Look for evidence of sturdiness, such as dovetail joints. If shopping in a brick and mortar, check the display and give the stand a nudge to see how it responds. If shopping online, check reviews for complaints of faultiness. If a variety of materials will work well in your home, choose the sturdiest.
The interior design rule is that the materials in a room should match. If you started with oak, stick with oak; if you started with steel, stick with steel. Color tones are important also. Different types of wood or metals are acceptable if theyre painted or stained the same color.
As cabinets have grown to accommodate larger televisions, space diminishes. Shop for one that will keep an “open” feel to the space. An armoire or cabinet will visually eat a lot more space than a table. Color is also important: dark will be more dramatic (particularly if the piece is large) so lighter is preferable.
Dont forget to consider your electronics when determining your space needs. Theyll need sufficient surface area and air circulation around them to prevent overheating; never stack them. If you select a cabinet or armoire that is not designed to hold electronics, you may need to drill holes to accommodate your cords and cables and increase circulation of air. Also factor in cable length; this will keep your electronics on a short leash from your tv. Limiting your cables to the necessary length will help retain optimum output quality. Your electronics remote receivers also need to be visible (not shut in a cabinet) so that youll be able utilize the remotes.
The new generation of LCD and plasma televisions are very slim so they don’t need cabinets that are very deep. So you can save room in your room.
A swivel stand will be a valuable investment whether you decide on a stand or a cabinet. Some stands designed for a cabinet will pull forward as well as swivel, which will make the tv seem larger. (If your seating area is already fairly close to the tv, save the money and skip this feature.)
To best utilize the space, a wall mount is the best option and is usually less expensive. As with a swivel stand, an adjustable mount is crucial if the needs of the seating area change or there are potential lighting issues.
Remember that a wall mount is useless unless the wall can safely support the weight. If youre not sure whether the wall is sturdy enough for this task, it is not worth the safety risk, for the welfare of your family as well as your television! Many stores offer wall mount services so this may be the route to go.
And allow room for expansion if youre thinking of upgrading to a larger tv soon or plan to add more electronics. When in doubt, too much space is almost never too much space. In the world of electronics, less is not more.












