Ah, televisions. They’ve been a ubiquitous part of the home for many decades, found in numerous living rooms around the world. You can say that the TV and its accompanying entertainment center is the heart of the living room. It’s what we focus our attentions on as we watch the big game, catch the news, or tune in to the latest episodes.
With its long history, TV units have evolved from just being simple stands to put your television on. They now come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and even serving multiple functions. Just walk into any store or browse online, and you’ll be met with numerous of options. When you factor in custom-built entertainment units, then your options are almost infinite! It can be confusing to navigate this space, but that’s what this article is for. Here are some of the things to consider when getting a living room TV unit or entertainment center.
Why Do I Need One?
Look and Style
It goes without saying that we want our homes to look amazing. We want to live in a space that brings us joy every day, and the living room is no exception. A TV unit or entertainment center, especially if you opt for a custom-made one, can greatly enhance the look of your space. Your cabinetry can come in a wide array of styles, colors, and designs, and fit into your ideal living space. A well designed entertainment center can also act as the centerpiece of the room, which brings us to the next point.
Photo by Ionut Vlad on Unsplash
A Space for All
With the television and its accompanying entertainment center as the focal point, your living room transforms into a space that’s perfect for accommodating guests and spending relaxing evenings with family. Having a dedicated space for leisure means being able to watch movies together, play games together, and have fun together. Truly, having a dedicated entertainment center takes your living room to the next level.
Highly Functional
Not only do TV units and full-on entertainment centers look good, but they’re also highly functional. This handy cabinetry holds all of your entertainment essentials in one place. It keeps your TV, DVDs, game consoles, audio equipment, and the like neat and organized. Also depending on the style, type, and size of your setup, you can also have space for books, photos, and other items you want to put on display. Being organized helps prevent accidentally damaging your equipment. It also keeps things neat and tidy, making cleaning a breeze.
Custom living room entertainment center by Wood & Co.
What Do I Need to Know?
Size of Your TV
The very heart of your entertainment center is the television, so that’s where we’ll start. The size of your TV greatly affects everything else about your whole living room entertainment setup. A small space wouldn’t work well with a huge 75” television. It’s not just the room that matters, but the dimensions of the cabinet itself have to match that of your television.
Size also affects how high you have to mount your TV. Generally, you’d want the center of the television at eye level when you’re seated on the couch. You have more freedom if you choose to attach your TV to the wall. However, if you prefer to have it sitting on top of your cabinetry, then you have to take that into consideration as well.
Match the Room
As stunningly beautiful as the TV wall you envision is, it won’t exist in isolation. Never forget how it works with the rest of your living room décor and furniture. This is doubly important when you already have existing pieces in your space. Carefully select the style, color, and texture for your cabinet that complements and enhances the whole room.
Cabinetry Type
Now that you know your TV’s size and what kind of look your room has going on, we move on to the cabinetry. There are two very broad categories we can choose from: a floor unit or a wall unit. A floor-mounted unit is a traditional choice, and your TV is placed on top of it. A wall-mounted unit, on the other hand, gives off a sleek and modern look. It doesn’t occupy floor space, so it tends to make a room look spacious.
These aren’t the only ways you can set-up your cabinetry, of course. You can have a combination of both a floor-mounted cabinet where you place the TV, and have a wall-mounted section above. You can also cover your whole wall in cabinetry from floor to ceiling. How much or how little cabinetry you need depends on what you want your entertainment center to do for you.
White built-in living room shelving by Wood & Co.
Storage Options
Depending on your family’s needs, you may want to store various stuff in your living room aside from your AV equipment. Shelving on your TV unit can be a great spot to display knickknacks, books, and other collectables. Closed cabinets, on the other hand, can be great for augmenting insufficient storage elsewhere in the house. Take stock of your belongings and what types of items you might add in the future. By doing this, everything will have its own spot at your home entertainment center and keep things neat and organized.
Final Thoughts
Entertainment units are certainly a must-have in any home. They present you with a whole world of possibilities to enhance your living space and enrich your leisure experiences. It’s therefore imperative that we make a conscious effort in choosing the perfect one for us and our needs.
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