To check whether a corner TV unit will fit your room, measure along each wall from the corner to the nearest obstruction, then compare those figures with the unit’s side length along the wall, not just its front width. Add the depth from the corner to the front edge, check your TV’s base footprint, and allow space for skirting boards, sockets and radiators. If all of those fit, the unit will too.
Corner units are measured differently from standard TV stands, and that is where most sizing mistakes happen. Once you know which dimensions matter, it becomes straightforward. Our corner TV stands UK sale range lists the key dimensions for each design, so you can check them against your own measurements.
A standard TV unit is a simple rectangle: width, depth and height. A corner unit is usually a pentagon, a triangle or a rectangle with an angled front. It sits into the corner with two back edges running along each wall, and its front faces diagonally into the room.
This means the front width, which is often the headline figure, does not tell you how much wall the unit occupies. Two units with the same front width can take up very different amounts of wall space depending on their shape. It is one reason corner designs sit in their own group within our wider modern TV units UK collection.
Before looking at any unit, take these measurements in your room. You will need a tape measure, a notepad and ideally a second pair of hands.
Wall length on the left. Measure from the corner along the left wall to the first obstruction. That might be a door frame, a window, a radiator or a socket you need to reach.
Wall length on the right. Do the same along the right wall.
Available depth. Measure diagonally from the corner into the room to the point where the unit’s front would start to block a walkway or a door swing.
Height limit. Note anything above the corner that might interfere: a window sill, a shelf, a light switch or a thermostat.
Skirting depth. Measure how far the skirting board projects from the wall. A unit with a solid back will sit this distance away from the wall, which slightly increases the space it takes up.
Product listings for corner units usually include a front width, an overall depth and a height. Better listings also give the length of each back edge, sometimes called the side or wall length. That back edge figure is the one to compare with your wall measurements.
If a listing does not show the back edge length, you can estimate it. For a triangular or pentagonal unit designed for a right angled corner, the back edges are usually longer than the depth. When in doubt, ask for the full dimensions before ordering, because a few centimetres can make the difference between a snug fit and a unit that blocks a door.
The unit must also fit the television. Screen size is measured diagonally, so it is not a useful guide on its own. What matters is the width and depth of the TV’s stand or feet.
Many modern TVs use two feet positioned near each edge rather than a central pedestal. That makes the footprint almost as wide as the screen itself. On an angled corner unit, the top surface narrows towards the back, so check that both feet will sit fully on the surface with a little margin to spare. A TV with a central stand is often easier to place on a corner unit.
If the feet are too wide for the top, wall mounting is a good alternative. A corner bracket or an articulating arm lets you position the screen above the unit. Our range of wall TV brackets UK includes options designed for corner installations.
A corner position points the TV diagonally across the room. This often increases the viewing distance compared with a flat wall, which can be helpful in a narrow room. It also changes the angle from each seat.
Sit in your main seat and imagine a line from your eyes to the corner. If that line is roughly straight ahead, the corner works. If you would need to turn your head noticeably, the TV may be better elsewhere, or you may need a swivel bracket to angle the screen.
A corner sofa pairs particularly well with a corner TV unit because both pieces work with the geometry of the room. Our modern corner sofas UK collection is worth browsing if you are planning a full layout.
Height is easy to overlook when you are focused on fitting a unit into a corner. The centre of the TV screen should sit close to eye level from your main seat. For most people sitting on a standard sofa, that means the top of the unit will be somewhere around knee to hip height, depending on the size of the screen and the depth of the seat cushions.
To check, sit in your usual spot and ask someone to hold a tape measure against the wall in the corner. Note the height of your eye line. Then subtract half the height of your TV screen, excluding the stand. The result is roughly where the bottom edge of the screen should sit. Take away the height of the TV’s feet and you have a sensible target height for the unit.
If the corner has a window sill or a shelf above it, measure the clearance from the floor to that feature too. A tall TV on a mid height unit can easily clash with a sill that sits lower than you expect.
Corner units have an unusual interior shape, which affects what you can store inside. The space at the back, deep in the corner, is often hard to reach. It works well for things you rarely need, such as spare cables or instruction booklets, but less well for items you use every day.
Check the internal shelf depth and the size of any door openings. A games console or amplifier needs a shelf deep enough to hold it with room for cables at the back, and an opening wide enough to slide it in. If a listing does not give internal dimensions, it is worth asking before you order.
Many UK living rooms have features that affect corner placement. Radiators often sit under windows or along the wall near a corner. Placing a unit in front of a radiator blocks heat and can warm electronics, so measure to the edge of the radiator rather than the wall.
Aerial and satellite sockets are frequently fitted at skirting level in a corner, which is convenient. But power sockets may be further along the wall. Make sure you can reach them without running leads across the floor.
Period properties may have uneven walls or corners that are not quite square. If the angle between the walls is noticeably more or less than a right angle, a solid backed unit may leave a gap on one side. Units with open backs or adjustable feet are more forgiving.
Door swings are another consideration. If a door opens towards the corner, measure its full arc so the unit does not stop it opening fully.
A simple trick removes most of the guesswork. Once you have the unit’s dimensions, draw its footprint on a large sheet of cardboard or mark it on the floor with masking tape. Stand back and look at it from the doorway and from the sofa. Walk around it. Check the door opens. Place a box on the outline where the TV will sit.
This takes a few minutes and often reveals issues that measurements alone do not, such as a unit that technically fits but makes a walkway feel tight.
Sometimes the measurements show that a corner unit would be too cramped. In that case, a compact standard unit placed along one wall can be a better solution. Compare corner and straight designs of similar sizes, and you may find a slim rectangular unit leaves more usable floor space.
For studio flats and open plan spaces, positioning becomes even more important. Our guide on where to position a TV unit in a UK studio flat covers zoning and layout in more detail.
When you have your measurements ready, you can browse the full TV and living room collections at Furniture in Fashion, with free delivery to most UK mainland postcodes.
The length of each back edge along the wall. The front width is often the figure shown first, but the back edges tell you how much wall space the unit will actually occupy.
Yes, if the TV’s feet fit on the top surface. Many large TVs have feet near each edge, which needs a wide top. If they do not fit, wall mounting the screen above the unit is a practical alternative.
Choose a unit with an open back or adjustable feet, which cope better with uneven walls. A solid backed unit may leave a visible gap on one side.
Yes. A small gap helps with ventilation and cable routing, and it accounts for skirting boards. A few centimetres is usually enough.
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