A small, low TV unit suits most living rooms best: it keeps the screen near seated eye level, leaves wall space open and makes the room feel larger. A tall TV unit is the better choice when floor space is limited but wall height is available, when you need substantial storage in a narrow room, or when you want the television and your belongings organised in a single vertical piece. In terms of budget, small units generally ask less of your spending, while tall units offer more storage for each part of your floor.
Both formats sit within our range of modern TV stands and units UK sale, so you can compare them side by side. Below, we look at style, space and budget planning in turn.
By a small TV unit, we mean a low, compact piece that sits below the television, usually with a few drawers or shelves. It may be long and narrow or short and square, but its defining quality is low height.
A tall TV unit rises well above the screen. It may take the form of a cabinet with the television set into a central opening, a highboard with a TV shelf, or a vertical unit with storage stacked above and below the screen. Its defining quality is height and vertical storage.
Both belong to the wider family of living room furniture UK homes rely on, and each should be chosen in relation to the sofa, tables and storage around it.
Low units have a relaxed, contemporary feel. They create a long horizontal line that reads as calm and modern, and they suit most interior styles, from minimalist and Scandinavian to mid century and industrial. Because they leave the wall above free, you can hang art, add a mirror or paint a feature colour.
Tall units make a stronger architectural statement. They can look traditional, recalling classic armoires and bookcases, or modern, in the form of sleek vertical cabinets with glass doors. They draw the eye upwards, which can suit rooms with generous ceilings. In a low ceilinged room, though, they can feel heavy.
The choice often comes down to whether you want the television to feel part of the furniture or separate from it. Small units let the screen stand on its own; tall units frame and contain it.
Small units usually take up more wall length but less height, and their depth varies. Tall units generally occupy a narrower section of wall and use vertical space instead. In a narrow room with a short wall, a tall unit can hold more while using less of the floor.
Low furniture almost always makes a room feel larger, because it leaves more of the wall visible and lets light travel across the room. Tall furniture can make a small room feel enclosed, particularly if it is dark in colour or placed opposite a window.
Awkward layouts can change the balance. A small unit angled across a corner can free a whole wall. Our corner TV stands UK range is designed for this. A tall unit can fit neatly into an alcove beside a chimney breast, making use of a space that might otherwise sit empty.
Comfort matters as much as looks. The centre of the screen should sit close to your eye line when you are seated. Small units usually achieve this naturally, which is one reason they are so widely used.
Tall units vary. Some position the screen at a comfortable height with storage above; others raise it higher to fit drawers below. Before choosing a tall unit, check the height of the television shelf and compare it to your seated eye level. A screen that sits too high can be uncomfortable over a long evening.
This is where tall units usually win. Stacking cabinets and shelves vertically provides considerably more storage in the same wall width. If you have a large collection of books, films, games or ornaments, a tall unit can hold them all in one place.
Small units offer less storage, but what they have tends to be easy to reach. If your needs are modest, a low unit with a couple of drawers is often enough. For extra storage without the bulk of a tall unit, a pair of modern display cabinets UK sale homes place either side of a low unit gives height and capacity while keeping the television area open.
We will not discuss figures here, but it is worth thinking about how each format uses your budget. Small units involve less material and simpler construction, so they generally ask less of your spending. That can leave room to choose a better quality piece within your plans, or to spend on other items such as a rug or lighting.
Tall units involve more material, more doors and hinges and often glass, so they tend to ask for a larger share of the budget. However, they can replace two or three separate pieces, such as a bookcase and a display cabinet, which changes the calculation. If a single tall unit removes the need for other storage, it can offer strong overall value.
Whichever format you choose, prioritise the parts that take the most use. Drawer runners, door hinges and the strength of the top surface determine how the unit feels over years. For tall units, stability and wall anchoring options are essential, particularly in homes with children.
Showrooms and photographs rarely show how furniture feels to use every day. A small unit keeps its storage low, so you will crouch or kneel to reach drawers, but everything sits within easy reach of the sofa. The top surface becomes a natural place for a lamp, a plant and the remote controls, and it is simple to dust and keep tidy.
A tall unit puts storage at standing height, which many people find more comfortable, particularly for items used often. The upper shelves, though, can become a place where things are forgotten, and they gather dust more quickly. Glass doors help here, protecting books and ornaments while keeping them visible.
Cleaning around the television differs too. With a small unit, the screen and its cables sit in the open, so you can reach behind easily. With a tall unit, the television often sits in a recess, which looks neat but can make it harder to reach connections when you add a new device.
Finish choice has a greater effect on tall units, simply because there is more of them. A tall unit in dark walnut or black gloss has real presence, which can be striking in a large room and overwhelming in a small one. The same piece in white, pale oak or glass feels much lighter. Small units are more forgiving: even a dark finish sits low enough to avoid dominating the wall.
A small TV unit tends to suit open plan living rooms, flats with low ceilings, rooms with plenty of other storage and anyone who prefers a light, open feel. It is also the safer choice if you are likely to move or upgrade your screen.
A tall TV unit tends to suit narrow rooms with short walls, homes that lack other storage, period properties with high ceilings and anyone who likes to display books and collections around the television.
If you rent, the portability of a small unit often tips the balance. Our article on TV units for rented UK living rooms explores that situation in more detail.
You do not have to choose one extreme. A low TV unit combined with wall shelves above offers storage without the bulk of a tall cabinet. A medium height unit with a shelf above the screen can balance the two. Modular systems let you start small and add height later if your needs change.
Whatever you decide, start with measurements, consider your viewing position and list what needs a home. You can compare every format at Furniture in Fashion, with free delivery to most UK mainland postcodes.
A low unit usually makes a small room feel larger. A tall unit may work better if the room is narrow and you need a lot of storage in a short wall.
The centre of the screen should sit close to your eye line when seated. Measure from the floor to your eye level on the sofa before choosing.
For safety, especially with children, anchoring a tall unit to the wall is strongly advisable. Most tall units include fixings for this.
Check the width and height of the opening. Tall units with fixed openings limit screen size, so allow for future upgrades.
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