TV Stands and Media Storage Furniture Explained
TV stands and media storage furniture are the consoles, cabinets and entertainment centers that hold a television and keep the devices, cables and media around it in order. They suit any living room, bedroom or den where the TV sits on furniture rather than on a bare wall, and they matter most in rooms where a TV is the focal point. This collection holds about 500 pieces, and roughly 80% of them are in stock.
Most listings are TV stands, the low console format. The rest are larger entertainment centers, general TV and entertainment furniture, and a group of fireplace TV stands that combine a media console with a fireplace section.
Console, Entertainment Center or Fireplace Stand?
Low TV Stands and Media Consoles
The long, low console is the most common style by far. It holds the TV on top and stores devices behind doors or on open shelves. It suits most rooms and works with a wall-mounted TV too, as a media storage unit beneath the screen.
Entertainment Centers
Entertainment centers add towers, bridges or upper shelving around the screen. They give far more storage for books, games and decor, but take up more wall and usually need a TV smaller than the opening. Measure the opening, not just the overall unit.
Fireplace TV Stands
Fireplace TV stands build a fireplace section into the console, typically sized for an electric insert. Check each listing for whether the insert is included and what heat setting it offers before you buy.
Sizing a TV Stand to Your Screen
TV sizes are measured diagonally, so a screen is narrower than its size suggests. A 55-inch TV is about 48 inches wide, a 65-inch about 57 inches, and a 75-inch about 65 inches. A good rule is to choose a stand at least as wide as the TV, and ideally several inches wider, so the screen does not look top-heavy and the feet have a stable base.
- Width: wider than the TV for balance; titles in this collection often list the stand width in inches.
- Height: aim for the center of the screen to sit roughly at seated eye level, about 40 to 45 inches from the floor for most sofas. Low stands suit large TVs; taller stands suit smaller ones or bedrooms viewed from bed.
- Depth: the TV's feet or stand must fit fully on the top. Check where the feet sit on your model, since some are at the outer edges.
- Weight capacity: compare the stand's rated capacity with your TV's weight, plus anything else on top.
Storage Choices: Doors, Drawers and Open Shelves
How you store things matters as much as how much you store. Open shelves suit streaming boxes, game consoles and receivers that need airflow and a clear line for remotes. Doors hide clutter and are useful in media storage cabinets where cables and controllers would otherwise show. Drawers handle small items: remotes, games, chargers.
Glass doors are a middle ground. Remote signals generally pass through clear glass, so devices can sit behind it, while dust stays out. Adjustable shelves, mentioned in many titles here, let you fit tall components or speakers.
Materials and Finishes
Wood and wood-look finishes make up most of the range, in walnut, dark brown, natural and light tones, along with white and black. Glass and metal appear on doors, frames and legs, and a few stands have marble or engineered marble tops. Some pieces are solid wood; others use MDF or particle board with a wood or painted finish.
- Solid wood: heavy, sturdy and repairable; can show scratches but can be refinished.
- MDF and particle board: lighter and less expensive, with consistent finishes; keep away from standing water.
- Marble and engineered marble tops: a stone surface that resists heat; wipe up spills quickly on real marble to avoid etching.
- Glass and metal: a lighter, more modern look; glass shows fingerprints and dust more easily.
Prices for Media Storage Furniture
Prices are per listed item. Entry-level stands start around $115, and most of the range sits between about $300 and $880, with the middle near $510. Large entertainment centers and statement pieces go higher, up to about $7,600.
Managing Cables and Heat
- Look for cable openings. Holes or cutouts in the back panel let you route power and HDMI cables without pulling the stand away from the wall.
- Leave airflow. Game consoles and receivers run warm. Leave a few inches behind and above them, and avoid fully enclosed cabinets with no rear openings for powerful equipment.
- Anchor the TV and stand. Use anti-tip straps on tall entertainment centers and on TVs, especially in homes with children.
- Plan power. A surge protector placed inside the cabinet keeps the outlet strip out of sight.
Matching the Rest of the Room
A TV stand is often the longest piece in a living room, so match its tone and height to the furniture around it. A stand in the same wood as your coffee tables pulls the room together, and its length should feel proportional to the sectionals and sofas facing it. If you need storage outside the TV wall, console tables and cabinets and buffets and sideboards offer similar door and drawer layouts. The full living room furniture collection covers everything else.
TV Stands & Media Storage Furniture FAQ
What size TV stand do I need for a 65-inch TV?
A 65-inch TV is about 57 inches wide, so look for a stand at least 58 to 60 inches wide, and wider if you want room for speakers or decor. Check that the TV's feet fit fully on the top.
What is the difference between a TV stand and a media storage cabinet?
A TV stand is a console built to hold the TV on top. A media storage cabinet focuses on enclosed storage for devices and media and may sit under a wall-mounted screen or elsewhere in the room. Many pieces do both.
Can I use a TV stand under a wall-mounted TV?
Yes, and it is common. The stand becomes a media storage unit for devices and cables, and it gives the screen visual weight. Leave about 6 to 12 inches between the top of the stand and the bottom of the TV.
Do remotes work through TV cabinet doors?
Infrared remotes generally work through clear glass doors but not through solid wood. Many newer devices use Bluetooth or Wi-Fi remotes that work through closed doors.
Are fireplace TV stands safe under a TV?
Fireplace TV stands are designed for that use, but follow the listing and insert instructions for maximum TV size and clearance. Do not place a TV that overhangs the heater vent if the instructions advise against it.
What is the best TV storage unit for a small room?
A narrow console with closed storage keeps a small room tidy. Choose a stand only slightly wider than the TV, with doors to hide clutter, and consider light finishes to keep the room feeling open.