When buying a TV unit with drawers online, focus on four things: the internal depth and height of the drawers, the type of runners they use, the materials and joints that hold them together, and how the drawers sit alongside the rest of the unit’s storage. Measure your wall and screen first, list what the drawers will hold, then check the product page for exact internal dimensions and construction details before ordering.
Drawers turn a TV unit from a simple stand into a genuinely useful piece of storage. They hold the small items that otherwise gather on surfaces and keep the room looking tidy. Our modern TV units UK sale range includes designs with a single long drawer, rows of drawers across the full width, and combinations of drawers with cupboards and shelves. The guide below explains how to judge them.
Every living room gathers small things: remote controls, chargers, batteries, game controllers, cables, instruction booklets, candles and coasters. Left on open shelves, they create visual clutter. Hidden in a drawer, they are easy to find and out of sight.
Drawers also make better use of low storage than cupboards in some cases. With a cupboard, items at the back can be hard to reach, especially on a low unit. A drawer brings everything forward. For many households, a TV unit with drawers removes the need for a separate storage box or basket. It also pairs naturally with the rest of our living room furniture UK collection, where drawers appear on sideboards, side tables and coffee tables.
Start with the essentials. Measure the width of the wall, the position of sockets and aerial points, and any radiators or windows nearby. Measure your screen’s width and the distance between its feet, and note its weight.
Drawers need room to open. Measure the space in front of the unit and make sure a fully extended drawer will not hit a coffee table or block a walkway. In small rooms this can be the deciding factor, and a unit with shallower drawers or a narrower depth may be the more practical choice.
The outer size of a drawer front tells you little about what it will hold. Look for internal dimensions on the product page: the width, depth and height of the space inside the drawer. A drawer that looks deep from the outside may lose space to thick sides, a false front or the runner mechanism.
Think about what you will store and check it against these figures. Game cases, controllers and cables need a reasonable height. Remote controls and chargers need less. If you plan to store discs, compare the internal height with a standard case to make sure they will stand upright. If internal dimensions are not listed, ask before ordering.
The runner is the mechanism that lets a drawer slide in and out, and it has a large effect on how the unit feels to use. Metal ball bearing runners are smooth, quiet and strong, and often allow the drawer to open fully. Soft close runners stop the drawer gently, preventing slams and protecting the contents.
Basic runners, such as simple plastic or wooden slides, can work but tend to be less smooth and may wear faster. Push to open runners allow handleless fronts, which give the unit a clean, modern look. Product pages should mention the type of runner, and it is worth checking, since you will open these drawers many times each day.
Look at what the drawer boxes are made from. Solid wood and good quality engineered boards both work well. The base of the drawer should be firm enough to hold weight without sagging. Joints matter too: dovetail or dowelled joints suggest careful construction, while stapled joints may loosen over time.
The front of the drawer should align neatly with the rest of the unit and sit evenly when closed. In photographs, look for consistent gaps around each drawer front. Handles should be securely fixed, and if the unit is handleless, the push to open mechanism should be described clearly.
A unit made entirely of drawers can hold a great deal, but devices still need somewhere to sit. Consoles, streaming boxes and sound equipment need open shelves or ventilated compartments, and a clear line of sight for remote signals. The most practical designs combine drawers with at least one open section.
Consider how your storage is spread around the room as well. If the TV unit will hold only the essentials, a separate chest of drawers elsewhere can take the overflow. Our modern chest of drawers UK collection includes compact designs that work well in living rooms, halls and studies. For larger collections of films or music, dedicated CD and DVD storage UK sale pieces free the TV unit for everyday items.
A drawer only stays useful if its contents stay in order. Without some structure, even a generous drawer quickly becomes a jumble of cables and controllers. Before the unit arrives, decide which drawer will hold which items, and group things by how often you use them.
Keep the items you reach for daily, such as remote controls and game controllers, in the drawer closest to your seating position. Chargers, spare batteries and cables can go in a second drawer, while instruction booklets, warranty cards and less frequently used accessories can sit in a third. If the unit has only one long drawer, divide it into zones instead.
Simple organisers make a real difference. Shallow trays, small boxes and adjustable dividers keep items from sliding around each time the drawer opens. Cable ties and small labelled pouches stop leads tangling together. Line the base with a thin, non slip mat to protect the surface and hold organisers in place. Measure the internal dimensions before buying any organisers, so they fit neatly without wasting space at the edges.
It is also worth leaving a little room to spare. A drawer packed to the brim is harder to open, puts more strain on the runners and makes items difficult to find. Reviewing the contents every few months, and removing things you no longer use, keeps the drawers working as they should and helps the whole unit stay tidy over time.
Drawers can make a unit less stable if several are opened at once, especially on taller designs. Look for anti tip hardware or wall fixing kits, and use them, particularly in homes with young children. Some units include interlocking mechanisms that prevent more than one drawer opening at a time.
Place heavier items in lower drawers and lighter ones higher up. Check the load limits of each drawer if they are listed, and avoid overloading, which can strain runners and cause drawers to stick.
TV units with drawers come in every style, from sleek gloss and handleless designs to natural oak with visible grain. Consider how the drawer fronts will look as a group. Long rows of identical drawers create a calm, orderly look. Mixed sizes add rhythm and interest.
Finish affects practicality too. High gloss fronts show fingerprints more readily, especially on handleless drawers you push to open. Matt finishes, wood veneers and textured surfaces hide marks better. Choose a finish that suits both the room and your household.
Many TV units with drawers arrive flat packed, and the drawers can take the longest to assemble. Clear a space, lay out the parts and follow the instructions carefully, checking that each drawer runs smoothly before fitting the next. Adjust the runners if a drawer front sits unevenly.
We provide free delivery to most UK mainland postcodes, and Returns are available up to 30 days. Always read the full terms on the product page so you know what to expect before placing your order.
If you want to understand how drawers fit into a wider storage plan, our guide to TV units with storage that suit UK homes looks at capacity and layout in more detail. And if you are drawn to natural timber, our article on oak TV units bought online in the UK explains how to judge grain, finish and construction.
A TV unit with well made drawers quietly improves daily life, keeping the room tidy and everything within reach. You can browse our complete selection of TV units and storage at Furniture in Fashion.
Small everyday items such as remote controls, chargers, batteries, controllers, cables and coasters. Larger items like board games are often better in cupboards.
They prevent slamming, protect the contents and reduce wear on the unit. Many people find them noticeably more pleasant to use every day.
Look for internal dimensions on the product page. If only external sizes are given, ask the retailer before ordering.
Yes, push to open drawers give a clean look. Consider a matt finish if you want to reduce visible fingerprints.
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