TV unit colours are currently moving away from stark white and black towards warmer, softer and more characterful shades. Beige, oatmeal and mushroom lead the lighter end, sage and olive greens bring a natural note, rich woods remain a constant, and deep navy offers a confident darker option. The common thread is warmth: colours that make a living room feel calm and lived in rather than showroom sharp.
You will see many of these shades across our range of modern high gloss TV stands UK sale, as well as in matt and wood finishes throughout our wider TV stands and units UK collection. Here is a closer look at each colour direction and how to use it.
A TV unit often sits on the main wall of a living room, directly in your line of sight. It is one of the largest pieces of furniture in the room after the sofa, so its colour has a considerable effect on the overall mood.
A well chosen colour can make a black screen less dominant when the television is off. It can warm up a cool north facing room, calm a busy open plan space or give a plain rented room some personality.
Beige has returned in a more refined form. Today’s shades are warmer and more nuanced than the flat beiges of the past, with hints of pink, yellow or grey. Oatmeal, sand and stone sit in the same family.
These colours suit living rooms that want a soft, relaxed atmosphere. They work particularly well with natural textures such as linen, wool and rattan, and they flatter oak floors. In a small room, a beige unit blends with warm white walls to create a calm, cohesive backdrop.
Pair a beige unit with tonal accessories in cream, caramel and soft brown. Add contrast through a black lamp base or picture frame so the scheme does not feel flat.
Sitting between beige and grey, mushroom and taupe offer a sophisticated neutral. They feel warmer than grey but more grounded than beige, making them a good choice for people moving away from cool grey schemes without wanting a dramatic change.
These shades look especially refined in matt finishes, where their subtle depth is most apparent. They pair well with brushed brass, smoked glass and walnut.
Green continues to be one of the most loved colours in British interiors. Soft sage brings a fresh, calming feel, while deeper olive adds richness and warmth. Both connect a room to nature, which many people find restful.
A green TV unit can become a gentle focal point without overwhelming the room. It sits happily against warm white or cream walls and pairs beautifully with natural wood and terracotta pots.
Bring in plants and botanical prints to reinforce the natural theme. Keep other large pieces neutral so the green stands out. Painted finishes are a natural home for sage and olive, as the colour sits softly over the grain.
Wood is less a trend than a constant, but the preferred tones shift over time. Currently, mid tone oak, walnut and smoked wood are especially popular, replacing the very pale, almost white woods that dominated for several years.
Warm woods add depth and character to a room. They pair easily with almost any wall colour and bring a sense of craftsmanship. Fluted and slatted wood details continue to add texture.
Texture matters as much as tone here. A grained or ribbed surface gives a wood unit depth that a flat colour cannot match.
Earthy shades of clay, rust and soft terracotta bring warmth and a relaxed, Mediterranean feeling. Used on a TV unit, they create an inviting focal point, especially in rooms with plenty of natural light.
These colours work well with cream, sand and olive, and they pair naturally with wooden floors and woven textures. Use them in moderation: a clay unit against a neutral wall is usually enough colour for one room.
At the darker end of the spectrum, navy offers depth and sophistication. It is a more forgiving alternative to black: rich and grounded, but less stark. A navy TV unit helps the television screen blend into the furniture when it is off, which many people appreciate.
Navy suits snugs, dens and living rooms with good light. It pairs well with brass hardware, warm wood and crisp white walls. In a darker room, balance a navy unit with pale walls and plenty of warm lighting.
Echo the navy in a cushion, rug or artwork elsewhere in the room so the unit does not feel isolated. Brass or gold accents bring out its richness.
White and grey have not disappeared. Instead, they are being used more thoughtfully. Warm whites and soft greys with a hint of warmth are replacing the cool, clinical tones of the past. White gloss remains useful in small, dark rooms where reflecting light is the priority.
If you already have a white or grey unit, you can warm it up with wooden accessories, woven baskets and warm lighting rather than replacing it.
North facing rooms receive cooler light, so warm colours such as beige, clay and warm wood help balance them. South facing rooms receive warmer light and can take cooler shades such as sage or navy comfortably.
The floor is one of the biggest colour surfaces in a room. Choose a TV unit colour that works with it, either by complementing the tone or providing gentle contrast.
A TV unit should sit comfortably with the sofa, rug and walls. Pick up a colour from an existing piece, or choose a neutral that bridges several colours. A rug from our modern rugs UK sale range can help connect a coloured unit to the rest of the room.
If you have a sideboard in the same room, consider choosing it in a similar or complementary shade. Our high gloss sideboards UK come in finishes that coordinate with many of the TV units above.
Many TV units now combine two finishes, such as a coloured body with a wooden top, or a neutral frame with coloured doors. These combinations add depth and make it easier to connect the unit to the rest of the room.
Soft beige with dark walnut creates a warm, balanced contrast. It feels relaxed but polished, and it suits rooms with cream walls and textured fabrics.
Pale green with mid tone oak brings a fresh, natural feel. This pairing works well in living rooms that open onto a garden or have plenty of plants.
Deep navy with brass handles or legs is a classic combination. It looks refined in period rooms and adds a sense of richness to modern spaces.
A taupe or mushroom body with fine black metal details feels contemporary and understated. It suits minimal interiors that need a little warmth.
Colour looks very different on a screen than it does in a real room. Where possible, ask for a finish sample or compare the colour with painted samples on your wall. Look at it at different times of day, and under the lamps you use in the evening. A shade that looks warm in a photograph can appear cooler in a north facing room, and a deep colour can look almost black under dim light.
Trends change, so it is worth considering how long you want a colour to feel right. Warm neutrals and wood tones tend to last longest. Stronger colours can be introduced through smaller, easily changed items such as cushions, vases and prints. If you love a bold colour, a painted unit that can be refreshed later gives you flexibility.
For more on colour over timber, our guide to painted wood TV units for UK homes explains why they suit colour so well. If a textured wood unit appeals, our realistic guide to fluted TV units for UK living rooms looks at what to prioritise.
You can explore our full range of modern furniture in all of these colours at Furniture in Fashion, with free delivery to most UK mainland postcodes.
Warm neutrals such as beige, oatmeal and mushroom are especially popular, along with mid tone and dark woods. Sage green and navy are strong choices for those who want more colour.
Yes, particularly in small or dark rooms. Warm whites feel more current than cool, bright whites, and white can be softened with wooden accessories.
Darker colours such as navy, charcoal and dark wood help a black screen blend in when the television is off.
Lighter shades such as warm white, beige and soft sage help small rooms feel open. Match the unit to the wall tone for a seamless look, or add contrast with a slightly deeper shade.
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