The best TV cabinets with storage combine enclosed space that suits what you actually own, sturdy doors and drawers, a strong top and sensible ventilation for electronics. Cabinets with a mix of drawers for small items and doors or open sections for larger devices tend to work best in busy homes. Our range of TV cabinets UK sale covers designs with drawers, doors and full entertainment storage, and this guide explains how to choose a cabinet that keeps a living room genuinely tidy.
Storage is often the main reason people replace a TV stand. Consoles multiply, controllers and chargers pile up, and the space under the television becomes the place where small things gather. The right cabinet gives each of those things a home. The wrong one either hides them in a deep void where nothing can be found or leaves too much on show. Thinking about storage in this way also helps when planning other pieces in our modern living room furniture UK range, such as sideboards and bookcases.
Before looking at materials, make a quick list of what will live in the cabinet. A games console, a streaming box, a soundbar subwoofer, controllers, remotes, chargers, board games or a few films on disc all need different spaces. Drawers are best for small items. Shelves behind doors suit devices and boxed games. Open shelves suit anything that needs a remote signal or airflow. A cabinet that matches your list will feel much better value than a larger one with the wrong layout.
A storage cabinet carries weight inside as well as on top. Thick side panels, a central divider and a fixed back panel keep the carcass square. Dense MDF and solid wood are the strongest options. Particleboard is common and acceptable at moderate loads, particularly in thicker panels. Check that internal shelves are supported at both ends and, on wide cabinets, in the middle too.
Drawers are the most used part of a storage cabinet. Metal runners carry more weight and last longer than wooden slides. Full extension runners let you reach the back of the drawer easily. Drawer bases should be thick enough not to bow, and drawer fronts should sit evenly when closed. Soft close runners are a welcome detail in homes with children.
Concealed adjustable hinges allow doors to be realigned as the cabinet settles. Soft close hinges protect the finish. Flap doors should be held level by stays. Glass doors should be tempered and allow remote signals through, which can be useful for set top boxes.
Enclosed electronics need airflow. Look for cable holes in the back panel, a gap behind doors or ventilated compartments. A cabinet with no openings at all may need modification, which is not always easy without damaging the finish.
The top of a storage cabinet sees drinks, devices and plenty of handling. Lacquered gloss, melamine and good wood effect finishes all resist moisture. Matt finishes hide fingerprints better on drawer fronts that are touched daily. Solid wood needs a protective oil or lacquer.
Two cabinets of the same overall width can offer very different usable space. Thick panels, plinths and internal dividers all reduce the room inside. A good product page lists internal heights and depths for each compartment, or at least gives enough detail to work them out. Measure your tallest device, your widest box of games and the depth of your streaming box with its cables attached. A compartment that is a couple of centimetres too short will leave a device sitting on top of the cabinet instead of inside it, which defeats the point of buying storage.
Storage cabinets with heavy drawers can tip forward if several drawers are pulled out at once or if a child climbs on them. Anchoring the cabinet to the wall with an anti tip strap is a sensible precaution. Soft close drawers and doors also reduce the risk of trapped fingers.
In a showroom, open each drawer fully and look at the runners, then open and close each door. Press down on an internal shelf. Online, look at the internal dimensions of each compartment, the runner and hinge types, the materials and the maximum load for the top and shelves. Product photos showing the cabinet open, with items inside, are particularly helpful.
The table below compares the main types of UK retailer on identical criteria, with storage cabinets in mind.
| Retailer type | Price range | Build quality | Choice and range | Delivery | Assembly | Returns | Aftercare and warranty | Who it suits best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High street furniture chains | Mid range | Reliable, consistent hardware | Moderate | Usually charged | Paid option | Store policy | Standard guarantee | Buyers who want to test drawers in person |
| Online furniture specialists | Budget to mid range | Good, internal details often listed | Wide choice of layouts | Often included | Varies | Clear written policy | Customer service team | Families needing specific storage layouts |
| Department stores | Mid range to premium | Good | Limited | Usually charged | Sometimes included | Generous | Strong | Buyers prioritising service |
| Flat pack specialists | Budget | Fair | Moderate, often modular | Charged or collection | Self assembly | Simple | Basic | Flexible budget storage |
| Online marketplaces | Very low to mid range | Very variable | Huge | Seller dependent | Self assembly | Seller dependent | Inconsistent | Careful researchers |
| Independent makers | Premium | Excellent | Built to your list | Arranged | Delivered or fitted | Limited | Long | Alcove storage designed around specific items |
| Premium designer showrooms | Premium | Very good | Small | White glove | Included | Restricted | Good | Statement storage pieces |
| Second hand and vintage sellers | Very low to mid range | Often solid, variable condition | Unpredictable | Collection | Built | Rare | None | Sideboard conversions |
Storage cabinets reward clear information, because the internal layout matters as much as the outside. Online specialists and high street chains tend to describe compartments and hardware well. Independent makers can build storage around your exact list of devices, which is a real advantage for alcoves, though the cost is considerably higher. Second hand sideboards can make excellent storage cabinets if the height suits viewing and you are willing to add cable holes.
Flat pack modular systems are worth a look if your storage needs are likely to change. Adding or rearranging modules later is often easier than replacing a fixed cabinet. The trade off is that lighter boards and simpler hardware may not cope as well with frequent use.
Sideboards deserve a mention too, whichever retailer you buy from. Many make practical TV cabinets, offering generous drawers and cupboards. Check that the height keeps the screen near seated eye level, since some sideboards are taller than TV units, and look for a back panel that already has cable holes or can be drilled neatly. A sideboard with a mix of drawers and doors works particularly well in a combined dining and living space.
Whatever you choose, think about the people using the cabinet as well as the things inside it. Low drawers are easy for children to reach, which can be helpful for toys and games but less so for cables and chargers. Placing anything fragile or valuable behind a door, and everyday items in the most accessible drawer, keeps the cabinet working smoothly for the whole household.
The broad UK bands below are general guides. Seasonal sales can move cabinets between them.
Budget, roughly under £150. Expect one or two drawers or doors, a single shelf and simpler fixings. These suit small rooms and lighter storage needs.
Mid range, roughly £150 to £500. This band offers the most practical storage cabinets: four or five drawers, multiple doors, metal runners, adjustable hinges and good finishes. Most family living rooms will be well served here.
Premium, roughly £500 and above. Large entertainment units with extensive enclosed storage, solid wood construction and bespoke layouts. Worth considering if storage is a long term priority across a whole wall.
Spend more on runners and hinges, which take daily wear. Save on oversized cabinets you will not fill. A well organised mid sized cabinet often holds more in practice than a larger one with a single deep void.
Small additions make storage cabinets work harder. Drawer dividers, cable tidies and labelled boxes inside cupboards cost little and help everyone in the household find things. These details can turn a reasonably priced cabinet into one that feels purpose built for your home.
It can also help to think of storage across the whole room rather than in the TV cabinet alone. A sideboard on another wall, a bookcase or a storage footstool can take items that do not need to live near the television. That allows you to choose a slimmer, better made TV cabinet instead of an oversized one, which often looks better and costs less. Reviewing what you keep under the television every year or so, and moving rarely used items elsewhere, keeps even a modest cabinet working well.
Storage is a central part of our TV furniture range, and we list dimensions and features for each cabinet so you can compare layouts. These four show the range of storage options available.
The Odessa White High Gloss TV Stand With 5 Drawers And LED Lights is currently listed at £359.95. Five drawers make it well suited to households with lots of small items, from controllers to chargers.
The Sydney High Gloss TV Stand In White With 4 Drawers is currently listed at £399.95. Four drawers in white high gloss provide neat, enclosed storage under the screen.
The Trier Wooden TV Stand Large With 4 Doors In Matt Black is currently listed at £399.95. Four doors offer larger enclosed compartments for devices and boxed games, in a matt black finish.
The Pandora Wooden Entertainment Unit In White And Cement is currently listed at £579.95. As an entertainment unit, it extends storage beyond a single cabinet for a fuller wall arrangement.
If you still own films, music or games on disc, our CD and DVD storage UK range keeps them separate from the TV cabinet, and our wider modern storage furniture UK sale collection can take care of everything else. We offer free delivery to most UK mainland postcodes, and Returns are available up to 30 days. If you want extra storage along the same wall, our guide to matching TV units with sideboards in UK living rooms shows how to coordinate the two. See the full collection at Furniture in Fashion.
Drawers are better for small items you use daily, such as remotes and controllers, because everything is visible when the drawer opens. Doors suit larger devices and boxed items. A mix of both usually gives the most practical storage.
Load ratings vary by design, so check the stated maximum for the top and for internal shelves. Stay within those figures and spread heavy items evenly. If no rating is given, ask the retailer before buying.
Yes, as long as there is enough airflow and cable access. Leave space around the console, use rear cable holes and avoid stacking devices. Many people keep consoles on an open shelf or behind glass for this reason.
Keep the top clear except for the television and one or two objects. Use drawer dividers and boxes inside cupboards. Closed storage will always look calmer than open shelves, so put the least attractive items behind doors.
Deep enough for your largest device and the TV feet, plus a few centimetres for cables. A cabinet that is too deep can make storage harder to reach and the room feel narrower. Compare the internal depth with your devices before ordering.
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