Designing the Perfect HiFi Cabinet: A Guide to Stylish, Functional Vinyl and Audio Storage

Introduction

In recent years there has been a resurgence in the use of vinyl. The reasons, I think, are threefold: the undoubted beautiful acoustic qualities of a record; a nostalgia for the past with its associations and visual appeal; and a desire to listen to music in the way intended by the artist, which is to say, as an album. I certainly fall into the last camp, having spent much of my life listening to music on shuffle, the tactility of a record and the conscious act of putting it on focuses the mind and makes me listen more closely to the music itself. The amazing audio quality and lovely listening experience helps too!

However, there is no denying that this all takes up a lot more space than an iPhone. A turntable, assorted separates and rows upon rows upon rows of records all need accommodating. For me this all lived first in boxes, then in crates, and now, thematically and chronologically ordered in a beautifully HiFi cabinet which doubles up as a record player stand. Vinyl record storage can be a challenge but also a joy.

Why a Bespoke HiFi Cabinet Is More Than Just Furniture

If you are already listening to vinyl, you will know how many pieces of equipment are needed to produce top quality sound: a turntable, phono pre-amps, amps, as well as maybe a mixer, or separate streaming device; all tied together with huge amounts of cabling. A HiFi cabinet doesn’t only provide storage for your separates, it can also improve the audio quality resulting from the system, as exemplified by the huge range of turntable bases available.  

Your sound-system is likely to be the central aspect to your home. Accordingly, a HiFi cabinet will also be the defining piece of furniture in your home and should be treated accordingly. A beautiful furniture-style storage solution that complements the overall décor of your home. Cables can also be hidden away and everything presented in a simple, easy to use manner that draws attention to the music and the equipment itself rather than the mess of cabling!

Planning Your Record Player Stand Around Your Equipment

Typically (if not scattered about the floor and on chairs) people often rely simply on a HiFi stack, with all separates vertically arranged above each other. The result has the visual appeal of a data centre. A large mass of electronics blend together and the viewer sees it only as a bunch of electronics, rather than as a collection of separate and lovely pieces. Cable management is non-existent and the vinyl itself has to be stored separately, probably in stacked crates. In contrast a thoughtfully made bespoke HiFi cabinet presents the opportunity for each of these pieces to shine, simplifying the operation for any unwitting spouse otherwise intimidated by the mass of cables and buttons, and returning your home to what it should be - a place to relax and enjoy the music. It also has the additional benefit of better dust protection and prevention against accidental damage of exposed equipment.

When designing the cabinet, due consideration must certainly be given to the electronics themselves - these all differ in shape and size, and have different needs for cable access and airflow. As the owner of two mono valve amps I know they put out a huge amount of heat. I equally know they are gorgeous, vintage and I want to show them off!  Cabinets can be designed with removable backs, rubber lined cable access holes, and airvents to circulate the air and allow cooling.

Vinyl doesn’t change but equipment does. So future-proofing is something I try to bake into every build from the start. In certain cases, a very fine tolerance is ok - if someone has a pair of Technics SL-1200s they want mounted in the top of the cabinet that can be done without the need for future changes - these are quality turntables, the dimensions of which haven’t changed in 50 years. When designing a stand for the mixer however, these are more likely to come and go and the stand should be designed to accommodate this.

When designing a new bespoke record player unit, the conversation should always start with a discussion of current equipment, as well as any considered future changes. The cabinet can then be designed to evolve along with the sound system.  

Beautiful speakers but far from optimal stacking

Maximising Rigidity and Reducing Vibration in HiFi Furniture

A bespoke HiFi cabinet allows the sound system to shine, not only aesthetically but also acoustically. Central to this is the minimisation of unwanted resonance in the system. Unlike mass-produced furniture, which often prioritises form over function, a well-designed cabinet can actively contribute to better audio performance by reducing vibrations that muddy sound clarity or disrupt sensitive components like turntables.

Rigidity is key. A solid, well-braced structure prevents micro-movements that can travel through the cabinet and into your equipment. Turntables are especially vulnerable - even minor vibrations from a footstep or bass note can cause needle skip or subtle distortion. Using dense hardwoods or engineered materials like birch ply with cross-grain lamination helps create a stable foundation, while considered internal joinery (such as housed or dovetailed joints) adds long-term strength without relying on mechanical fixings alone. A good example of this rigidity and use of solid wood joinery can be seen in my Tannoy cabinet.

The floor type plays a significant role. On a concrete slab, you’ll naturally benefit from higher mass and reduced resonance. But in homes with suspended timber floors - especially in older buildings - vibration becomes a more serious concern. In such cases, a low centre of gravity and wider base can help increase stability. Adding vibration-absorbing feet or isolating platforms beneath sensitive equipment can further improve performance. In severe cases, wall mounted cabinets or turntable plinths may be recommended.

Weight distribution also matters. Equipment like valve amplifiers, not to mention the vinyl itself (up to 50kg per metre), can be very heavy and in poorly designed systems can cause flexing over time. A careful design ensures that each bay can handle the necessary weight without flexing, and that sensitive gear isn’t sharing a shelf with a heat-generating neighbour.

Finally, in addition to the cabinet itself you can integrate other damping solutions such as felt or neoprene pads under equipment or cork shelf liners. These can make a meaningful difference without disrupting the visual harmony of the cabinet.

By taking vibration and rigidity seriously, the HiFi cabinet becomes more than just a place to store gear - it becomes part of the system, enhancing performance while anchoring the room visually.

Choosing the Right Materials for Your HiFi and Vinyl Cabinet

One of the first things I think about when designing a HiFi cabinet is: what’s it going to be made from? The design is always a balance between performance, looks, and practicality - and materials sit right at the centre of that triangle. Materials affect everything - the look, the longevity, the sound performance, the weight, and how it feels to actually use it day-to-day. There's no one-size-fits-all answer, but there are definitely better and worse choices depending on what you're trying to achieve.

I build most of my HiFi and vinyl cabinets using solid wood, and for good reason. It looks beautiful, feels substantial, and brings a warmth and depth that no man-made material can quite replicate. But it’s not just about aesthetics - solid timber has very real acoustic and structural benefits when used properly, particularly in the context of storing vinyl and housing sensitive equipment like turntables and valve amps.

Some hardwoods are better suited than others. Ash and oak, for example, are both strong, relatively stable, and readily available in wide boards. They have a satisfying weight to them and provide a rigid, resonant-dampening base for audio equipment. Walnut is another favourite (as in my Tannoy cabinet) - slightly softer than oak, but still stable and dimensionally reliable, and it has a rich tone and grain pattern that works beautifully in a living space. Cherry, maple and utile are also good options, with a tighter grain and a slightly more refined feel if that's what you're after. For example, I designed and built this bespoke record player stand and vinyl storage out of solid utile.

What you want in a HiFi cabinet is mass and rigidity without unwanted resonance. Think of it like a speaker enclosure in reverse - you’re not trying to project sound, you’re trying to stop the cabinet joining in. A well-built solid wood cabinet, especially one that’s properly jointed and designed to spread loads evenly, does a great job of minimising vibration and giving your gear a stable home.

I do sometimes incorporate birch ply for internal panels or hidden structures where I want to control movement - it’s incredibly strong and doesn’t warp, and when combined with solid timber it can offer the best of both worlds. For example, a veneered ply back panel can help stiffen the entire cabinet and support cable routing, while still allowing the main carcass and shelves to be solid wood.

MDF is rarely something I use unless a client specifically wants a painted finish - it’s dense and inert, which is useful acoustically, but it doesn’t have the same strength or beauty. I’d never use it structurally for vinyl storage unless it’s heavily supported - records are heavy, and MDF tends to sag over time if not reinforced. For something that’s going to last decades, solid wood just makes more sense.

Whatever the combination, the main thing is this: the materials should suit the purpose. If the cabinet is going to live in a hot upstairs flat on a suspended floor, that might affect how you build it. If the client has a monster of a Class A amp, you’ve got to account for the heat and the weight. If it’s going to be the centrepiece of the living room, it needs to look like one.

Timber Talk: Which Wood Should You Choose?

·   Oak - Strong, heavy, and durable. Great for traditional or industrial-style cabinets. Adds mass and absorbs vibration well.

·       Ash - Lighter in tone and weight, but still strong. Slightly springier feel makes it ideal for modern designs with cleaner lines.

·       Walnut - Rich colour, beautiful grain, and slightly softer under tools. Perfect for mid-century style cabinets and softer interiors.

·       Maple - Hard and fine-grained. Reflects a more refined, minimalist aesthetic. Takes stain well but can feel clinical if not balanced.

·       Cherry - Warms beautifully over time, with a smoother grain and elegant feel. Suits traditional or transitional styles.

·       Sapele - Dense, stable, and excellent for vibration control. Its deep reddish tones and interlocking grain bring a slightly more formal, high-end look. A good alternative to mahogany, particularly for darker interiors.

Choose a timber that suits the tone of your room - and the tone of your system.

Future-Proofing Your Record Player Cabinet for Evolving Setups

One of the best - and trickiest - parts of designing a HiFi cabinet is the fact that the gear it's built to hold never really stays the same. Turntables might last a lifetime, but amps come and go, digital sources evolve, and there’s always one more box to squeeze in somewhere down the line.

The most obvious thing is adjustable shelving. Sounds simple, but it makes a huge difference. Separates vary massively in height - especially once you get into things like valve amps or vintage tape decks - and giving yourself the flexibility to reconfigure shelf heights can save you a lot of swearing later on. I usually design shelf systems with discreet support holes routed into the carcass so you don’t see the adjustment points unless you go looking.

It’s also worth building in more depth than you think you need. Modern HiFi gear is getting deeper, not slimmer, especially with integrated streaming amps or high-output power supplies. I try to allow a good 400-450mm internal depth on equipment bays, plus a bit of breathing room behind for cables. Rear cable access is essential - and not just a single hole in the back. I often cut in large, rubber-lined cable ports or even removable rear panels for full access when needed.

Ventilation is another big one. I’ve mentioned this before, but it’s worth repeating here because future-proofing isn’t just about what fits - it’s about what lasts. A drawer that fits your amp today won’t help much if the thing cooks itself because it can’t breathe. This is especially true with gear that runs hot - Class A amps, tube preamps, or even some high-end streamers. I like to leave at least 50-100mm of air space above hot-running kit, with hidden vents routed in behind or underneath to keep the cabinet looking clean.

Expansion space is something people often overlook. Even if you only have two or three separates now, if you’re the kind of person who upgrades (and let’s face it - if you’re into vinyl, you probably are), it’s worth having a spare bay or empty shelf designed in from the beginning. It could be used for a second turntable, a DAC, a streaming device - or, down the line, something that hasn’t even hit the market yet.

In some cases, it makes sense to design parts of the cabinet so they can be swapped or reconfigured later - for example, a central unit that houses vinyl now, but could be reused as an equipment bay in future. This sort of flexibility can make the cabinet feel like a long-term solution, not just a fixed piece that needs replacing every time your setup changes.

Finally, I always ask clients what they might want in five years. That doesn’t mean designing for fantasy gear that may never arrive, but it helps me understand their direction - whether they’re heading toward home cinema integration, or just expanding their vinyl collection. The cabinet should support that journey, not limit it.

In short, the aim is to build something that will outlive the current kit - and be just as useful and beautiful when the system inevitably changes. After all, you can upgrade your amp or turntable at any time - but your record player cabinet is the thing that ties it all together.

Vinyl Record Storage: How to Protect and Display Your Collection

There’s no getting around it - vinyl takes up space. But that’s part of its charm. Rows of records, neatly stored and easily accessible, have a presence and personality that digital music never will. For me, the records are as much a part of the furniture as the cabinet itself. The aim is always to design storage that makes the collection easy to use, visually pleasing, and properly supported.

The first thing to say is that records are heavy - surprisingly so. A single 12” LP weighs around 180–220g, and once you’ve got a few hundred lined up, you’re talking about a serious load. That means the record storage cabinet needs to be built accordingly, with solid joinery, strong materials, and support in all the right places. I usually allow for roughly 50kg per metre of LPs, and build shelving and dividers with that in mind.

Then there’s how you want to access them. Some clients like to flip through records face-out, like in a record shop, which works well in bin-style compartments or angled drawers. Others (myself included) prefer spine-out, with sleeves neatly lined up and arranged alphabetically, thematically, or chronologically. It’s worth thinking about how you naturally browse your collection, and designing the cabinet around that.

Internal dimensions are critical. A standard 12” LP is around 315mm tall and 315mm deep with a sleeve - but you’ll want extra clearance so the records don’t rub or catch on the edges. I generally allow 340mm internal height to make sure there’s enough room for thicker gatefolds or protective sleeves and for ease of access. Width is usually broken into bays so the weight is manageable and the collection can be split into logical groups.

Orientation matters too. Vertical storage is a must - stacking records flat causes warping and ring-wear over time. The weight of vinyl is enough to damage sleeves or even distort the records themselves if they’re piled up. That’s one of the reasons crates and boxes, while great for short-term storage, aren’t ideal long term - especially once they start to overflow.

I would suggest thinking about some sort of dividers as part of the design - either fixed wooden sections or moveable panels, depending on how the collection is organised. It makes browsing more intuitive and stops records from slumping sideways in half-full bays.

On a more visual note, records can also look fantastic on display - whether it’s a “now playing” stand, a dedicated shelf for new arrivals or to queue records. This can be incorporated in the cabinet or, more commonly, wall mounted above it.

Custom Features to Consider in a Record Storage Cabinet

One of the real joys of commissioning a bespoke record storage cabinet - beyond the materials and craftsmanship - is that you can actually tailor the cabinet to how you use it. For example, drawers are great for smaller accessories like stylus brushes, spare cartridges, or your record cleaning kit. Some people like soft LED lighting under shelves or behind display areas to bring everything to life in the evening - it adds warmth without overpowering the space.

A couple of things that I would generally suggest are beneficial to include are: a removable back panel; and a back stop for the vinyl so that all the records are neatly aligned and easy to take in and out. When you’re dealing with multiple audio components, neat and accessible cable management is not just cosmetic - it helps avoid interference and future-proof the setup. I typically include a false back (the vinyl backstop) behind which cables can be contained. Even though I do provide rubber or leather rimmed access holes to protect cables and prevent wear over time, you never know if a more substantial change might be needed and so having an additional removable back then allows this to be easily done, whether by you or me.

The beauty of a custom-made record stand or vinyl storage cabinet is that it can be as simple or elaborate as you want. Some people might want a compact HiFi unit with record storage that fits into a tight living room corner. Others might want a long, low TV unit that also holds their turntable and vinyl collection. Others still might want a freestanding DJ booth in the middle of a room. In any case though, the goal is the same - to design a piece of furniture that works perfectly for your home, your system, and your habits.

Balancing Form and Function in Your HiFi and Record Player Unit

When you’re designing a bespoke HiFi cabinet or record player unit, there’s always a balance to strike between form and function. In my experience, people tend to start by leaning hard toward one or the other - either they want a sleek piece of furniture that fits their space, or they’re focused on housing every bit of gear and vinyl record storage they own. The sweet spot lies somewhere in the middle.

Let’s start with function. A good record player stand should make listening to music easier. That means proper height and access to your turntable, space for all your HiFi separates, and organised vinyl storage that keeps records upright and within reach. It’s also about ventilation, cable routing, and avoiding stacked gear that overheats or becomes a pain to operate. A lot of these choices depend on how you listen - whether you’ve got a minimalist setup or a multi-box system - but the aim is always to reduce friction and let you enjoy the music.

At the same time, the unit is going to live in your home - probably in the living room - and it needs to look the part. Whether you’re after a minimalist vinyl storage unit, a vintage-style record player cabinet, or a hybrid TV cabinet and record storage system, the cabinet should sit comfortably in its environment.

That’s where good design comes in. Proportions, timber selection, layout - these are things that might not jump out on first glance, but they define whether the unit feels calm and balanced or awkward and cramped. I will always be careful to match grain direction across components (for example from sides to top) and use solid wood joinery details that look great and are built to last.

Sometimes you need to make conscious compromises. Maybe the perfect position for your record storage cabinet is under a window, but that limits your turntable height. The benefits of designing a bespoke HiFi cabinet from scratch is that these eccentricities can be accommodated and I will work with you to suggest a range of different solutions.

Ultimately, for me the goal is for the record player cabinet to be something you enjoy using and looking at - a piece of furniture that respects the gear it holds and the music it supports. When form and function are properly balanced, you don’t notice them separately - you just put on a record and it feels right.

Lighting Ideas for Your Record Stand or HiFi Setup

Bespoke HiFi cabinet with remote controlled LEDs

Lighting might not be the first thing you think about when planning a record player stand or HiFi cabinet, but it can make a huge difference to how the space feels - and how usable it is in the evening.

Discreet LED strip lighting under a shelf or behind the unit can highlight your vinyl storage without overwhelming the room. I often install warm dimmable LEDs to gently illuminate controls, turntables, and record spines without adding glare or heat. For display features, a simple spot or gallery-style downlight can draw attention to your favourite album covers or a vintage record player cabinet.

The aim is always soft, indirect light that enhances the mood and lets you focus on the music - not on harsh reflections off a shiny amp.

Installation Considerations: Cabling and Positioning

As audiophiles will undoubtably be aware, where you place your HiFi cabinet and speakers can have a big and sometimes surprising effect on both sound and usability. 

Cabling is best planned in advance. I usually build in cable routing channels and removable back panels so everything can be connected cleanly, without stress on the cables or plugs. It’s also worth leaving a little slack for future upgrades.

Think about positioning. Avoid cramming your HiFi unit with record storage into a hot, unventilated corner. Equipment needs space to breathe, and your records will thank you for being kept away from direct sunlight and radiators. Ideally, place the cabinet where it’s easy to access and where listening feels relaxed. After all, that's the whole point.

Vinyl Storage Units That Double as TV Cabinets

If space is tight, a custom vinyl storage unit that also functions as a TV cabinet can be the perfect solution. With careful layout, you can house your record player, HiFi separates, and TV in one streamlined piece - keeping cables hidden and everything accessible. It’s all about designing around your lifestyle without compromising on looks or sound. 

Final Thoughts: Investing in Timeless HiFi and Vinyl Storage Solutions

Whether you're after a minimalist record player stand, a full HiFi cabinet with vinyl storage, or a vintage-style record player unit, the goal is always the same: to make listening easier and more enjoyable.

Designing a bespoke record storage cabinet means building something that suits your gear, your home, and the way you actually listen. A well-considered HiFi unit doesn’t just look great - it protects your equipment, helps it perform at its best, and brings clarity and order to your space.

Many vinyl setups still in use today are over 50 years old - a testament to the longevity of well-made audio gear. I aim to build vinyl storage units and record player cabinets that will stand the test of time in the same way: solid, functional, beautiful pieces of furniture that you’ll enjoy for decades to come.

If you're thinking about a custom cabinet, I’m always happy to talk through ideas - from layout to materials to clever ways of fitting your system. For me, there’s nothing better than creating something that makes listening to records a joy, every single time.