How to Choose the Right Entertainment Center
For most families, the entertainment center is the focal point of the living room. It’s where they gather on family movie nights, reminisce while watching home videos, or enjoy their favorite weekly TV show together. Choosing the right piece of entertainment furniture can be difficult, but we are here to help make your search easier. Read below to learn about the different types of entertainment furniture, how to choose properly sized piece, and more.
Types of Entertainment Units
Entertainment Centers
Also called wall units, entertainment centers are large pieces of furniture that usually surround and hold the TV. Often they contain drawers, cabinets, and shelves for storage of DVDs, media components, games, and more. Entertainment centers can be as tall as 72 inches and the width varies per unit. They are available in a variety of styles to match any décor. Due to their size, entertainment centers a more expensive option. However, the price varies greatly based upon materials and construction. They aren’t ideal for small rooms, as their size will dominate the space.
TV Stands
TV stands , or TV consoles, are one of the simplest pieces of entertainment furniture. They are long cabinets on which to place your TV. Generally TV stands feature additional storage (drawers, shelves, or cabinets) for DVDs, games, media components, and more. TV stands can hold most sizes of TVs, or you can mount your flat screen to the wall behind your stand. Triangular corner TV stands are also available if your room layout determines you need to place the TV in a corner. TV stands work well in rooms of all sizes.
Media Chests and Armoires
These slender units take up less floor space and instead use vertical space to store the TV and other accessories. TV armoires and media chests are ideal for small spaces where vertical storage is necessary.
- In TV armoires , the TV is often contained in a cabinet with doors, which conceal the TV when its not in use. TV armoires are one of the tallest options.
- Media chests (left) resemble tall dressers, but have shelves for easy storage and access to media components, such as DVD players or cable boxes.
Entertainment Fireplaces
Entertainment fireplaces do double duty as both a TV stand and fireplace. An electric fireplace below adds heat and personality to a space, while the shelf above is ideal for a TV. Entertainment fireplaces are ideal for spaces without a mantel or fireplace, such as a secondary family room, game room, or basement.
Options for Flat Screen Televisions
If you have a flat screen TV, you can still find a TV stand or unit that will allow you to mount the TV on the wall. If you still want the look and feel of a unit, opt for an entertainment center that allows you to mount the TV to it. If you are looking for a smaller piece of furniture, try a TV stand with flat screen panel mounts .
Entertainment Unit Styles
There are entertainment units in all styles, so you’re sure to find one that fits your existing decor. Identify the style of your room and choose a unit in the same style so that it does not collide. If you already have wooden furniture in your room, you may or may not find a unit in a matching wooden umbrella. Here are some features of the popular entertainment device styles:
- Contemporary units are often made of metal or glass. They feature clean, crisp lines and very little ornamentation.
- Modern units also feature crisp, clean lines, but are generally made of wood.
- Traditional units are generally made of wood and often feature crown molding at the top of the unit and turned legs at the bottom.
- Country or cottage units are usually made of lighter wood or feature a distressed painted finish.
Measurements to Know
Measure Your Television
- Before you make a purchase, measure your TV. The size of your TV (the size indicated on the TV box) is based on the diagonal from corner to corner. This number (in inches) will be helpful when shopping, as most TV stands or entertainment centers indicate what TV size they can have.
- Also, measure the height (from the stand to the top of the frame) and the width (from the end of the TV frame) of your TV. When you buy a unit, you should know these measurements and compare them to the TV opening in the unit.
- If your TV is not a flat screen or plasma, measure the depth of your TV to make sure it sits comfortably on or in your entertainment center with no overhang.
Measure Your Room
- Know the floor space (width and depth) you have available for the stand or unit.
- For the most enjoyable watching experience, you should leave plenty of space between the viewer and the TV. For a 29 inch TV allow for between 3 and 4 feet of open space, a 39 inch TV requires 4 or 5 feet of space, a 46 inch TV needs 5 or 6 feet of space, and anything larger requires between 7 and 8 feet of space.