The Tall TV Unit That Gives You the Most for Your Money

The tall TV unit that gives you the most for your money is one that combines closed cupboards, open shelving and a dedicated space for the television in a single footprint, is built from a durable finish that will not show wear quickly, and is sized to use your wall height rather than your floor space. In short, value comes from how much it replaces: if one tall unit does the job of a TV stand, a bookcase and a media cabinet, it is working hard for you.

That is exactly what our modern entertainment units UK homes choose are designed to do. They sit within our wider collection of modern TV stands and cabinets UK households use every day. Below, we look at the features that make a tall unit a sound long term choice, and how to judge whether one will suit your room.

Why Go Tall at All?

Floor space is precious in most British living rooms. A low, wide TV stand uses a strip of floor for relatively little storage, while the wall above it often goes unused. A tall unit turns that vertical space into somewhere to keep books, games, photographs and everyday clutter.

This matters most in smaller homes: flats, terraced houses and new builds where the living room may also be a dining room, playroom or home office. When storage is concentrated on one wall, the rest of the room can stay open and calm.

Tall units also create a strong focal point. Framing the television with shelves and cupboards makes the screen feel part of the architecture rather than the only thing on the wall.

Feature One: A Balance of Open and Closed Storage

The most useful tall units offer both. Closed cupboards hide the less attractive essentials, such as cables, routers, spare remotes and board games. Open shelves provide space for books, plants and objects you enjoy seeing.

A good balance is often around two thirds closed and one third open, though this depends on how much you want on display. Too many open shelves can look cluttered unless you enjoy styling them. Too few can make the unit feel heavy and closed off.

Look for adjustable shelves inside the cupboards. They let you adapt the storage as your needs change, from DVD boxes today to baskets of toys or files later.

Feature Two: Room for Your Screen, Now and Later

Televisions tend to get larger over time. A tall unit with a fixed central opening can become a limitation if your next screen does not fit. Check the width and height of the TV space carefully, and consider leaving some room to spare.

Some designs position the television against an open backing panel rather than inside an enclosed box. This gives more flexibility, as a slightly larger screen can usually still fit. If you prefer a wall mounted TV, choose a unit where the central section is open to the wall so a bracket can be fixed behind it.

Feature Three: A Finish That Lasts

Getting the most from any piece of furniture means it needs to look good for years, not months. Consider how each finish ages in daily use.

• High gloss is easy to wipe clean and reflects light, which helps a tall unit feel less imposing, though it benefits from regular dusting.
• Wood effect finishes hide minor marks well and bring warmth. A good quality print or veneer looks natural and ages gracefully.
• Matt painted surfaces look calm and modern, and soft greys or whites suit most schemes.

Examine the edges of doors and shelves in particular, since these take the most wear. Neatly finished edges are a good sign of a well made unit.

Feature Four: Sensible Proportions for Your Room

Tall units vary a great deal in size. Measure your wall height, width and the depth you can spare before choosing. Think about ceiling height too: a unit that sits a comfortable distance below the ceiling looks deliberate, while one that nearly touches it can feel cramped unless it is designed to look built in.

Consider sightlines as well. In a small room, a tall unit on the wall opposite the door can make the space feel enclosed as you walk in. A side wall or the chimney breast wall is often a better position.

Feature Five: Safety and Stability

Any tall piece of furniture must be secured to the wall. This is non negotiable in homes with children or pets, but it is a sensible precaution everywhere. Most tall units come with wall fixings, and it is worth checking the wall type so you use the correct plugs or cavity fixings.

Place heavier items on lower shelves and lighter decorative pieces higher up. This keeps the centre of gravity low and makes the unit more stable.

Does a Tall Unit Replace Other Furniture?

This is where the real value of a tall unit becomes clear. A single well designed piece can take the place of several others.

• A bookcase: open shelves hold a reasonable collection of books. If you have a larger library, pairing the unit with one of our modern bookcases UK sale designs in a matching finish continues the look along the wall.
• A media cabinet: closed cupboards hide consoles, routers and cables.
• A display cabinet: glass doors or lit shelves show off ceramics or collectibles.
• Disc storage: for film and music collectors, internal shelving can hold boxed media, and dedicated CD and DVD storage UK units can supplement it neatly.

When one piece handles several jobs, the room needs less furniture overall, which frees up floor space and simplifies the layout.

Keeping a Tall Unit From Overpowering the Room

A tall unit brings a lot of visual weight, so a few design choices help it sit comfortably.

• Choose a colour close to your wall colour for a built in effect.
• Select slim frames and fine shelf edges rather than chunky panels.
• Leave some shelves partially empty to let the unit breathe.
• Add integrated or battery powered shelf lighting to lift darker corners.
• Balance the room with lighter furniture elsewhere, such as a leggy coffee table.

Tall Versus Low: Which Makes More Sense?

Low TV units have their own strengths. They keep the wall open, suit rooms with lower ceilings and work well beneath wall mounted screens or artwork. Tall units win when you need more storage than a low piece can offer and want to keep floor space clear.

If you are torn between the two, our article on whether a low TV unit is right for your UK home sets out the other side of the argument, which can help clarify which approach fits the way you live. Whichever height you favour, our guide to white TV unit measurements for UK rooms includes a measuring method that works for units of any colour or size.

Planning Around Sockets, Aerials and Windows

A tall unit covers far more of the wall than a low stand, so it is worth mapping out what lies behind it before you commit. Plug sockets, aerial points and broadband connections all need to remain accessible, or at least reachable through a cable opening in the back panel.

Mark the position of each socket on the wall with masking tape, then compare it with the layout of the unit. Ideally, sockets should sit behind a cupboard section, where plugs and adaptors can be tucked away, rather than behind a fixed shelf or solid side panel. If the positions do not line up, a short extension lead fixed inside a cupboard is often the neatest solution.

Windows deserve attention too. A tall unit placed beside a window can block daylight, particularly in rooms with a single window. It can also cast shadows across the screen at certain times of day. Leave a comfortable gap between the unit and the window frame, and check that curtains or blinds can still open and close freely.

Finally, consider light switches and thermostats. It is surprisingly easy to cover one with a tall piece of furniture, and moving them later is a far bigger job than choosing a slightly different position now.

Styling a Tall TV Unit

Styling a large unit can feel daunting, but a simple approach works well. Start with the practical items behind closed doors. Then add books on open shelves, mixing vertical rows with small horizontal stacks. Intersperse a few objects: a plant, a vase, a framed photograph or a piece of pottery.

Repeat colours across the shelves so the eye moves around the unit in a pleasing rhythm. Leave the shelves nearest the television fairly quiet, so the screen does not compete with busy displays when you are watching.

A Smart Long Term Choice

A tall TV unit is an investment in organisation as much as furniture. When it is chosen carefully, sized to your wall and finished in something durable, it simplifies the room and keeps everyday clutter under control for years.

You can compare tall, wall and entertainment designs across our living room ranges at Furniture in Fashion, with free delivery to most UK mainland postcodes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a tall TV unit a good idea for a small living room?

Often, yes. It uses wall height instead of floor space. Choose a colour close to your walls and slim proportions so it does not dominate.

Do tall TV units need to be fixed to the wall?

Yes. Securing any tall furniture to the wall reduces the risk of tipping, which is especially important in homes with children or pets.

How do I know if my TV will fit in a tall unit?

Check the full width and height of your television, including its stand, against the TV opening. Allow a little extra space for a possible future upgrade.

Can I wall mount my TV within a tall unit?

Many designs have an open central section that allows a wall bracket behind the television. Check the product details before buying.