How to Style TV Units for a Contemporary Home

The quickest way to style a TV unit for a contemporary home is to start with a low, clean lined piece that is slightly wider than your television, keep the top mostly clear, and group a few objects in odd numbers at one or both ends. Add a lamp nearby so the screen does not dominate the wall when it is off, and hide every cable you can. Those steps alone will make most media walls look calmer and more considered.

Contemporary style is less about following a strict rulebook and more about restraint. Our range of modern TV units UK homes can choose from covers matt lacquer, natural oak, walnut veneer and glass, and each of those finishes asks for a slightly different approach. Below we walk through the decisions that matter, from shape and scale to the smaller styling details that make a room feel finished.

Start With the Right Shape and Scale

A contemporary TV unit usually sits low to the floor, with a long horizontal profile and minimal hardware. Push to open doors, slim recessed handles and flush drawer fronts all help to keep the silhouette quiet. A long, low piece also makes a ceiling feel higher, which is useful in the many UK homes where rooms are modest in height.

As a general guide, aim for a unit that extends at least a hand span beyond the television on each side. A screen that overhangs its unit looks precarious and top heavy, while a unit that is only marginally wider than the TV can feel cramped. If your room allows, a unit that runs two thirds of the wall length gives a strong, grounded line.

Height matters too. When you are seated, the centre of the screen should sit roughly at eye level. Most contemporary units are designed with this in mind, but if you have a deep, low sofa you may prefer an even lower unit or a wall mounted screen with the unit acting as a slim shelf below.

Choose Materials That Work With the Room

The unit is often the largest hard surface in a living room, so its finish sets the tone. A matt white or soft grey lacquer reads as crisp and architectural. Natural oak brings warmth and pairs easily with linen, wool and pale walls. Dark walnut or smoked oak feels richer and suits rooms with deeper paint colours or plenty of natural light.

Try to repeat the unit’s material at least once elsewhere in the room. An oak unit might be echoed by oak picture frames or a side table in the same tone. A white lacquer piece can be balanced by a white ceramic lamp base across the room. Repetition is what makes a contemporary scheme feel intentional rather than assembled piece by piece.

If you are shopping across several rooms, it helps to look at the full picture. Browsing our modern living room furniture UK sale collection side by side gives you a sense of how a TV unit will sit alongside sofas, sideboards and occasional tables in the same palette.

Edit the Surface: Less, But Better

The top of a TV unit tends to collect clutter: remote controls, chargers, post and the occasional mug. Styling begins with clearing everything off and only putting back what earns its place.

A useful approach is to think in groups rather than rows. At one end, place a cluster of three objects of varying height: perhaps a tall vase, a small stack of books and a sculptural bowl. At the other end, a single larger object such as a plant or a table lamp creates balance without symmetry. Leave the middle section beneath the screen largely clear so the television has breathing room.

Choose objects with a clear shape and a limited palette. Matt stoneware, smoked glass, brushed brass and pale wood all sit comfortably in a contemporary setting. Avoid lots of small trinkets, which tend to read as clutter from across the room. If you love collecting, rotate pieces seasonally rather than displaying everything at once.

Books as Styling Tools

Books are among the most flexible styling objects you own. Stack two or three horizontally with a small object on top, or stand a short run upright between a pair of bookends. Remove bright dust jackets if the colours clash with your scheme; the cloth covers underneath are often far more restful.

Plants and Natural Elements

A single plant softens the hard lines of a media wall. A trailing pothos can spill over the edge of a unit, while an upright snake plant adds height in a narrow space. If your TV wall gets little daylight, a branch of dried eucalyptus or a simple arrangement of preserved grasses gives the same organic feel without the upkeep.

Deal With the Wall Above the Screen

The wall around the television is where many rooms go wrong. A large black screen surrounded by empty plaster can feel stark, but surrounding it with a busy gallery wall makes the whole area chaotic.

For a contemporary look, keep the wall above the screen simple. If the ceiling is high enough, a single large artwork above a wall mounted TV can work, provided there is a clear gap between them. In most UK living rooms, however, the better option is to place art to one side of the screen, hung at the same height as the centre of the television, so the two read as a pair.

Painting the TV wall a slightly deeper shade than the rest of the room is another effective trick. A muted green, warm taupe or inky blue helps the dark screen recede, so it no longer feels like a hole in the wall when switched off.

Light the Area Properly

Lighting has a huge influence on how a TV unit looks, particularly in the evening. A single overhead pendant flattens everything, while layered lighting brings out texture and makes the room more comfortable for viewing.

A table lamp on one end of the unit is the simplest option. Choose one with a fabric or opal glass shade to spread a soft glow. Alternatively, place one of our modern floor lamps UK customers use to frame a media wall beside the unit, angled away from the screen to avoid glare.

Bias lighting, a subtle strip of warm LED light fixed behind the television, reduces eye strain during evening viewing and creates a gentle halo on the wall. Keep the colour temperature warm rather than cool, and avoid colour changing strips, which tend to date quickly and cheapen a calm scheme.

Hide the Cables

Nothing undermines a contemporary room faster than a tangle of leads hanging below a television. Before you style anything, solve the cable problem.

Many modern TV units include cable ports in the back panel, allowing wires to run straight from the screen into the cabinet. Inside, use cable ties or a small lidded box to keep power adaptors organised. If your TV is wall mounted, a paintable cable cover running down the wall is a tidy option for renters, while homeowners may prefer to have cables chased into the plaster by an electrician.

Keep routers, games consoles and streaming boxes behind closed doors where possible, making sure there is enough ventilation. Units with slatted or perforated backs help equipment stay cool.

Connect the TV Unit to the Rest of the Room

A TV unit should not feel like an island. Its style needs to relate to the sofa, the rug and the coffee table so the seating area feels complete.

Rugs are particularly helpful. A rug large enough for the front legs of the sofa and armchairs to sit on it creates a defined zone, and when the TV unit sits just beyond the rug’s edge the arrangement looks planned. Choose a rug with texture rather than a busy pattern if your unit is already a strong feature.

The coffee table is the other key link. A low, rounded table in a material that echoes the unit, such as oak with an oak unit or smoked glass with a glass fronted piece, pulls the whole arrangement together. Keep the table height similar to or slightly lower than the TV unit so the eye travels smoothly across the room.

Styling for Different Room Types

Contemporary styling adapts to the home you actually have. In a new build flat with a single long living wall, a floating TV unit with space beneath it makes a compact room feel larger because more floor is visible. In a period terrace with a chimney breast, placing a low unit within an alcove, or centring it on the breast with the screen above, respects the room’s architecture while keeping the look modern.

In open plan spaces, the back of the sofa often acts as a divider, and the TV unit becomes the anchor for the living zone. Here, choose a unit with closed storage so that the view from the kitchen or dining area stays tidy. If you are looking for ideas on emerging shapes and finishes, our guide to TV unit trends for UK living rooms explores fluting, curved edges and warmer wood tones in more depth.

Mixing Contemporary With Other Styles

Few homes are purely one style, and a contemporary TV unit can happily sit alongside vintage finds or more rugged pieces. The key is to keep one element consistent. If your unit is sleek and minimal, you can introduce a reclaimed wood side table or a leather armchair with character, as long as the palette stays controlled.

If you are drawn to a harder, more urban edge, it is worth reading our piece on industrial TV units for UK homes, which explains how metal frames and raw timber can bring contrast without losing that clean contemporary feel.

Keep It Practical

A styled TV unit still needs to work every day. Keep a small tray or lidded box for remote controls so they have a home that is easy to reach. Leave enough clear surface for a speaker or soundbar if you use one, and check that doors can open fully without knocking decorative pieces.

Think about who uses the room, too. In a family home with young children, heavier, stable objects work better than delicate glass. Closed storage keeps toys and games out of sight at the end of the day, which does more for a contemporary look than any accessory could.

When you are ready to pull the room together, you can explore the full collection at Furniture in Fashion, where we offer free delivery to most UK mainland postcodes on our modern furniture.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much wider than the TV should a contemporary TV unit be?

Aim for a unit that extends a hand span or more beyond the screen on each side. This gives visual balance and leaves room for a lamp or a group of accessories at either end.

What should I put on top of a modern TV unit?

Keep it minimal: one or two small groups of objects such as a vase, a short stack of books and a plant, with the centre beneath the screen left clear. A lamp at one end adds warmth in the evening.

Should the TV be wall mounted or placed on the unit?

Both work. Wall mounting frees up the surface and makes cable management easier with the right preparation, while placing the TV on the unit is simpler for renters. Either way, the centre of the screen should be near seated eye level.

How do I stop a black TV screen dominating the room?

Paint the wall behind it a slightly deeper colour, add a lamp or artwork alongside, and use warm bias lighting behind the screen. These steps help the television blend into the wall when it is switched off.