How to Turn an Old Armoire Into a TV Cabinet: A DIY Armoire Makeover

August 30, 2026

Have an old armoire that no longer works for the way you live? Before getting rid of it, consider giving it a new purpose. An old armoire can be transformed into a beautiful TV cabinet while still providing valuable storage—making it an especially practical solution for a bedroom or guest room.

For this Baylen Lane Restore & Renew project, we took inspiration from a natural wood armoire found on AptDeco and reimagined the look with a soft Oyster painted finish, matte Champagne Gold hardware, and an interior designed to accommodate a television while preserving useful shelving.

The result is a piece that feels lighter and more current while retaining the character—and storage—that made the original armoire worth saving.

Why Repurpose an Old Armoire?

Large entertainment armoires may no longer be as common as they once were, but that doesn't mean these substantial pieces of furniture have lost their usefulness.

In fact, an old armoire can be an ideal candidate for a furniture makeover because it already offers something that's increasingly valuable in our homes: concealed storage.

Rather than purchasing a conventional TV stand, an armoire allows you to hide the television when it's not being used. And by retaining some of the original interior shelving, the cabinet can continue providing storage for clothing, linens, blankets, baskets and other guest-room necessities.

It's a practical example of one of our favorite approaches to decorating at Baylen Lane:

Look at what a piece of furniture could become before deciding it no longer belongs in your home.

Our Armoire Makeover Inspiration

Our inspiration for this project began with a Natural Wood Armoire from AptDeco.

View the Natural Wood Armoire at AptDeco

The traditional shape, substantial proportions and generous interior storage made this style of armoire an excellent candidate for repurposing.

Because secondhand inventory changes frequently, the exact piece may not always be available. But that's also part of the appeal of shopping secondhand: you can look for a well-made armoire with similar proportions and reinterpret the idea for your own home.

Browse Armoires at AptDeco

What to Look for in a Secondhand Armoire

If you'd like to recreate this project, don't worry about finding an identical piece.

Instead, look for:

A sturdy cabinet with good overall construction
Doors that open and close properly
An interior wide and deep enough for your television
Adjustable or removable shelving
A shape and architectural details you like
Hardware that can either be reused or easily updated

Don't let a dated wood finish discourage you. Shape, scale and construction matter far more when you're planning to paint the piece.

The Transformation

For our makeover, we wanted to preserve the traditional character of the armoire while making it feel considerably lighter and more appropriate for today's interiors.

We chose Beyond Paint in Oyster for the cabinet and refreshed the existing hardware—including the knobs and visible hinges—with BEHR PREMIUM Champagne Gold Matte Metallic Spray Paint.

Instead of removing all of the interior shelving and turning the armoire exclusively into an entertainment center, we kept as much storage as possible.

That makes the finished cabinet particularly useful in a guest bedroom: the television has a designated place, while the remaining shelves can still hold clothing, extra blankets, linens or other necessities.

When the doors are closed, everything—including the television—is neatly concealed.

What You'll Need

The exact supplies will depend on your particular armoire, but for this transformation we used:

Beyond Paint in Oyster
Appropriate paint applicators recommended for your furniture paint
Furniture cleaner/degreaser
Clean lint-free cloths
Screwdriver for removing hardware
BEHR PREMIUM Champagne Gold Matte Metallic Spray Paint
Drop cloth or protective covering
Measuring tape
Appropriate tools for creating cord access, if needed

Paint:
Beyond Paint Furniture Paint

Hardware Finish:
BEHR PREMIUM Champagne Gold Matte Metallic Spray Paint at The Home Depot

Always follow the individual manufacturer's preparation, application, drying and safety instructions.

How to Turn an Armoire Into a TV Cabinet

Step 1: Make Sure Your TV Fits

Before painting or modifying anything, measure.

Measure the interior width, height and depth of the armoire and compare those measurements with the dimensions of your television.

Remember to allow sufficient space around the TV for ventilation and access to cords and connections.

Also think about viewing height. Determine where the television needs to sit before deciding which shelves should stay, move or be removed.

Taking the time to plan the interior first can prevent unnecessary alterations later.

Step 2: Decide Which Shelves to Keep

This is one of the most important parts of the project.

You don't necessarily have to sacrifice all of the armoire's storage to accommodate a television.

Determine which shelf provides the best position for the TV and then evaluate the remaining shelves individually. Keeping shelves above or below the television can turn the finished piece into valuable bedroom storage.

In a guest room, consider using the remaining space for:

Folded clothing
Extra pillows or blankets
Towels and linens
Decorative storage baskets
Guest necessities

The goal is to make the armoire work harder—not simply change its appearance.

Step 3: Remove and Clean the Hardware

Remove the knobs and any hardware that can safely and easily be taken off.

Clean the hardware thoroughly before painting it. Oils, furniture polish and years of handling can interfere with paint adhesion.

This is also a good time to clean the entire cabinet.

Pay particular attention to the doors, edges and areas surrounding the knobs, since these surfaces are frequently touched.

Step 4: Prepare the Armoire for Paint

We selected Beyond Paint for this furniture makeover. Because paint systems have specific preparation requirements, follow Beyond Paint's current instructions for cleaning, preparation, application and drying rather than assuming every piece of furniture requires the same process.

The most important thing is to begin with a properly prepared, clean surface.

Step 5: Paint the Armoire in Beyond Paint Oyster

The biggest visual transformation comes from the paint.

Beyond Paint Oyster gives the armoire a soft, warm, light finish that immediately changes the character of the darker traditional furniture.

Rather than competing with the architectural details of the cabinet, the Oyster color allows them to become part of the design.

Apply the product according to Beyond Paint's directions and allow the recommended drying time between applications.

Take your time around moldings, door edges and other detailed areas. A careful paint application is what helps a DIY furniture makeover look intentional rather than simply painted.

Step 6: Give the Original Hardware a Matte Gold Finish

New hardware isn't always necessary.

If you like the shape and scale of an armoire's existing knobs and hinges, refinishing them can completely change their appearance for very little cost.

For this project, the existing hardware was refreshed with BEHR PREMIUM Champagne Gold Matte Metallic Spray Paint.

The Champagne Gold introduces warmth against the creamy Oyster cabinet, while the matte metallic finish keeps the result subtle rather than overly shiny.

Paint removable hardware in a properly ventilated area according to the manufacturer's directions and allow it to cure before reinstalling it.

Step 7: Create Cord Access

If the armoire doesn't already have cord openings, you may need to create discreet access through the back of the cabinet.

Plan this carefully before cutting.

Consider the locations of:

The television's power cord
The wall outlet
Streaming devices
Cable or internet equipment
Other components you intend to keep inside

The objective is to keep cords as unobtrusive as possible while maintaining appropriate ventilation and safe access to electrical components.

Step 8: Reassemble and Style

Once the paint and hardware finishes have fully dried or cured according to their manufacturers' directions, reinstall the hardware and organize the interior.

Place the television in its planned position and use the remaining shelving for storage.

Baskets or attractive containers can help organize smaller items while keeping the interior polished when the doors are open.

And when you want a quieter, more decorative bedroom?

Simply close the doors.

Why This Works So Well in a Guest Bedroom

Guest rooms frequently have to perform more than one job.

You may want to provide a television for guests without having a large black screen dominate the room. You may also need storage without adding another dresser or cabinet.

A repurposed armoire solves both problems.

It provides concealed TV storage and clothing or linen storage in a single piece of furniture.

It can also help a newer television feel more integrated into a traditional, transitional or cottage-style bedroom.

The Baylen Lane Take

A successful furniture makeover isn't necessarily about making something old look new.

Sometimes it's about making something old useful again.

This armoire already had the things that are difficult to recreate: substantial construction, beautiful proportions, architectural character and generous storage.

Paint changed how it looked.

A new finish on the hardware changed how it felt.

But rethinking its purpose is what truly transformed it.

Instead of an outdated armoire, it becomes a multifunctional TV cabinet with concealed entertainment and useful guest-room storage.

Before replacing an older piece of furniture, ask one question:

Could it serve a different purpose?

Sometimes the most interesting piece in a room isn't something you've just purchased.

It's something you've rediscovered.