The Hack With a Retractable Projector Screen

I’m all the time looking out for the right way to hide a TV so it doesn’t turn into the default focus within the room. We’ve regarded into the artwork televisions, and there are some cool hacks for hiding TVs, however this specific undertaking caught my eye because it’s a display screen.

We love doing film nights, and one of many methods we take pleasure in making it particular is utilizing a projector and display screen. I lately requested my husband what he thought of making the setup a bit extra everlasting, however in fact, we don’t desire a large display screen turning into a focus both.

This hack from Auditoryeden on Reddit delivers a great and simple solution that creates built-in storage and a retractable projector display screen combo.

It’s undoubtedly one I’m submitting away for the longer term. I feel it’s a wonderful technique to work a retractable projector display screen right into a room the place we don’t essentially need one other TV.

What You’ll Need

• 6 IKEA BILLY cabinets (31 ½” x 11” x 79 ½”)
• 6 IKEA BILLY top extenders
• Timber for framing
• Earthquake brackets (if you happen to plan to go away the backs off the cabinets)
• Dentil molding to go together with current crown molding
• Primer
• Paint
• Nail gun
• Paint sprayer
• Shims
• Miter noticed or miter field
• Caulk
• Screen and mounting {hardware}
• Basics — Drill, screw gun, tape measure, noticed, pencil

Recreate These BILLY Built-ins With a Pull-Down Screen

1. Assemble the IKEA Pieces

Get prepared for a constructing get together and assemble all six cabinets and toppers. The hacker determined to go away off the backing to avoid wasting time on portray since they deliberate to color every thing the wall shade. If you resolve to do the identical, understand that they used additional earthquake brackets about midway up so as to add additional assist.

2. Build the Base and Topper

Use the timber to construct a backside base, 11” x 8” x 16’0”. Once you might have all the cabinets and toppers in place, you’ll want one other field up high to assist trim and crown molding.

3. Secure Everything

Secure the underside base to the wall, safe the cabinets to the bottom and one another, and fasten every shelf to the wall in three locations. Then connect the toppers to the cabinets and the wall. Seeing a sample? Install the highest field, then you definitely’re prepared so as to add trim.

4. Trim Everything

The hacker custom-cut dentil molding, coping eight fancy inside corners on the partitions, they usually hand-mitered 4 exterior corners. They needed to shim and brace lots to get every thing good, primarily as a result of their home is from the Twenties and nonetheless had its unique molding. Therefore, although the creator discovered the proper profiles, issues weren’t fairly the proper measurement.

Add panels or skinny plywood to the underside to cowl the BILLY bases and mix properly with the baseboards. The hacker used the shelf backing that that they had left over since they saved their models backless. However, in hindsight, they advise utilizing skinny plywood, which might be much less flimsy.

5. Caulk, Prime and Paint

Fill any seams and gaps with caulk and let it dry, then prime and paint every thing.

6. Add the Screen

Once the paint dries, attach the screen utilizing the mandatory {hardware} (choices typically include the display screen, relying on the sort you buy). Finally, it’s time to seize some popcorn and begin the film!

Q & A With the Hacker

How a lot did this hack value? Approximately $2,000 for all of the models (not counting one BILLY shelf they already had), toppers, trim, and provides. (But this additionally takes under consideration that the hacker needed to buy a paint sprayer and nail gun. Plus, that they had to purchase extra molding as a result of a number of of their preliminary items had the mistaken profile.)

How lengthy did this hack take? The hacker mentions the undertaking taking a number of weeks, however in fact, all of it relies on your schedule and the way a lot time you’ll be able to personally dedicate every day.

Is there something you’ll do otherwise?

Aside from utilizing skinny plywood as an alternative of the shelf backing on the backside and high of the models, the hacker had this to say, “Honestly, not a ton. There’s a really small hole over by the far wall that I believed would find yourself coated by trim, however in fact the partitions are 100 years previous and never completely plumb, so ideally I ought to have put some sort of hole fill in there earlier than I put in trim over it.”

The hacker’s husband desires so as to add a sliding ladder, however that doesn’t appear to be a sensible imaginative and prescient. According to the hacker, “He didn’t determine he wished to construction that beforehand, and we don’t have the area for it.”

Did it’s important to take away the unique molding?

The hacker didn’t need to wreck the integrity of the Twenties molding in case they ever offered the home. Therefore, all the present, unique molding remains to be alive and properly behind the brand new built-ins.

Overall, this hack solved the issue of getting a giant, ugly display screen in the midst of the wall with out sacrificing film nights! I’d say it’s a win!