TV Units Trends for 2026: What’s Hot This Year

The biggest TV unit trends this year are low, elongated silhouettes, softly curved edges, fluted and ribbed textures, warm mid tone woods, stone effect tops and technology that disappears behind closed doors. Together they point towards media furniture that feels calmer and more like a piece of furniture than a piece of equipment. Stark white gloss and bulky entertainment centres are giving way to designs that blend into a relaxed, lived in living room.

These directions are clear across our modern TV units UK collection, where the newest designs lean towards texture, warmth and simple shapes. Below we look at each trend, why it is resonating, and how to bring it into your home without the room feeling dated in a few years.

Trend One: Long, Low Silhouettes

Tall media cabinets with towers either side are fading. In their place are long, low units that stretch across the wall and sit close to the floor. This profile makes ceilings feel higher, suits the wall mounted televisions many households now prefer, and gives a relaxed, horizontal line that echoes low sofas and coffee tables.

The trend works especially well in UK homes with modest ceiling heights. A lower unit leaves more visible wall above, which makes the room feel more spacious. It also connects naturally with the rest of your living room furniture UK sale pieces, since most seating and tables now share that grounded, low slung feel.

To adopt it well, choose a unit that is noticeably wider than your television and keep the top surface fairly clear. Mount the screen a little closer to the unit than you might expect so the two read as one composition.

Trend Two: Curves and Rounded Corners

Curved furniture has moved from sofas and chairs into cabinetry. TV units with rounded ends, softened corners or gently bowed fronts are becoming more common. The effect is subtle but noticeable: a curved unit feels friendlier and less boxy, and it softens the geometry of a rectangular screen.

Curves also help in busy family rooms, where rounded corners are kinder to shins and small children. If a fully curved unit feels too bold, look for one with radiused edges instead. It offers the same softness in a more understated way.

Trend Three: Fluted, Ribbed and Reeded Fronts

Texture is one of the defining features of current furniture design. Fluted and reeded doors add rhythm and depth to a plain cabinet, catching light and casting fine shadows through the day. They suit a surprising range of styles, from Scandinavian and Japandi rooms to warmer, more eclectic schemes.

Fluting can appear in wood, painted finishes or even glass. Reeded glass doors are particularly useful on media units because they soften the view of devices behind while still allowing remote control signals through.

Because texture is doing the work, keep the rest of the unit simple. Minimal handles or push to open doors let the surface speak for itself.

Trend Four: Warm Mid Tone Woods

The pale, almost white oak that dominated for several years is shifting towards richer mid tones. Honey oak, walnut, smoked oak and warm teak effect finishes are increasingly popular choices. These colours feel cosy and grounded, and they work well with the earthy palettes now common in living rooms.

Our wooden TV stands UK range reflects this, with a wider spread of warmer finishes alongside classic light oak. If your floor is already a mid tone wood, choose a unit a shade lighter or darker so the two do not blend into one another.

Trend Five: Stone, Marble and Travertine Effect Tops

Natural stone surfaces, or convincing effect finishes, are appearing on everything from coffee tables to sideboards, and TV units are following. A travertine or marble effect top adds weight and a sense of permanence, and it pairs beautifully with wood or dark metal bases.

Travertine, with its warm beige tones and gentle pitting, is having a particular moment. It suits the soft, neutral schemes many people are choosing and brings a touch of Mediterranean warmth to a northern European home.

Stone looks best when it is repeated at least once in the room, such as on a side table, lamp base or tray. That repetition turns a single feature into a considered scheme.

Trend Six: Technology Out of Sight

Few people want to see routers, consoles and tangles of cable any more. Current TV units prioritise closed storage, with ventilated compartments, cable channels and space for soundbars built into the design. The only piece of technology on display is the screen itself, and even that is often wall mounted.

When choosing a unit, check for rear cable ports, removable back panels and enough internal height for your devices. A generous closed cupboard is more useful than several small open shelves.

Trend Seven: Earthy and Deep Colour Palettes

Painted TV units are appearing in colours that would have felt adventurous not long ago: olive, sage, terracotta, deep brown, ink blue and warm charcoal. These shades feel natural and sophisticated, and they work well against lighter walls or as part of a colour drenched scheme where walls, woodwork and furniture share a tone.

If you prefer a neutral unit, bring colour in through the wall behind it instead. A deep green or warm clay wall makes both wood and stone finishes glow.

Trend Eight: Mixed Materials Used Sparingly

Many new designs combine two or three materials: wood and metal, stone and wood, or glass and lacquer. What distinguishes the current approach is restraint. Rather than several finishes competing, one material dominates and another provides a considered accent, such as a slim brass plinth or a smoked glass door.

Trend Nine: Softer Styling Around the Unit

How people dress their media wall is also changing. Instead of rows of ornaments, the favoured approach is a few larger objects: a sculptural vase, a stack of books, a trailing plant and perhaps a lamp. Rugs with texture, such as wool loops or jute blends, ground the arrangement. Our modern rugs UK collection includes neutral and earthy designs that complement warmer wood tones.

Art is increasingly placed beside the television rather than above it, creating an asymmetric arrangement that feels more personal and less formal.

Trend Ten: Floating and Wall Hung Units

Wall hung TV units, fixed to the wall with nothing touching the floor, continue to appeal to those who want a clean, uncluttered look. Seeing the floor run beneath the unit makes a room feel larger and makes cleaning easier. Paired with soft LED lighting underneath, a floating unit appears to hover, which adds a quietly dramatic effect in the evening.

The practical consideration is the wall itself. Solid masonry walls usually cope well, while stud walls need fixings into timber uprights or specialist anchors. If fixing is not an option, a unit on slim, recessed legs gives a similar impression with none of the installation work.

Which Trends Will Last?

Some of these directions feel set to stay. Long, low units, hidden technology and warm woods are practical as well as attractive, and they suit the way people live. Stone tops and fluted fronts also have a timeless quality when used with restraint.

Bolder colours and dramatic curves are more personal choices. If you love them, go ahead, but consider introducing them through smaller, easily changed items such as paint, cushions or accessories if you are unsure.

If your unit already includes integrated lighting, our guide to coordinating an LED TV unit in a UK lounge shows how to blend it with these warmer, softer directions. For those drawn to wood and metal, we also cover buying an industrial TV unit online in the UK in detail.

Adapting Trends for Smaller UK Homes

Not every living room can accommodate a statement media wall. In smaller spaces, focus on one trend rather than several. A compact fluted unit in warm oak, or a slim stone topped cabinet on legs, brings a contemporary feel without overwhelming the room.

Units on legs make floors feel larger because you can see beneath them. Wall mounting the television keeps the top clear, and a single lamp plus one plant is enough styling for a compact surface.

Bringing the Trends Together

The common thread running through this year’s TV unit trends is calm. Media furniture is becoming lower, softer, warmer and more tactile, with technology tucked away and styling pared back. Choose the elements that suit your home and the way you live, and your living room will feel current without chasing every passing idea.

You can browse the latest media and living room designs at Furniture in Fashion, with free delivery to most UK mainland postcodes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What style of TV unit is currently popular?

Long, low units in warm wood tones, often with fluted fronts, curved edges or stone effect tops, are among the most sought after styles.

Is white gloss still in fashion for TV units?

White gloss remains a practical choice for bright, modern rooms, but many people are now choosing warmer woods, matt finishes and textured surfaces.

Are curved TV units practical?

Yes. Rounded edges are safer in busy homes and soften the room. Just make sure the unit is still wide enough for your television.

How can I update my TV unit without replacing it?

Repaint the wall behind it, replace handles, add a stone tray or lamp, hide cables and edit the objects on display.