The beauty of the new HDTV systems whether they be plasma or LCD units is the many options of displaying the sets in the family room, living room, or really practically anywhere you want one. Many people install them with special mounting brackets up on the wall or from the ceiling. Others have found the more traditional aspect of installing the television in a cabinet with special TV lift mechanisms. Then there are the few brave souls who endeavor to tackle building their own DIY TV lift cabinet.

The basic approach to building a DIY TV lift cabinet follows a simple procedure. Here are some guidelines on how to build your own TV lift cabinet.

Step One: Choose the cabinet you wish to use. Consider where you will place the cabinet in the room. If it will sit alone against the wall you can select most any style you would like. However, for a cabinet that would set at the end of your bed, you might want to choose one the size of a large blanket chest or credenza. Be sure to have the sizes of your TV with you when you shop for the cabinet.

Step Two: Next remove all drawers, doors, or any other elements of the cabinet to reveal the basic skeleton of the cabinet. Depending upon the structure of the unit you may have to re-arrange some bracing or even add some blocking to provide room for installation and/or strength to rigidly hold your TV.

Step Three: Whichever TV lift cabinet hardware you choose, follow the installation instructions at this point to install the unit within the cabinet frame. Always be mindful of the routing of wiring while installing the unit.

Step Four: Now place the cabinet framework with the installed hardware in the selected location within the viewing room. Work the mechanism to be assured that there are no obstacles or other encumbrances upon the unit as it rises and retracts. Once satisfied that all is well, remove the unit to your workshop for the next step.

Step Five: Install the TV to the lift hardware. Again work the mechanism to be certain all works well. Once satisfied with the workings of the unit, re-assemble the cabinet completely. Apply any additional finishes at this point to conclude the construction phase.

Step Six: Move the finished TV lift cabinet to its final location and connect all wiring and cables. Set back in your favorite chair or bed, depending upon the room, and work the controls. Everything should work as planned. If there is anything that needs tweaking, now is the time to do it.

Congratulations, for you have successfully created a custom DIY TV lift cabinet like no other in the world. Take plenty of pictures and share them with friends and family. You might find yourself at the threshold of a new cottage industry to provide custom TV lift cabinets for a good many people!