Learn a simple tutorial for a DIY outdoor TV cover with repurposed shutters. This outdoor tv cabinet is a great addition to your space.
Who doesn’t love watching a football game in an outdoor space with great company and great food! That was our ultimate goal when we decided to install a TV on our back porch. My worry was how we were going to keep the TV out of all the elements. Our home has the tendency to get a lot of wind (and we live at the beach, hello hurricanes!). This is when I got the bright idea to create this DIY outdoor TV shield with repurposed shutters.
When researching for a an outdoor TV cover, I had two things in mind: low cost and not much time. What materials could I use for the outdoor tv enclosure? Could I find something around the house to repurpose?
That’s when I ran to Pinterest for ideas. Isn’t that what y’all do too?
What material would I use to cover the TV? After all, most TV’s installed outside are just indoor tvs, so we had to find a way to cover it from windy rain! Speaking of rain, I knew I didn’t need a weatherproof tv enclosures, just something to shield it from a few elements. I knew the fresh air wouldn’t hurt it, but rain might. Covering the front would give me peace of mind too and make it better suited for outdoor use.
There were tons of ideas on Pinterest about using old SHUTTERS for an OUTDOOR TV COVERING.
Shutters seemed to be the easiest and cheapest route to make the tv covering- so shutters it was!
I went to a sweet little shop in town that I’ve been to a few times before where I saw a pair of old white wooden shutters for 18$. I was excited because they were still there, so I purchased!
You know I like to keep things simple. No building plans needed here, just some old shutters and plumbing materials.
Check out more outdoor DIY Ideas before you go:
DIY Wood Outdoor Privacy Screen for Under $100!
Rustic Cottage Outdoor Makeover Before and After
Firepit with Pea Gravel and Pavers
How to make a DIY outdoor TV cover with shutters
First you need to cut the shutters down to slightly larger than the height of the TV. As far as how much larger, this is more of a personal preference. We chose to make ours a good bit larger because my husband kept saying he was going to buy a larger tv, LOL.
Next you need to gather your hardware and necessary materials. Since this was going to be installed outside, I needed a very water/ heat and cold resistant material.
During my research the best option for any outdoor living space was plumbing materials. The best part about using plumbing materials is that I didn’t need to cut, sand, or prepare anything for this DIY furniture project.
I was so excited because this would create the perfect Industrial/ vintage look for my Outdoor TV Cover project. Speaking of plumbing materials, they have become quite poplar to use to make shelves out of. I made a set of my own pipe shelves here.
Note: an important part to remember before you buy your materials is to measure the TV AND the SHUTTERS and make sure you buy a long enough pipe so when you open your shutters, (or whatever covering you decide to use in front of the TV), the entire TV is exposed. If you don’t buy a long enough pipe, when you open your covering, you will only be able to see like half the TV.
Materials for the pipe sliding outdoor TV Cover
- 2 galvanized base flanges
- 2 90 degree elbows
- 2 6 ” pipes
- 1 48″ pipe (measure to make sure the pipe is wide enough to visualize the TV when the shutters are open)
- 4 eye hooks (the pipe needs to fit through these)
- screws
- shutters (or one shutter cut in half)
Below, you will see all the galvanized pipe and the eye hooks installed on the shutters.
After assembling the pipe, we hung the cover by screwing the flanges in the brick. Make sure to use brick screws.
That’s it, easy peasy! Now sit back and enjoy your favorite tv shows in the outdoor elements! A TV really helps with any outdoor entertainment.
Not only is this a stylish and easy furniture project, but it serves a good purpose and only cost about $30 to make.
Time to enjoy football season with my new TV cover with repurposed shutters!
Lindsey**