A Hidden Hobby Room for $2,534

Built a wall frame and shelves out of plywood lumber, $300

Hung four 8-foot-tall hollow-core doors, using heavy-duty hardware and hinges, $725

Added off-the-shelf poplar veneer, dentil trim, and moldings for a custom look, $700

Rented nail guns and an air compressor, $157

Installed pegboard, hangers, and two fluorescent-light kits to organize and illuminate the space, $333

Faux-painted the doors to match the hardwood floors, $194

Glued sound-dampening foam onto the walls inside, $125

Total: $2,534