Choosing the right entertainment center design for your living room is about more than just aesthetics. Discover the various design features of TV stands and entertainment centers so you can find one that works in your space.

1. Compare Product Types: TV Stand vs. Entertainment Center

TV stands and entertainment centers provide a stable support for your TV and help position the screen at a comfortable viewing height. Besides their basic function, media centers also add storage and a stylish centerpiece to your living room, but can vary in their capacity and functionality. Here’s the difference:

TV Stand: TV stands are low, freestanding tables designed to display your TV at a comfortable level. They usually feature open shelving or cabinets to provide storage space for electronic accessories, media players, and cords. TV stands come in a range of sizes to accommodate different size televisions – making it easy to find one that fits in your space.

Entertainment Center: Entertainment centers are larger than TV stands and have more storage capacity for things like video game consoles, books, and decor. They usually include piers and a hutch that encompass the TV and provide additional shelving. Due to their dimensions, entertainment centers fit best in large living rooms and spaces with tall ceilings.

2. Consider Different Design Features

Entertainment center design features will impact the functionality and aesthetics of your living room. Here are some common features to consider to help you choose a type of entertainment center that is right for your home:

Fireplace: Make your movie viewing experience extra cozy with a fireplace entertainment center. These types of TV stands have embedded electric fireplaces – perfect if you want to bring a heating element to your home and maximize the functionality in your living room.

Floating Mount: These TV stands are designed to mount directly to the wall to give them a “floating” appearance and modern aesthetic. This entertainment center design works well under wall-mounted flat screen TVs to add storage without sacrificing the minimalistic display.

Corner Unit: Depending on the configuration of your living room seating, a corner TV stand could be the best option. Their angled sides are designed to slide into corners for a space-savvy media display that is also helpful in tight layouts.

Barn Door: Entertainment centers and TV stands with a barn door design serve both a stylish and functional purpose. The doors can slide to cover different shelving areas of your console for customized storage while also giving your space a classic farmhouse feel.

Piers Included: Piers are tall shelving units on either side of your TV stand that provide additional storage in your living room. They can either be attached to the entertainment center or come as freestanding shelves to be positioned next to your TV stand.

Hutch Included: A hutch is a shelf or shelves that run along the top of an entertainment center between two piers to create a fully enclosed area for your TV. The hutch provides more shelving space and gives the entertainment center a finished look.

3. Factor In Additional Functionality

Customize your entertainment center with features and styles that suit your lifestyle. Consider these additional functions when buying a new TV stand for your living room:

Adjustable Shelves: Some entertainment centers come with adjustable shelves to allow you to customize your storage setup. This will allow you to store items of different heights on the shelves of your TV stand.

Cable Management: TV stands with cable management have holes in the back of them to allow cords to pass through for easy access to wall outlets. This helpful feature keeps your cords organized and gives your entertainment center a clean look.

Flat Screen Mount: TV stands with flat screen mounts are specifically made to suspend a flat screen TV above your media console. This is a useful feature to consider for rental homes so you don’t have to drill holes in the wall to mount a flat screen TV.

Wheels: Wheels act as more than just a stylish accent on your TV stand – they also allow you to move it around the room to adjust your view. Other wheeled displays are designed for easy movement around office spaces or classrooms for adaptable presentation screens.

Dog Crate: Need a cozy space to contain your furry friend? A TV stand with a built-in dog crate keeps them close by for family time and saves space in your home by combining two necessary fixtures.

Tip!

Read our guide How to Find the Right TV Stand Size for guidance on choosing the correct size.

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