Albert Blog: How To Build a Sliding Barn Door Console For Your Man Cave

Hi Friends! I’m Leanne from Diva of DIY and I am super excited to be here with you today on Remodelaholic to share a project my husband and I just finished in our lake house fixer upper.

Do you have a man cave in your house? Or at least an area of the house dedicated to watching TV? If so, then you definitely need this sliding barn door console to hold all of the games, game systems and TV components that go along with that big television I know is hanging on the wall. Am I right? I bet I’m close LOL.

Sliding Barn Door Entertainment Console

When we remodeled our lake house, we knew we wanted to incorporate a game room/man cave into the floor plan. My teenage boys love gaming with their friends and my husband loves sports so having a room with multiple televisions fell high on their wish list.

That is when I ran across a plan for Ana White’s Grandy Sliding Door Console. Even though her plan didn’t fit my space, it gave me enough confidence to tackle a modified version on my own.

How To Build A Sliding Barn Door Console: The Supplies

This supply list is for one console. The finished pictures are with 3 consoles.

2 – 1×8 @ 8 feet long
2 – 1×10 @ 8 feet long
1 sheet of 1/4″ thick PureBond plywood (for doors)*
1 sheet of 3/4″ thick PureBond plywood (for sides)
3- 1×3 @ 8 feet long (for door trim if using this design)
2 – 1×2 @ 8 feet long
4 – 1×4 @ 8 feet long
8 – 2×3 @ 8 feet long
Hardware for sliding doors (see our Remodelaholic picks for budget-friendly sliding door hardware here)
2 1/2″ screws
1″ finish nails
Wood Glue
Wood Filler
Paint or Stain

* you will have enough plywood left to make an additional set of doors

How To Build A Sliding Barn Door Console: The Cut List

Can I mention that there is no better place to build than on a jet ski trailer overlooking the lake? Can I get an Amen?

Frame

4 – 2×3 @ 84″
4 – 2×3 @ 17″
4 – 2×3 @ 14″

Sides

2 – 3/4″ thick plywood cut 36″ x 17-1/4″

Face Frame

5 – 1×4 @ 36″
8 – 1×4 @ 17-3/4″

Shelves

2 – 1×8 @ 87″
2 – 1×10 @ 87″

Middle Shelf Supports and Cleats

5 – 1×2 @ 14″
5 – 1×2 @ 17″

Bottom Trim

1 – 2×3 @ 90″
2 – 2×3 @ 18-3/4″

Top

2 – 2×10 @ 91″

Doors

2- 1/4″ thick plywood cut 20″ x 30″
4- 1×3 @ 30″
2- 1×3 @ 15″
1- 1×3 @ 29 1/4″ from corner to corner cut at an angle of 28 degrees

How To Build A Sliding Barn Door Console: The Process

Step 1) Build The Frame

The frames are pretty self-explanatory but I have included a finished picture as well as a detailed diagram. I made 3 separate consoles so that is why you see 6 of these frames.

Step 2) Add The Sides

Attach the 3/4″ plywood by first applying a bead of wood glue around the edge of the plywood and secure using 2 1/2″ screws. Repeat with each section.

Step 3) Attach to the wall.

I apologize but I forgot to take a picture of the frame installed before face frame, shelves and cleats were installed but I have included a diagram below to give you the measurements.

I installed tongue and groove car-siding for texture which shows through the open back side. Another great idea would be to paint a contrasting paint color or add a fun wallpaper on the wall behind the console.

Step 4) Add The Face Frame

Step 5) Add cleats and shelves

Step 6) Add top boards.

Don’t attach at this point because it will make it more difficult to paint or stain them.

Step 7) Stain or paint frame and top

Frame and doors: Sherwin Williams SW Iron Ore (same color that Cassity used here!)

Top (Pine): Custom Minwax stain color mix of 50/50 Classic Gray/Jacobean

Step 8) Make Doors

You could also make traditional shaker cabinet doors following this tutorial here.

Rip plywood to 20″ x 30″ panels (or size of opening). With nail gun, attach the two 30″ trim boards to the plywood panel.

Double check your measurement and cut the remaining trim boards to finish the door panel. Attach with nail gun.

To create the diagonal design displayed on my console, your board will be 29 1/4″ long from corner to corner with an angle of 28 degrees. Again, attach with nail gun.

Stain or paint doors (or both!). I painted mine Sherwin Williams Iron Ore to match the frame. (This is the same color Cassity painted her interior doors and colorwashed her barn door here to add color while still showing the wood grain.)

Step 9) Hang Doors

I followed the instructions included with my sliding door hardware. See our Remodelaholic picks for budget-friendly sliding door hardware here.

Step 10) Attach top boards to the frame

That is it! Wasn’t it easy? Now it’s time for the fun part…the accessories.

I chose chunky baskets, old trunks and metal containers to accessorize my man cave console area. They add extra storage without compromising that masculine feel.

I am so happy with the way my sliding barn door console turned out. All of the game systems and cable boxes are hidden behind the barn doors when not in use and can be easily slid open and accessed when needed. The extra storage is perfect for all of the PS4/XBox games and DVD’s we have saved up for movie nights and I even have a basket for remote controls…Life is Good!

Each and every one of you inspire me and I LOVE to see the work that you’ve created. Feel free to share with me on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook. And as always, be sure to follow Diva Of DIY on Pinterest and sign up for our FREE Newsletter to receive the latest projects delivered straight to your inbox!