LCD media storage

Gus had a new flat TV and an old wardrobe. A little hacking later, they both fit like hand to glove.

Gus says, "Like the rest of flat-screen TV buyers I found out that my old CRT-based entertainment center was inadequate for the new wideness of LCD. Well, I had to look no further than my Ikea Pax wardrobe. This 93" tall utilitarian behemoth is nothing more than shelves where I put my clothes. However, the idea came to me that it might also serve as a good entertainment center, just in need of a little hacking. The Pax unit I purchased in 2006 was $111.28. This included the box itself and six shelves. I figured for that price I would have all of the entertainment center storage I needed plus I would undercut the price of a smaller (inadequate), however, TV specific unit by at least $60, according to what I had seen listed. So I saved my pennies and took my measurements to make sure my 37" television would fit inside my, what happens to be, 39" wide wardrobe and I put caution and shelf strength to the wind and headed down to Ikea. It turns out they have inflation in Sweden. In 2008 my aforementioned Pax configuration cost me $149.80. However, I was still beating the price of some of the smallest TV stands by a nice margin.

Now, you might be saying to yourself, "this entertainment center idea is not a hack, it is a repurposed wardrobe!" However, you would be wrong because the load-bearing composite-board (the integral life force of all Ikea furniture) had to be drilled to make way for wires. These holes are very important as without them my little electronic boxes do not receive power or connectivity.

So, with my Dremel-esque (borrowed) tool, I took bit to flimsy composite and watched many, many particles of dust fly. My cuts were less than precise, how I measured shelves' distance by the screw hole (not to be confused with my drilled holes, these line the interior of the cabinet for shelf hanging purposes) for tight fit and maximum storage and up went my Ikea hacked Pax wardrobe-cum entertainment center."

See more Gus Money's Pax wardrobe turned media center