Before buying a TV unit with storage, ask yourself six things: what exactly you need to store, whether it should be hidden or on display, what type of storage suits those items, how much space the unit can take up, how your equipment will be powered and ventilated, and how the unit will cope with daily use. Answering these honestly usually narrows a long list of options down to a handful, and it saves you from a unit that looks right but never quite works.
Our modern TV units UK sale cover everything from slim benches to large cabinets, and each one sits within our wider collection of living room furniture UK. The questions below will help you judge which combination of drawers, doors and shelves fits your home.
This sounds obvious, but it is the question most people skip. Storage needs have changed a great deal. Many households no longer keep large collections of DVDs or CDs, but they do have routers, streaming devices, games consoles, controllers, headsets, chargers and remotes. Some have board games, children’s toys or a record collection. Others use the TV unit as overflow storage for things that have nowhere else to go.
Take a few minutes to gather everything you expect to keep in or on the unit and lay it out on the floor. Note the largest items and measure them. A games console, a soundbar or a stack of board games will each need a compartment of a certain size. This simple exercise tells you far more than any product description can.
If you do still have physical media, dedicated storage can take the pressure off the TV unit. Our CD and DVD storage UK range includes slim towers and cabinets that sit neatly beside the TV.
Once you know what you are storing, decide what you want to see. Closed storage behind doors and in drawers keeps the room calm and tidy, which suits minimal interiors and busy family homes. Open storage makes items easy to reach and gives you a place to display books, plants and objects.
Most people benefit from a mix. A common arrangement is closed cupboards or drawers for everyday clutter, with one or two open compartments for equipment that needs to be seen by a remote control sensor and for a few decorative pieces.
Think about who uses the room, too. Young children tend to pull things out of open shelves, while closed cupboards with soft close hinges help keep toys and games contained. In a home with pets, closed storage keeps cables and small items safely out of reach.
Each type of storage suits different items, so match the storage to your list from question one.
Drawers are excellent for small items that would otherwise be lost at the back of a cupboard: remotes, batteries, cables, controllers and chargers. You can see everything at a glance when a drawer is open. Look for smooth runners, ideally soft close, and check the internal depth, as some drawers are shallower than they appear.
Cupboards suit larger items such as board games, photo albums and bulky equipment. An adjustable internal shelf adds flexibility. Doors with glass panels offer a middle ground, allowing remote control signals through while keeping dust off.
Common on low and floating units, flap down doors open downwards and give wide access to a compartment. They work well for consoles and set top boxes, and some have fabric or mesh panels that let signals and air pass through.
Open shelves are best for equipment that needs ventilation or a clear line to the remote, and for display. They are the easiest to access but also the most visible, so they reward a little tidiness.
If you have audio equipment such as an amplifier, turntable or receiver, a separate unit designed for the purpose can be a better solution than squeezing it into the TV unit. Our modern hifi stands UK offer open, ventilated shelves at the right depth for larger components.
More storage usually means a larger unit, so it is worth balancing capacity against the size of the room. Measure the wall and note the positions of sockets, radiators, doors and windows. Consider not just width but depth and height. A deep unit can protrude into a walkway, while a tall one can make a small room feel enclosed.
In compact UK living rooms, storage can be spread across more than one piece. A low TV unit with a few drawers, paired with shelving or bookcases on either side, often feels less heavy than a single large cabinet. If you like that idea, our article on styling TV units with bookcases in UK homes explores a range of arrangements.
Where floor space is very tight, a floating unit fixed to the wall keeps the floor clear but usually offers less capacity. A corner unit uses otherwise empty space and can be surprisingly roomy inside. Our comparison of floating versus corner TV units for UK rooms explains the trade offs in more detail.
Storage for electronics is not just about space. It also needs to handle cables and heat.
Cable access. Look for cable holes or cut outs in the back panel of each compartment that will hold equipment. Without them, you may need to leave doors ajar or drill holes yourself. Check where your sockets and aerial point are, and position the unit so cables can reach without stretching.
Ventilation. Consoles, receivers and streaming boxes generate heat, especially during long use. Enclosing them in a sealed cupboard can cause them to overheat. Open compartments, ventilation slots or open backs are safer. Leave a few centimetres of space around each device.
Signal. Many devices rely on infrared remotes, which need a clear line of sight. If equipment sits behind solid doors, you may have to open them each time you use it. Glass, mesh or open fronts solve this.
Power. A surge protected extension lead tucked inside or behind the unit keeps plugs tidy. Make sure the unit does not press against plugs in the wall.
A TV unit with storage is opened and closed many times a day, so build quality matters.
Check the maximum load for the top and for each shelf. The top needs to support the weight of the TV plus anything else you place there, and internal shelves should be strong enough for books or equipment without bowing.
Look at the hardware. Metal drawer runners and hinges last longer than plastic ones. Soft close mechanisms reduce wear and noise. Handles should be securely fixed, and handleless push to open doors should feel reliable.
Consider the finish. High gloss surfaces are easy to wipe but show fingerprints. Matt finishes hide marks well. Wood and wood veneer can develop a pleasant patina but may need occasional care. Glass looks light but needs frequent cleaning.
Finally, think about safety. Tall or heavy units, and any unit supporting a television, should be fixed to the wall with an anti tip strap if there are children in the home.
Once you have worked through the six questions, you should have a clear picture of what you need. A family with lots of gaming equipment might end up with a long, low unit combining drawers for controllers and ventilated open compartments for consoles. A couple in a small flat might choose a slim unit with one drawer and a shelf, with books kept on wall shelves. A film enthusiast might pair a TV unit with a separate hifi stand for audio equipment.
There is no single right answer, only the one that fits the way you live.
Label cables at both ends before you move equipment into the new unit. It makes future changes far easier. Use small boxes or dividers inside drawers to stop items sliding around. Review what you keep in the unit every few months, as storage has a way of filling up with things you no longer use.
Returns are available up to 30 days, but careful measuring before you order is always the easier route.
A TV unit with storage should make your living room easier to live in, not just hold up the television. Start with what you need to store, choose the right mix of drawers, doors and shelves, and check that the unit handles cables, heat and daily use. You can explore storage focused TV units and media furniture across the range at Furniture in Fashion.
It depends on what you store. Drawers suit small items like remotes and cables, while cupboards suit larger items such as board games. Many people find a combination of both most useful.
Only if the cabinet has adequate ventilation. Consoles produce heat, so open compartments, ventilation slots or an open back are safer than a fully sealed cupboard.
Choose a unit with cable holes in the back panel, position it close to your sockets, use cable ties or sleeves, and consider a slim cable cover for any wires that run up the wall.
Enough for the items you use regularly in the living room. Gather everything you plan to store before shopping, and measure the largest pieces so you know which compartment sizes you need.
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