A large TV unit is any unit wide enough to hold or sit beneath a big screen comfortably, which in practice usually means somewhere from around 160cm to well over 200cm in width. The right size depends on the width of your television, the length of the wall and the scale of the room. Style and finish then decide whether that length feels generous and settled or heavy and overbearing.
As screens have grown, larger units have become a practical necessity in many living rooms rather than a luxury. They also offer space for soundbars, speakers, consoles and everyday storage. For rooms that need the most capacity, our range of large modern entertainment units UK combines wide base units with shelving and display space.
Television sizes are measured diagonally, which can be misleading when planning furniture. What matters for the unit is the actual width of the screen from edge to edge. As a rough guide for a standard widescreen television, a 55 inch screen is a little over 120cm wide, a 65 inch screen is about 145cm, a 75 inch screen is roughly 165cm and an 85 inch screen is close to 190cm. Always check the exact figure for your own model, as bezels and stands vary.
For a balanced look, choose a unit that is at least as wide as the screen and ideally a little wider. That extra width on either side stops the television from looking as though it might tip off the edge, and it gives you space for a lamp, a plant or a speaker.
If the television will stand on the unit rather than being wall mounted, also check the width of the stand or feet. Some screens have feet near the outer edges, which means the unit must be almost as wide as the television itself.
The screen sets the minimum size. The wall and the room set the maximum.
A unit that fills most of a long wall can look deliberate and architectural, especially in an open plan space. On a shorter wall, leave some breathing room at each end so the piece does not feel squeezed in. Consider doors, windows, radiators and sockets, and make sure the unit does not block any of them.
Room depth matters as much as wall length. In a narrow living room, a deep unit can make the space between sofa and screen feel tight. Look at depth as carefully as width, and compare options across our wider collection of modern TV stands and cabinets UK sale to see how different proportions change the feel of a room.
A simple test helps. Cut a piece of cardboard or lay masking tape on the floor to the footprint of the unit you are considering. Walk around it for a day. You will quickly notice whether it interrupts a route through the room or makes the seating area feel cramped.
The most common style is a long, low sideboard type unit. It sits comfortably beneath a wall mounted screen and keeps the upper wall clear, which makes the room feel taller. Long low units suit contemporary spaces and work well in rooms with modest ceiling heights.
Entertainment walls combine a base unit with tall side towers, bridging shelves or wall cabinets. They create a framed setting for the television and offer a lot of storage. They suit larger rooms and anyone with a collection of books, films or display pieces.
Wide units can also be wall mounted, leaving the floor visible beneath. This keeps a long piece from feeling bulky, though it requires a suitable wall and fixings rated for the load.
Some large units include LED lighting in shelves or beneath the top. This can be a useful source of soft evening light and helps show off the length of the piece.
One of the main reasons to choose a larger unit is storage. Before deciding, list everything it will need to house.
Audio equipment is often the deciding factor. A soundbar usually sits on top of the unit or on a shelf directly beneath the screen, so check that the height works. A separate amplifier, turntable or speakers need proper shelving with good ventilation. If you have a serious audio setup, pairing your TV unit with dedicated hifi stands and units UK can give equipment the support and airflow it needs.
Games consoles and streaming boxes need open or ventilated compartments. Controllers, remotes and cables are best kept in drawers. Books and films can go behind doors or on open shelves, depending on whether you want them on display.
If you have decorative pieces you want to show, glass fronted sections or modern display cabinets UK placed alongside the TV unit keep them visible and dust free without overloading the unit itself.
A finish that looks attractive on a small piece can behave differently when stretched across two metres of wall. Scale amplifies everything.
Gloss reflects light and suits modern rooms. On a large unit, it creates a strong, sleek line. Keep in mind that a long gloss surface will show dust and fingerprints across its whole length, so it suits people who do not mind regular wiping.
Oak, walnut and their wood effect equivalents bring warmth and help a large unit feel less imposing. Grain adds visual interest across a long surface, which can prevent the piece from looking like a solid block.
Matt surfaces in white, grey, stone or charcoal feel calm and understated. They are a good choice when you want the unit to recede and let other furniture or the view take the attention.
Glass shelves, smoked glass doors and slim metal frames lighten a large unit visually. They work especially well in smaller rooms that still need a wide piece for a big screen.
Many large units combine two materials, such as walnut with black metal or white gloss with an oak top. This breaks up the length and makes the unit easier to coordinate with other furniture.
If you need a large unit but worry it will dominate the room, there are ways to reduce its visual weight.
Choose a design on legs or with a recessed plinth, so a shadow line appears beneath it. Go for a finish close to your wall colour, so the unit blends in. Break the front into sections with a mix of doors, drawers and open shelves rather than a single long run of identical doors. Keep the top surface fairly clear, with objects grouped at one end rather than spread along its length.
Lighting helps too. A table lamp at one end of the unit and a floor lamp at the other create soft pools of light and prevent the TV wall from turning into a dark block in the evening.
In open plan living and dining areas, a large TV unit can do more than hold the television. It can help define the lounge zone, particularly if placed along a wall that faces the seating.
Some people place a long, low unit behind the sofa as a room divider, with the television on another wall. Others use an entertainment wall to anchor the living end of the room. Either way, the unit should relate in scale to the space. A small unit in a large open plan room can look lost, while a well sized one gives the area structure.
If you are unsure whether you need a long base unit or a fuller entertainment system with towers and shelves, it depends mostly on how much storage you need and how much wall you want to cover. Our comparison of choosing between an LED TV unit and an entertainment unit in the UK explores the differences in more detail.
If you prefer the floor to stay clear, a wide floating design may suit you better. Our guide to wall mounted TV units for UK homes explains how to check your wall and choose suitable fixings.
Large units can be heavy and bulky. Before ordering, measure doorways, hallways and stair turns along the route to the room. Many large units arrive flat packed or in several boxes, which helps, but some come partly assembled.
Assembly is often easier with two people, especially for long tops and tall side towers. If the unit includes tall elements, make sure they can be secured to the wall with the anti tip fixings provided, particularly in homes with children.
You can compare large TV units and entertainment systems in a variety of sizes and finishes at Furniture in Fashion. We offer free delivery to most UK mainland postcodes, and Returns are available up to 30 days.
A 65 inch screen is about 145cm wide, so a unit of at least that width, and ideally a little wider, will look balanced. Check your model’s exact dimensions.
Yes, if it is shallow, raised on legs or wall mounted, and finished in a light or reflective material. Depth matters more than width in a small room.
A TV unit is usually a single base piece. An entertainment unit adds towers, shelves or wall cabinets around the screen for extra storage and display.
Wood effect and matt finishes tend to hide dust and fingerprints best across a long surface. Gloss looks sleek but needs more frequent wiping.
Reclaimed wood brings a sense of history to a living room that new timber cannot…
Metal and rattan coffee tables create very different moods. Metal tends to sharpen a room…
Walnut brings a warmth and depth to a living room that few other timbers can…
A navy coffee table brings depth to a living room without the starkness of black,…
Scandinavian coffee tables share a clear set of qualities: pale natural wood, simple forms, gentle…
The best value rectangular coffee tables are the ones that give you the most daily…
This website uses cookies.