The most space smart TV units for a rented living room are ones that use corners, keep a slim profile, combine storage with display and can move easily with you. Most tenancy agreements restrict drilling and permanent changes, so freestanding furniture has to do much of the work. Choose carefully and a single unit can tidy the room, frame the television and give you back valuable floor space.
Renting often means making the most of a room you did not design, with fixed radiators, awkward doors and limited wall space. One of the simplest ways to solve this is with a corner unit, and our range of modern corner TV stands UK renters choose shows how much storage can fit into space that often goes unused.
Here are seven ideas to help you plan.
Corners are some of the most underused areas in a living room. A corner TV unit sits diagonally across the angle, which often frees up an entire wall for seating, shelving or a desk.
This approach is especially helpful in rooms where the main wall is interrupted by a fireplace, a door or a large window. Placing the television in the corner can also improve viewing angles from a sofa positioned along another wall.
Tip: Measure the distance along both walls from the corner, not just the width of the unit, so you know how far it will project into the room.
Depth is often overlooked, but a shallow unit can make a narrow living room feel noticeably more spacious. Many rented flats have compact lounges where every centimetre between the sofa and the television matters.
A slim unit still needs to hold your television securely, so check the footprint of the TV stand or feet before you buy. Look for designs with a solid top and a central support.
Units that are shallow but long can provide the same storage as a deeper design while taking up less floor space.
When floor space is tight, vertical storage makes a big difference. A tall, narrow unit or bookcase placed beside a compact TV unit adds storage without widening the footprint.
Freestanding options from our modern shelving units and storage UK range can hold books, games, plants and décor, drawing the eye upward and making the ceiling feel higher.
For safety, tall pieces should be secured against tipping. Speak to your landlord about fixing an anti tip strap. Many are happy to agree to one small fixing for safety, and it can be filled easily when you move out.
Furniture raised on slim legs lets you see the floor beneath it, which creates a sense of space. This works particularly well in small rooms and with rented carpets, as it also makes cleaning easier.
Units on legs have a light, mid century feel that suits many rented properties with neutral décor. They also tend to be easier to move, which is useful if you rearrange the room or change homes.
In a rented home without built in cupboards, your TV unit may need to hold far more than a set top box. A design that mixes closed cupboards with open shelving gives you somewhere to hide clutter and somewhere to show personality.
Adding a couple of fabric boxes or woven baskets on the open shelves keeps things organised and adds texture.
If you want to compare storage layouts in different styles, our full range of TV stands and units in our UK sale covers compact and larger designs.
A coffee table can crowd a small living room, particularly when it sits between the sofa and the TV unit. Nesting tables are a flexible alternative. Keep them stacked beside the TV unit or sofa most of the time and pull them out when friends visit or you need somewhere for a laptop.
Our modern nest of tables UK sale collection includes wood, glass and gloss finishes that coordinate with most TV units.
In many rented homes, the living room also serves as a dining room, home office or guest room. Choosing a TV unit that can adapt to different roles makes sense.
Neutral finishes such as oak, white or grey make it easier to reuse furniture in a different room or property later.
Rented homes usually come with neutral walls, beige or grey carpets and a few landlord supplied pieces. Your TV unit should sit comfortably with these rather than fight them.
Light oak and pale wood warm up magnolia and white walls and suit most carpets. They also help a small room feel brighter.
White or light grey finishes blend into the background, which keeps a compact room calm and uncluttered. They are useful if the room already has a strongly coloured sofa or curtains.
Glass and chrome almost disappear visually, which is helpful in narrow or dark living rooms where every bit of light counts.
Darker woods and black can look smart against pale walls, but they can make a small room feel heavier. If you love a darker finish, choose a unit on legs and balance it with a light rug.
It is also worth thinking about wear. Rented carpets and floors are rarely precious, but your furniture moves with you. Finishes that disguise small scuffs, such as wood grain or matt surfaces, tend to look better after several house moves than very dark gloss.
Rented rooms come with features you cannot change, so plan your layout around them first.
Radiators: Avoid placing the TV unit directly in front of a radiator. It will block heat and may affect the finish of the furniture over time.
Doors: Check the swing of every door, including cupboard doors, before settling on a position.
Windows: Positioning the television opposite a large window can cause glare. A side wall or corner is often more comfortable.
Sockets and aerial points: These dictate where the TV can go in many rentals. Measure the distance from each socket before choosing your layout, and avoid trailing extension leads across walkways.
Visible cables make a small room feel cluttered, but tidying them does not have to involve fixings.
Even when you cannot redecorate, the TV unit area can carry a lot of personality. Lean a large print or mirror against the wall beside the unit rather than hanging it. Add a table lamp for warmth, a trailing plant and a small stack of favourite books. A rug under the seating area can also cover tired carpets and help define the living space.
Renting often means moving every few years. When choosing a TV unit, consider:
Choosing a versatile, medium sized unit usually gives you the most flexibility.
If you are furnishing a new flat, our guide to choosing a TV unit for a rented UK flat goes into detail on sizing, materials and moving. For practical advice on getting good value from a simpler design, read our piece on grey TV units for UK homes on a budget.
A rented living room does not have to feel temporary or cramped. By using corners, going vertical, choosing slim or raised designs and picking pieces that combine storage with display, you can create a room that works hard and feels personal. Plan around fixed features, keep cables tidy and choose furniture that will move easily with you.
You can explore modern furniture for rented homes and beyond at Furniture in Fashion, with free delivery to most UK mainland postcodes. Returns are available up to 30 days.
A corner unit, a slim and shallow design or a unit raised on legs tends to work well. These options save floor space and are easy to move when your tenancy ends.
Yes. Freestanding TV units do not need fixings. For taller units, ask your landlord about a single anti tip strap for safety.
Use a unit with rear cable holes, bundle wires with reusable sleeves, keep them behind the furniture and store power strips in a box or basket.
A medium sized unit usually offers the most flexibility, as it can fit a range of rooms and is easier to move between properties.
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