Odds are you’ll spend a lot of time looking at your media storage furniture, but you shouldn’t necessarily see it while you’re watching a movie or playing a video game–or the tangle of plugs, cables, and gaming controllers that can clutter the area around your home entertainment system. Whether it is a pared down television cabinet or a multiple-piece entertainment system, the furniture that houses your home entertainment system should integrate seamlessly with the rest of your living room decor. It should frame your TV and other media. Read on for helpful tips and advice on selecting the perfect media storage unit for your home.
Decide On A Location
Before you begin shopping, decide on the location of your home entertainment system, taking into consideration the size of your television, nearby outlets, and specific measurements of the space you have chosen. That way, you’ll already have an idea of your needs once you visit a showroom or go online.
Note: Televisions are measured diagonally across the screen, while TV stands and entertainment centers are measured by the standard length, width and depth. That means, for example, that a 60 inch TV will not necessarily line up perfectly with the edge of a 60 inch wide TV stand.
What Are The Components Of Your Home Entertainment System?
Think about how much shelving you will need for cable boxes, DVD/Blu-Ray players, and gaming consoles. If you have a lot of plugged in electronics, opt for a TV stand or wall unit with a ventilated back, or cut outs that provide direct access to outlets and allows air to circulate, preventing equipment and cables from getting too hot.
Also, do you want your electronics stowed behind glass doors to keep curious toddlers and pets away? With shelving protected by two glass doors, the Coralayne Glam TV Stand by Ashley will keep little hands and paws away from your home entertainment system.
Will you need tall shelves for speakers? What about drawers for gaming controllers and DVDs? Or maybe something with adjustable shelves like the Contemporary TV Console by Coaster.
Room To Spare?
If you have enough wall space and a large TV, an entertainment center is a great option. Entertainment centers usually include two shelving towers and a center TV stand topped with cabinet space for storing media equipment below and, depending on the design, above the TV stand. The Malibu Entertainment Collection in Gray offers ample storage space, adjustable shelves for decorative items and keepsakes, a wine cabinet for storing bottles, and cabinets with glass doors.
Still other models, like this Shay Entertainment Wall Unit by Ashley features an electric fireplace insert that can be used with or without heat. It is capable of heating a room up to 400 square feet and offers an astounding 125 user selectable flame effect options.
Your home’s media center is just the beginning! Value City NJ is New Jersey’s premier home furnishings retailer. We offer sofas, sectionals, coffee tables, end tables, bookcases, and just about everything else you need to create the living room of your dreams. Contact us today to learn about how we can help you design a living room you can’t wait to come home to.
