12 TV Units With Cable Management You’ll Love

The TV units with cable management worth choosing share a few features: cable holes or cutouts in the back panel, internal routing so wires can travel between shelves, ventilation for devices, and a design that keeps the wall behind the screen clear. Get those right and the wires disappear. Below are twelve styles of unit that handle cables well, with notes on which rooms and setups each one suits.

Many of the pieces in our modern entertainment units UK collection are designed with these details built in. Rather than listing individual products, we have grouped them by design, so you can recognise the features that matter whichever unit you choose.

What Good Cable Management Looks Like

Before the list, it helps to know what you are looking for. A tidy setup has no loose wires visible from the sofa, no cables trailing across the floor and enough airflow that devices stay cool. The unit should make it easy to add or swap equipment without pulling everything out. You will find these features across our wider range of TV stands and units UK sale, from compact designs to long media walls.

1. The Low Line Unit With Rear Cutouts

A simple, low unit with large oval or rectangular cutouts in the back panel is the most common and practical design. Cables drop straight through behind each compartment and run down to the socket without bending around shelves. It suits most living rooms and works well beneath a wall mounted TV.

2. The Floating Wall Unit

A unit fixed to the wall rather than standing on legs looks light and makes cleaning underneath easy. The best designs have a hollow back or channel so wires can run from the TV, through the unit and down the wall. Pair it with a cable sleeve or a painted trunking channel for a clean finish.

3. The Unit With a Removable Back Panel

Some units have back panels that lift off or slide out. This makes setting up far easier, since you can see exactly where each cable goes. It is a thoughtful feature if you change consoles or streaming boxes often.

4. The Open Shelf Media Unit

Open shelves are useful for devices that need airflow and a clear line of sight for infrared remotes. Look for shelves with small notches or holes at the back corners so cables can pass between levels. This design suits gamers and anyone with several boxes.

5. The Unit With Glass Doors

Glass doors keep devices dust free while letting remote signals pass through. Paired with a ventilated back, they give a tidy look without making equipment awkward to use. Tinted or smoked glass hides the jumble of wires inside a little better than clear glass.

6. The Unit With a Drop Down Flap

A drop down front, sometimes called a flap door, gives full width access to devices inside. It is particularly useful for soundbars and set top boxes that need to be reached often. Check that the hinge mechanism holds the flap securely when open.

7. The Corner Unit With a Rear Void

Corner units naturally leave a triangular space behind them. That void is a helpful spot to hide power strips and bundled cables. It suits rooms where the aerial point sits near a corner, a common arrangement in many UK homes.

8. The Unit With a Built In Cable Channel

Some units include a vertical channel or column at one end, often in a contrasting finish, which routes cables from a wall mounted screen down into the unit. This removes the need for wall trunking and keeps the whole setup self contained. Where you prefer to mount the screen, pairing a unit like this with a sturdy option from our wall TV brackets UK range gives a clean, floating look.

9. The Unit With Integrated Lighting

Units with LED strips need their own power, so the better ones are designed with neat internal routing for the lighting wires as well as the AV cables. When done well, the lighting cable is hidden entirely. Look for a unit that uses a single plug for the lighting to keep the socket count down.

10. The Media Wall Set

A combination of a low unit with tall side cabinets or shelves creates a media wall without fitted joinery. The side pieces can hide speakers, routers and power strips, while cables run through the back of the low unit. It suits larger lounges and long walls.

11. The Hi Fi Style Unit

Units designed for audio equipment usually have generous depth, open backs and sturdy shelves. They manage heavier kit well and give plenty of room for thick speaker cables. Our hi fi stands and units UK are worth considering if you have a turntable, amplifier or separate speakers alongside the TV.

12. The Compact Unit With a Single Rear Port

Smaller units for bedrooms or compact flats often have a single large port at the back rather than several cutouts. It is simpler, but still works well if you only have a TV and one or two devices. Gathering cables through one exit keeps things neat in a tight space.

Practical Tips for a Tidy Setup

Even the best unit needs a little organisation. These habits make a real difference:

• Measure cable lengths. Overly long HDMI cables create loops and tangles. Shorter cables, sized to the setup, keep things tidy.
• Use a surge protected extension. Place it inside or behind the unit, fixed with an adhesive pad or clips so it does not slide around.
• Label each cable. Small tags at each end save guesswork later.
• Bundle, but loosely. Reusable hook and loop ties are gentler on cables than tight plastic ones and easy to adjust.
• Leave space for air. Consoles and routers need ventilation. Avoid packing devices tightly or blocking vents with cables.
• Hide the wall section. If the TV is wall mounted, a paintable trunking channel or a fabric sleeve covers the run between screen and unit.

Plan Around Your Sockets and Aerial Point

Cable management starts before the unit arrives. Take a look at where your plug sockets, aerial point and broadband connection sit on the wall. In many UK homes, these are grouped low on one wall, often beside the chimney breast or in a corner. That position should guide where the unit goes and which way round it faces.

Ideally, the sockets should sit directly behind the unit, within the span of its back panel. That way, every plug and lead is hidden without running wires along the skirting. If your sockets are to one side, choose a unit with cable cutouts at that end, or position the unit so its closest rear port lines up with them.

Think about the router too. Broadband signals travel better when the router is not shut inside a solid cabinet. Placing it on an open shelf, or behind glass, helps the whole house get a stronger connection while keeping the router out of sight from the sofa.

Finally, count your plugs. A typical setup can easily need six or more sockets once you include the TV, soundbar, console, streaming box, router and a lamp. A single extension with individual switches, tucked into the back of the unit, keeps everything organised and lets you turn off devices you rarely use.

Renting? Keep It Reversible

If you cannot drill into walls, focus on the unit’s own routing features and freestanding solutions. A unit tall enough for the TV to sit on top keeps cables short and entirely behind the unit, with no need to mount anything. Adhesive cable clips, applied to the back of the unit rather than the wall, keep wires tidy without affecting your deposit.

Choosing the Right One for You

Think about how many devices you have now and how many you might add. A family with a console, a streaming box and a soundbar needs more routing and ventilation than a household with just a smart TV. Consider where your sockets and aerial point are, and whether you plan to mount the screen.

It is also worth knowing the difference between enclosed and open styles before you decide. Our guide to TV cabinets versus TV units with doors for UK homes explains how each approach affects storage and access. When you are ready, you can explore every style mentioned here at Furniture in Fashion.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I hide TV wires without drilling?

Choose a unit with rear cable holes, stand the TV on top rather than mounting it, and use adhesive clips on the back of the unit. A fabric cable sleeve can bundle any wires that remain visible.

Can devices overheat inside a closed TV unit?

They can if airflow is poor. Look for units with ventilation holes or open backs, leave space around each device and avoid stacking consoles directly on top of other equipment.

Which TV unit style is best for gamers?

An open shelf media unit or one with glass doors gives easy access, good airflow and clear remote signals. Plenty of rear cable ports help when running several HDMI and power leads.

Do floating TV units have cable management?

Most do, usually through a hollow back or rear channel. Pair the unit with wall trunking or a cable sleeve to cover the run from the screen to the socket.