TikTok Shares An Impressive DIY Record Storage Solution You'll Want In Your Home

Vinyl records are one of those charming nods to the past that only seem to get more popular each year. Not only are they a fun way for new artists to embrace an older medium and sound, but their covers can also be gorgeous works of art on their own. This, of course, requires a stylish way to store them, ideally one that shows off your favorite albums to their best advantage. 

TikTok user @abby_roadhome recently revealed an elaborate system for her son's room that provides both storage and display for his music, as well as a cool and comfy window listening seat. Deep drawer units along the floor give way to slender shelves above for displaying his collection of vinyl albums, as well as a low-slung counter surface that holds a player or speakers. 

This record album storage wall is a great DIY project that may look far more complicated than it is. You can create your own wall unit with only 2 x 4-inch wood planks, various thicknesses of MDF plywood cut down to size, and 3/4-inch solid oak plywood for the visible surfaces of the cabinets. You will also need access to a circular saw, router, screwdriver, and pocket screw tool, as well as finishing nails, screws, wood glue, and wood trim to match the surface you choose. The overall price tag will vary with the kind of wood you use and the size of the unit, but this DIY is a great alternative to having expensive custom shelves built or buying pre-made units from places like IKEA.

Begin by measuring the wall and floor, taping off the desired dimensions of the cabinets and shelves. The base of the drawer cabinets is formed by 2x4s in a ladder-style framework, which you can screw into the studs for stability. For the units themselves, use 3/4-inch MDF plywood, which you can assemble into boxes with the help of a pocket screw jig to connect all sides. With this framework in place, top the unit with 3/4-inch solid oak plywood for a more luxe look and install matching trim along the front to cover up the MDF. Since the window seat will need to support more weight, make sure to add some additional 2x4 vertical supports along the sides to prevent sagging. 

Once the cabinets and window seat are in place, create the drawers for underneath, fashioning them out of 3/4-inch MDF for the sides, and 1/2-inch MDF for the bottom. With a router, you can make grooves in the wood that will allow the sides to fit closely together held with wood glue and finishing nails. Install the drawer with soft-close drawer slides in the bottom cabinet. For a more polished look, front the drawers with oak plywood screwed in from the back for a clean finish.

While the bench below the window gets a comfy cushion made from foam and upholstery, use the wall above for a perfect set of L-shaped slender shelves created from oak plywood that are screwed directly into the wall. Use the router to create a groove that allows albums to lean successfully against the wall and not slide off. Make sure shelves are spaced far enough apart vertically to allow sufficient front-faced storage and display for the albums.

While not all spaces can accommodate such a large amount of storage or display, the great thing about @abby-roadhome's project is it can be scaled down using many of the same materials and approaches to building. A smaller similar unit, sans window seat, could fit in a corner or along a shorter wall, providing low drawers or open cabinets. A single low cabinet and shelves could house a good number of albums, as well as provide a surface for placing speakers or a player. You could also create a higher cabinet by adding another drawer vertically before continuing the shallow shelves up the wall as high as you like.