By Kat Hodgins | Updated Nov 30, 2020 8:48 PM

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Cozying up in front of the television at the end of a long day is relaxing—unless you’re overwhelmed by clutter and AV cord chaos. Give your electronics, movies, and games a home with an entertainment center. The best entertainment centers are usually a focal point of the living room so it’s important to pick the right one.

The best entertainment center handles the size and weight of your TV, offers the right storage solution, and fits the size and decor of your room—there are many things to consider, including proper ventilation. This guide can help you decide which size, style, and model of entertainment center is right for you.

The right entertainment center fits seamlessly in your room, supports the size and weight of your television, and stores your AV components easily. There are several types and styles to choose from. Here are some features to consider when selecting the best entertainment center:

Entertainment stands fall into a broad variety of categories; wall units, TV stands, media chests, and entertainment center fireplaces.

Entertainment centers come in a variety of materials and finishes. Common building materials include wood, metal, and glass.

There are a wide range of styles and design choices for entertainment centers. Some popular design styles include farmhouse, industrial, modern, and mid-century modern.

To match an entertainment center to your room, you need to understand the distinguishing features of the room’s style and find an entertainment center that mirrors it, for example by matching your entertainment center to your artwork or light fixtures.

Large wall units can take up a lot of space, and they’re difficult to rearrange. Measure the length, height, and depth of the area so anyone in the household can walk around it comfortably. A rule of thumb for purchasing an entertainment center is that the stand should be at least two inches wider than the screen width. For example, if the TV is 52 inches, get a stand that’s at least 54 inches.

Different entertainment centers allow for different sizes of TVs, they’re not one size fits all. Measure your television diagonally from corner to corner and also write down the width of the TV as well. These measurements help you pick the entertainment center that fits your TV. If you have a large theater system, a larger cabinet is a suitable option.

We also have ideas for your home theater if you want to size up even more.

Some people have minimal entertainment storage needs—those who operate as wirelessly as possible by using streaming services, wireless gaming, wireless sound systems, or those who simply don’t use much audio or video equipment.

When it comes to storage needs for your entertainment center, ask yourself how much space you require. There are usually a few shelves for your cable box, game console, and a DVD/Blu-ray player, which may fulfill all your storage needs. If you have more television, gaming, and AV components, getting an entertainment center with more shelves or a cabinet may be enough. Bigger wall units have ample storage where you can store other types of mementos, photographs, books, plants, and other collectibles.

Check the specs on any entertainment center that interests you. Remember to consider the weight of your television as well as other media and gaming components you plan to store within or on the unit.

It’s important to know the weight of your television. In most cases, a stand that supports the size of television you have should also support the weight. However, if your TV is too heavy for the stand, it may compromise the proper support of your TV.

Different materials and construction methods have different weight capacities. For shelves especially, check the weight limit to ensure that your devices or other equipment aren’t too heavy. This is particularly important if you purchase an entertainment center with glass shelves.

Keeping the above considerations in mind, there are a few additional tips to make sure you choose the best entertainment center. Do this mental checklist before you make your final selection:

After you take the measurements of your TV and room, define which style goes with your room aesthetic, and have a good idea of your storage requirements, you’re well on your way. A few handy tips for finding the best entertainment center include:

Based on the criteria outlined above, the following list includes some of the best entertainment centers available. Your needs in an entertainment center are unique to you, choose a unit that will fit your space, aesthetic, and needs. As individual requirements for an entertainment unit vary, these picks suggest entertainment stands to suit many preferences.

Convenience Concepts Designs2Go TV stand is an affordable space saver at 35.5 inches by 15.75 inches by 20.5 inches. Made of sturdy particleboard covered by an espresso wood grain laminate and stainless steel clad poles, this entertainment center keeps your equipment looking neat. With enough space to house a flat-screen up to 36 inches and 80 pounds, this unit has enough capacity for your TV, various media and consoles, audio components, and more. There is a display shelf for some equipment and a few collectibles, plus closed storage space with solid plastic opaque doors. With pre-cut holes in the cabinet to run cables, this entertainment center is both stylish and functional.

The Furinno Turn-N-Tube Entertainment Center suits any room, especially ones with limited real estate. Available in multiple color options, this simple design is meant to accommodate space and budget. This stand has several shelves for easy storage of electronics or gaming accessories. A green label product, this unit is made of recycled PVC tubes and medium density composite wood. A rounded edge design helps prevent potential injury from sharp corners. This unit is tested for durability too. Meant to hold TVs up to 25 inches, this unit’s open display gives your electronics the airflow they need. The small size of 41.5 inches by 11.6 inches by 22.85 inches makes it a worthwhile consideration for apartments or dorm rooms. Plus, there are no tools required to assemble this entertainment center.

Measuring over 31 inches tall, Bush Furniture Visions Tall Corner TV Stands gives you an entertainment unit with vertical storage that you can tuck into a small corner. A bit taller than standard TV stands, the extra height puts television viewing closer to your natural eye line when seated. This entertainment center fits flat screens up to 37 inches and weighs 64 pounds. Designed to save space and fit into compact areas, this stand gives you the shelf space you need with two adjustable and one fixed shelf. Encased behind a tempered glass door, the shelves and the components they hold are protected from dust. The design has an open back to easily access and tuck away cords and wires.

WALI’s Floating Wall Mounted Shelf is a three-shelf entertainment center that can be detached and reconstructed into a one or two-shelf system instead. Each large shelf is 15 inches by 11 inches and made of strengthened tempered glass, aluminum, and steel. Though elegant, these shelves are also sturdy and able to hold up to 17.6 pounds each. To keep the clean, overall look of this entertainment center, there is cable management on both sides of the wall plate to keep cables neatly tucked away. If the stand isn’t at the optimal height, simply loosen the connecting piece and adjust the shelf. Floating stands generally do not come with a place for your TV, as these types of shelves are intended for televisions that require wall mounts.

The Hemudu Universal Floor TV Stand is worth considering if you need a particular angle for watching TV. With a 100-degree swivel mount, 25-degree tilt function to expand your viewing angle, and eight height adjustments, this is an entertainment center that adjusts to fit you. With a weight capacity of 99 pounds, this stand fits most televisions from 19 inches up to 42 inches. Supported by a 10 millimeter solid tempered glass base and a solid steel pillar for stability, this clean design has a modern look. The two shelves are made of steel and have ventilation holes to allow heat from electronics to dissipate, which is good for items like laptops or consoles. Adding to the clean appearance, this stand has wire clips to organize your cables and wires. A perk of this design is that it doesn’t get mounted to the wall, so it’s easy to move if you want to rearrange the room.

The Walker Edison Modern Wood Fireplace gives a timeless and homey design, which is an appealing feature for those who like being cozy. The classic color options, cable management feature at the back, and adjustable shelving give this entertainment center a clean aesthetic. Measuring 60 inches by 15.75 inches by 27.5 inches, this entertainment unit supports TVs up to 65 inches and 250 pounds. The elevated center of the entertainment unit has an 18-inch electric fireplace that plugs into a standard outlet. Made with a faux wood facade, the fireplace has LED flames and heat that are controlled by two different switches at the front of the unit. The doors of the two storage cupboards have adjustable soft-close hinges for quiet use. Since it is a bit larger, make sure that this unit fits comfortably by measuring the space you have available.

Ameriwood’s Home Elevation TV Stand boasts a simple and sleek design that complements nearly any room decor. With three different sized shelves for your components, this entertainment stand is meant to give the appearance of floating shelves. Made with a metal frame, hollow-core shelves, and in a versatile black finish, the stand anchors to wall studs to ensure stability and support for televisions up to 60 inches or 175 pounds. The snap-on back panel is a great place to hide wires, but make sure you run the wires before mounting the unit to the wall, as they may be a little difficult to access later on.

Yates Entertainment Center is a wall unit model made of a manufactured wood frame with a vintage white finish. This spacious entertainment center is 84.5 inches by 108.5 inches by 16.75 inches and gives you five cabinets, a pair of side bookshelves, space for a soundbar, and additional space above the TV. A solid piece visually enhanced by crown molding and paneling, this wall unit is stylish and functional. The entertainment center accommodates up to a 65-inch television, as well as the digital boxes and consoles easily accessed through glass cabinet doors. For those that have a home theater system, this type of entertainment center may be a worthwhile selection.

The Atlantic Centipede Game Storage TV-Stand was invented with gamers in mind, offering a way to keep your gaming gear organized. The television shelf with a carbon fiber pattern, is designed to support a television size up to 37 inches and a maximum of 80 pounds. This steel rod construction with powder-coated finish holds a lot of gaming equipment. The lower accessory and console shelves support up to 65 pounds and are capable of holding three consoles, four controllers, twelve games, and headphones. A space-saving gaming hub, this entertainment center measures 33.75 inches by 19.75 inches by 29.38 inches and uses the space it has to give an efficient storage solution for all your gaming equipment. Two fixed shelves near the bottom are for your consoles and the adjustable non-marring feet keep the entertainment center secure and your floors protected from damage.

The best entertainment center makes your television or gaming experience better by giving all your consoles and cords a home while fitting seamlessly into the room. No matter which entertainment center you purchase, you may be left with some questions on how to use it, where to put it, and what to do with it. Here are some common questions and answers about entertainment centers.

It’s one handy location for your television, gaming consoles, DVD/Blu-ray players, and other AV equipment.

An average TV stand measures 30 inches high. When watching TV, you want your natural eye level to be in the middle of the screen.

A living room is generally where most people put their entertainment center. Depending on the size, it can also fit in a bedroom or a dorm room. People often make their entertainment center the focal point of their furniture arrangement due to the functionality of this frequently used piece.

Use the shelves for your digital boxes or gaming consoles, use the cord management system to keep wires organized, and put your other media devices inside the storage compartments.

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