Clever Ways To Repurpose A TV Cabinet Before Sending It To The Dump
It might be tough to imagine, but it wasn't such a long time ago that most televisions could fit inside a cabinet. These television stands, often called TV armoires, now seem like ancient relics, but they were the norm for a very long time. They often came with doors so the television was only visible when desired. They also often came with several drawers to contain VHS tapes and DVDs. But when TVs got bigger and DVDs and other physical media were replaced by streaming services, the TV cabinet was rendered obsolete.
When this happened, many folks just kicked these cabinets to the curb or toted them to the dump. But don't be so quick to dismiss the TV stands of yore — even if they can no longer hold your television, they can still be repurposed for a ton of different applications. Discover how to transform these items into children's toys, extra storage, or luxury décor items. And anytime we can repurpose old furniture pieces instead of sending them to the landfill, that's a good thing for our planet. Most of these old stands usually just need a little creativity, basic DIY skills, and maybe a coat of paint or two to be transformed into brand-new pieces. Here are 11 of the best ways to upcycle your outdated television stand.
1. Increase your kitchen storage
There is truly no such thing as too much cabinet space, and that's especially true if you haven't custom-built your kitchen or are renting. Luckily, an old TV stand is the perfect solution. All you need to do is add some extra shelves to store your dishes and other items. Because these stands were designed to hold bulky televisions, you could also use the space to store heavy, clunky countertop appliances like stand mixers, microwaves, slow cookers, and so on. Many even have holes for easy outlet access, so you could operate some machines from the cabinet!
2. Perk up with a custom coffee bar
Give your gourmet coffee maker and espresso machine their own gorgeous little nook with a repurposed coffee bar. This is an especially good idea if you have lots of syrups, powders, and other toppings cluttering your countertops. You could even install a mini fridge in the television stand's lower cabinet to hold milk, whipped cream, or premade cold brew. We especially love the modern wood slat backing seen in this coffee bar makeover because it makes the piece feel modern and luxe. You can opt to keep the doors on or off for a project like this.
3. Make a mini play kitchen
Play kitchens can be total eyesores and often feel too kiddie even for fairly-young children. And the ones that don't can be wildly expensive. But you can transform a basic '90s TV cabinet into a darling, modern play kitchen with some paint, real hardware, and imagination. You don't even need to cover up the TV-sized hole with backing; instead, hang a sign like the one seen here, or treat it as a cute window and hang some fabrics in a fun pattern. If you plan to spray paint anything in this project, be sure to use toy-safe certified paint.
4. No pantry? No problem.
If your pantry is overflowing or your kitchen is small, an old TV cabinet can solve your problems. You can install shelves for more storage space, but also ensure you leave plenty of room for taller items like cereal boxes and pasta noodle jars. Paint it in a fun color, leave it as-is, or paint it the same as your other cabinets so it looks like it's part of a set. Our favorite part of this hack? You can just close the door on your food pantry when you have company over, no need to go on a tidying spree.
5. Go Gatsby with a home bar
This TV stand makeover is certainly on the more involved side since the designer opted to install a sink (qualifying it as a wet bar), but this upcycle can be as simple or as complex as you'd like. Add a single shelf to hold tall liquor bottles and use the storage below to hold stemware, for instance. Use a rich paint color or vibrant wallpaper pattern to give it a high-end look. For this particular DIY, you may want to leave the doors on the armoire so you can do dramatic, grand reveals of your secret bar.
6. Create a custom children's wardrobe
Some of the squatter models are best repurposed as child-sized furniture, like this TV cabinet-turned children's closet. This is the perfect solution if your kid only has a small closet space and/or a never-ending supply of clothes. If you have extra room after storing clothes, shoes, jackets, and blankets, you can always use part of it for easy toy storage. And because it's built on a smaller scale, children can help out and grab their own clothes in the morning. You can leave the open back if you wish or add some wallpapered particle board behind it.
7. Build up a unique buffet
You don't have to repurpose the entire stand to make a stunning DIY. For this hack, just the bottom half of an entertainment center can be used to create a gorgeous buffet. The cabinet is great for larger serving dishes and bowls that you don't always reach for. Tablecloths, placemats, and napkins will fold up nicely in the bottom drawer. Keep a few plates, bowls, and mugs out in the open area for easy access. We especially love the contrasting white paint against the exposed wood legs, which adds a ton of charm to this build.
8. Give your pet a cozy nook
Some TV stands are little more than cabinets that TVs sat atop the piece with room for VHS tapes or DVDs and their players below. These have a ton of repurposing value, too! One of the best uses we've seen for them is to create a little pet bed area for a small dog or cat. Simply add a comfy set of pillows or their favorite pet bed to the lower cabinet and remove the doors so your pet has easy access. In the shelf space above the bed, store leashes, collars, treats, and grooming tools so you always know where to find them.
9. Create a crafting sanctuary
If you're a crafter, you know that all of your supplies can become totally overwhelming. Between the fabric samples, yards of yarn, and larger machines, these supplies may start to need a room of their own. Fortunately, an old TV stand is great for this. You can store a printer, sewing machine, serger, and iron with ease, and there's still plenty of room for baskets and containers to hold your other crafting knick knacks. You can even leave the printer plugged in by using the cable openings so you no longer have to plug and unplug the printer all the time.
10. Add a simple hutch display to your entryway
This awkwardly-shaped TV cabinet would have been sent to the dump if it hadn't gotten a chic makeover, but now that it's been redone, it instantly makes the entryway feel more inviting. The fluted drawers add a modern but bohemian flare, and the deep shelves leave you with so many possibilities. You could just keep it simple with a flower vase and a catch-all tray for keys and sunglasses or display sculptures and larger décor items that don't fit on standard shelves. The drawers are perfect for storing entryway essentials like gloves, hats, scarves, and umbrellas.
11. Make a play lemonade stand
With this hack, a basic thrifted TV stand gets a new life as an absolutely-adorable lemonade stand. This could be used as a play set or to help your kiddo start up their first entrepreneurial gig. And it could easily be made into a farmer's market stand, bakery, or whatever your child desires. What we love most about this toy is that it's made from solid wood, so it can last for multiple generations without breaking and being tossed into a landfill like so many other toys. Once your little one has outgrown it, you could donate it to a local preschool or daycare.