In an open plan living room, choose a TV unit that is low, proportionate to the screen and positioned so it helps define the lounge zone rather than competing with the kitchen or dining area. A unit around 20 to 30 centimetres wider than the television on each side, no taller than about 55 centimetres and placed on a solid wall facing the sofa works in most layouts. Where there is no obvious wall, a unit set against a half height partition or anchored by a rug can create the boundary you need.
Open plan spaces bring light and sociability, but they also remove the natural cues that tell furniture where to go. Our range of modern TV units UK includes designs in a wide spread of lengths and heights, which makes it easier to find one that suits a larger, shared room. This guide takes you through size, shape and placement step by step.
In a separate lounge, the walls do most of the work. The TV goes on one, the sofa faces it, and the room is complete. In an open plan space, the living area shares its footprint with cooking, dining and sometimes working. Furniture has to create structure where walls do not exist.
The TV unit plays an important role here. It is usually one of the largest pieces in the lounge zone and it sets the direction the seating faces. Get it right and the whole layout falls into place. Get it wrong and the room can feel unanchored, with furniture floating in the middle of a large floor.
Before you choose, it helps to see the TV unit as part of a wider scheme. Our collection of living room furniture UK covers sofas, coffee tables and storage that work together, which is useful when planning a zone from scratch.
Start by mapping the room. Mark the kitchen, the dining table, doors, windows and the main walkways. The lounge zone usually works best in the quieter end of the room, away from the main route between the kitchen and garden doors.
Consider light and glare. A TV placed directly opposite large glazed doors will struggle with reflections on sunny afternoons. A side wall, or a wall at right angles to the main windows, usually gives better viewing.
Allow at least 80 to 90 centimetres for main routes through the room. The TV unit and the sofa should sit outside these paths, not across them. If people constantly walk between the sofa and the screen, the zone will never feel settled.
Measure your television including its frame. In an open plan room, the unit often benefits from being a little longer than usual, as the larger space can make a short unit look lost. A unit 20 to 30 centimetres wider than the screen on each side gives a strong, grounded base.
At the same time, avoid a unit that stretches the full width of a long wall unless you need the storage. Leaving space at either end, perhaps for a floor lamp or a plant, keeps the arrangement balanced.
Low units suit open plan rooms because they preserve sightlines across the space. A tall cabinet can block views from the kitchen to the garden and break up the sense of openness. Aim for a unit between 40 and 55 centimetres high, which also places most screens at a comfortable viewing height from a sofa.
A depth of 40 to 45 centimetres is usually comfortable for a freestanding unit. If the room is long but narrow, a shallower design keeps the walkway clear, and a unit on legs will make the floor feel more continuous.
A long, low console is the most versatile shape. It sits neatly against a wall, reinforces the horizontal lines of the room and offers generous storage without feeling heavy.
Wall mounted, floating units keep the floor clear, which makes a large room feel even more open. They are easy to clean beneath and suit contemporary interiors. You will need a solid wall and some planning for cables.
Designs on slim legs or with open shelving feel lighter. In an open plan space, where you may see the unit from several angles, a lighter structure can look less imposing.
Some layouts place the TV on a unit that stands away from the wall, acting as a partition. In this case, choose a unit finished on all sides so the back looks as good as the front. This approach suits very large rooms where you want to separate the lounge from the dining area.
In the typical rear extension layout, the kitchen runs along one side, the dining table sits in the middle and the lounge occupies the far end. Place the TV unit on the end wall or a side wall, with the sofa facing it and its back towards the dining area. The back of the sofa then forms a soft boundary between zones.
In an L shaped space, the shorter leg often makes a natural snug. Place the TV unit at the end of this leg so the lounge feels tucked away. The main leg remains open for cooking and dining.
In long rooms, avoid placing the TV unit at the far end, which can create a corridor effect. A side wall position, with seating opposite, usually feels more natural and makes better use of the width.
If every wall has windows, doors or kitchen units, consider a freestanding partition. A slatted screen or open shelving unit can provide a backdrop for the TV while allowing light through. Our selection of modern room dividers UK includes designs that define zones without closing them off entirely.
A TV unit and sofa alone can still feel as though they are floating. A rug beneath the seating area pulls the zone together and gives it clear edges. Choose one large enough that at least the front legs of the sofa and any armchairs rest on it. Browse our modern rugs UK sale for sizes that suit larger living areas.
Lighting helps too. A floor lamp beside the TV unit and a table lamp on a side table create a warm pool of light in the evening, separating the lounge from brighter kitchen lighting.
In open plan rooms, every piece is visible at once. Choosing a TV unit finish that echoes something in the kitchen or dining area creates harmony. This might be the tone of the dining table, the colour of the kitchen cabinets or the metal of the light fittings. A small repetition is enough.
Open plan rooms often invite a larger screen, since the viewing distance from the sofa can be greater. For guidance on matching the unit to a bigger television, our sister guide to TV unit sizes for 65 inch screens in UK homes goes into the measurements in detail.
Sound. Open plan rooms can be echoey. Soft furnishings, rugs and curtains help absorb sound, making television dialogue clearer and reducing noise carrying to the kitchen.
Cables. Plan sockets and aerial points early if you are building or renovating. In an existing room, choose a unit with good cable management so nothing trails across the floor.
Storage. Open plan living tends to gather clutter from several activities. A TV unit with closed storage helps keep the lounge area calm, even when the kitchen is busy.
Flexibility. Consider whether you may rearrange the room in future. A freestanding unit gives you more options than a built in or wall mounted design.
Choosing a unit that is too tall is the most frequent error. It blocks views and makes the space feel smaller. Another is pushing all furniture against the walls, which leaves an empty centre and weakens the zones. Finally, avoid choosing the TV unit in isolation. Always consider how it relates to the sofa, the rug and the rest of the room.
An open plan living room works best when each zone has a clear purpose and identity. The TV unit, well sized and thoughtfully placed, gives the lounge its focal point and sets the layout for everything around it. Keep it low, proportionate and aligned with how people move through the space.
You can explore our full collection of TV units and living room furniture at Furniture in Fashion, with free delivery to most UK mainland postcodes.
Place the TV on a solid wall in the quietest part of the room, ideally at right angles to large windows to reduce glare. The sofa should face it, with its back forming a boundary with the dining or kitchen area.
Choose a unit roughly 20 to 30 centimetres wider than the screen on each side, no taller than about 55 centimetres. This keeps sightlines open while giving the television a strong base.
Yes, if it is finished on all sides and stable enough to stand away from the wall. Low, double sided units can separate a lounge from a dining area without blocking light.
Anchor the seating area with a large rug, add layered lighting and group furniture closer together rather than pushing everything against the walls.
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