saw to cut the wall studs flush with the edges of the hole (figure C).

  Safety Alert: Always wear safety glasses and use caution when working with a power saw or any power tool. Reciprocating saws have a strong "kick" and may be hard to handle. If you're not confident you can use the saw safely, get assistance or switch to another tool.

• Frame the holes. Use 2x4s to build sturdy frames for the boxes inside the project wall. Use screws to securely attach the 2x4s to the wall studs.

• Build the boxes. Measure and cut 3/4" plywood to the dimensions of the recessed entertainment center boxes and assemble using wood glue and a nail gun. Since this project involved a load-bearing wall, Karl used double layers of plywood for the box tops and bottoms for extra strength (figure D).

• Install the entertainment boxes. With a helper supporting the box on the other side of the wall, slip the first box into the appropriate hole in the wall. Make sure the box is level and flush with the front of the wall, then secure it to the framing with screws (figure E). Repeat for the other entertainment box.

• Install the aquarium box. Instead of one large box for the aquarium, Karl built a smaller box to store supplies and a larger, open-backed box for the aquarium. The recessed aquarium box will fit snugly between two walls on the other side of the project wall, which will make it easier to support. Use lag screws to secure ledgers to the wall studs on the other side of the wall, where the recessed part of the box will rest. Keep the ledgers level with the opening in the project wall. With a supporter helping from the other side of the wall, slide the aquarium box into the project wall until its flush with the front of the wall. Secure the box to the framing with screws.

• Finish the box edges. Install drywall corner bead around the edges of the boxes and smooth the joints with joint compound. Apply additional coats of joint compound as needed until the area is smooth; sand between coats (figure F).

• Paint the wall. Prime and paint the wall and boxes as desired. A flat-finish paint doesn’t show minor wall flaws as clearly as a glossy or semi-gloss finish.

• Cut holes for wires. On the TV side of the wall, use a drywall saw to cut an opening by the TV bracket and at the very top of the wall. On the other side of the wall, cut an opening in the drywall near the recessed boxes. Also, use a hole saw to cut openings in the recessed boxes for cables to pass through. These holes need to be large enough for power cables with plugs; place the holes near the top of the boxes to help conceal them.

• Label and thread wires. Use painter's tape and a marker to number each end of each wire or cable. Use a fish tape to feed the wires up through the wall.

• Install and conceal speaker wires. Run the speaker wires to the locations for the speakers at the top of the wall. Staple the wires in place. Install crown molding to conceal the speaker wires.

• Finish the entertainment center. Use a table saw to cut plexiglass to fit the recessed boxes. Attach hinges to the plexiglass and to the recessed boxes to create clear doors.

  Tip: Don't remove the protective plastic from the plexiglass until after it's installed. Just peel it back enough to attach the hinges.

• Install electronics. Install the flat-screen TV to the wall bracket according to the manufacturer's instructions. Attach lightweight speakers to the crown molding as desired and connect the speaker wires. Place remaining audio and video equipment in the entertainment center boxes and connect.