TV Stand or Cabinet – Understanding Different Designs & Types

As we’ll establish throughout this article, TV stands come in various types, styles, and sizes. During your initial browsing, you’ll encounter numerous optional features. Deciding whether to embrace or avoid these design choices can help narrow your search.

• Open or enclosed shelves with glass panels and solid wood doors
• Cabinet doors for the television—swinging or sliding
• Drawers
• Swiveling
• Floating/wall-mounted
• Multi-material accents such as those made from metal or glass
• Rolling
• Inclusion or exclusion of bookshelves
• Adjustable or fixed shelving
• Glass or wood shelving

This unit is more than a mere TV stand; it’s an all-in-one unit that will consume much of the wall, with most designs extending seven feet or greater. These comprehensive entertainment centers usually serve multiple purposes, combining the compartment for the TV with shelving and drawers. Another common design element is the inclusion of sliding or folding doors that can hide the screen when the TV is not in use. The result is a statement-making furniture piece as visually impressive as it is practical. 

Large entertainment cabinets aren’t for everyone. For starters, the space in which it’ll sit shouldn’t be too tight, or else it risks visually overwhelming the room to create a claustrophobic environment. What’s more, it should not block any windows. What’s more, solid wood entertainment centers are incredibly heavy, making them a questionable choice for renters who may move semi-frequently.

Think of TV armoires—also known as TV hutches—as the happy medium between TV stands and large entertainment cabinets. This design avoids the bulky footprint of the latter while offering households additional storage and, for some, the option to conceal the television behind doors when it’s not in use. While TV armoires provide storage in the base and sometimes above, they typically lack side shelving, ensuring a sleek and streamlined appearance.

When you think of your typical TV stand, it’s this particular design that most likely comes to mind. Offering enclosed drawers and shelves, it is meant to provide easy storage while complementing your living room furniture. There are numerous style choices available: legs or no legs, displayed or hidden shelving, short or tall.

Most TV stand designs feature some form of enclosed storage, such as small cabinets or solid wood drawers. As a result, pieces with open shelves stand out as more unique and visually lighter, adding an overall airy feel. While this design of TV stand can serve a variety of room layouts and decor themes, it is particularly fitting for smaller spaces with a Mid-Century to modern edge. Moreover, it is ideal for those who want to showcase small treasures on the shelves—such as framed pictures, ceramics, and knickknacks—rather than for individuals seeking a spacious storage solution.

Corner TV stands are specifically designed to fit snugly into the corners of a room, maximizing space while creating an appealing focal point for your television. Their practicality lies in their ability to utilize often-overlooked areas, providing essential storage and display options without compromising valuable floor space in smaller living areas.

Most TV stands are designed for living rooms or similar spaces, but they can also serve other areas of the home. As we explore in Choosing a TV Stand for the Bedroom, televisions can be a fantastic addition to your sleeping quarters. While a traditional TV stand is always an option, a dresser can effectively support your TV while providing extra storage for your bedroom essentials.

Traditional style is a broad umbrella term that encompasses various aesthetics, including French country, colonial, and Queen Anne. These styles share a common affinity for intricately carved details and ornate metalwork, with each TV stand meticulously crafted to emphasize quality over speed.

Mission design may be rooted in history, but its simple style makes these TV stands suitable for both traditional and modern living rooms alike. Mission-style TV stands are characterized by their clean lines, rich wood tones, and distinctive slatted designs.

Mid-century style furniture is characterized by its clean lines, organic silhouettes, and functional design, serving as a bridge between ornate traditional styles and modern minimalism. TV stands in this style typically feature tapered legs, simple shapes, and either natural stains or bold, solid colors. Generally speaking, Mid-century-themed TV stands are smaller and more streamlined than traditional designs, though many exceptions exist.

Farmhouse-style furniture encompasses a broad range of designs, from the elegance of French Country to the sleekness of modern industrial, all united by a sense of rustic charm and warmth. TV stands in this style often feature reclaimed barnwood, distressed finishes, chunky wooden frames, and elements like barn doors.

Although many TV stand designs can embody both farmhouse and rustic aesthetics, these two terms should not be used interchangeably. Farmhouse style may incorporate feminine decorative elements, such as turned legs or graceful curves, while rustic TV stands typically focus on simplicity, highlighting the wood’s organic beauty as the main focal point. Rustic furniture usually uses reclaimed barn wood; rustic versions of cherry, brown maple, hickory, or walnut; or rough sawn maple. Live edge wood is an earmark of this style.

A solid wood TV stand can be considered contemporary if it features sleek lines, minimalist design, and an emphasis on functionality. That said, this design term may be the broadest of them all, encapsulating a full spectrum of style influences.

It should be abundantly clear that a wide array of TV stand design choices may be available, but not all will be equally suitable for your home. To narrow down your options, consider not only your decor theme but also the specific dimensions and features of the TV stand that will best fit your space.

When finding the right size and height for a TV stand, begin by measuring the dimensions of your television, not just the screen size but its full footprint, to ensure a proper fit. Consider the desired margins around the TV, as a stand should offer ample space for aesthetics and stability, ideally at least a few inches wider than the TV itself. Next, assess the height by determining your eye level while seated, and calculate the optimal stand height by subtracting half the TV's height from that measurement. Lastly, factor in the room's overall size and your storage needs, ensuring the TV stand complements your space without overwhelming it.

Have more questions? Read our Size and Height Guide For Your TV Stand

When you order your TV stand from Countryside Amish Furniture, you’re guaranteed a beautifully built piece that features premium hardwoods and finishes. Moreover, we let you tailor the design to your home—choose the wood species, stain, style of handles, and more. We can even fulfill specialty requests!

Our Amish furniture makers will handcraft each TV stand individually, deploying their decades of experience and attention to detail to ensure that every piece is as sturdy as it is stunning.