If your room is wide enough and you want the screen at a comfortable viewing height, a low, wide TV unit is usually the better choice for a 55 inch TV. A tall TV unit makes more sense when floor space is tight, when you need a lot of storage in a small footprint, or when the TV sits in an alcove and you want the whole wall to look finished. The right answer depends on the width of your wall, where you sit, and how much you need to store.
Both styles can work well in a UK living room, and our range of modern entertainment units UK includes long, low pieces as well as taller cabinets with shelving. Below, we look at how each option behaves in a real room so you can make the choice with confidence.
A 55 inch screen is measured diagonally, so the TV itself is usually around 123 to 125 centimetres wide once you include the frame. That figure matters more than the headline size. As a general guide, the unit underneath should be wider than the TV so the screen does not look as though it is balancing on the edge. A few centimetres of breathing space on each side is the minimum, and a noticeably wider base looks calmer and more deliberate.
Depth matters too. Most modern TVs sit on a central pedestal or two feet near the edges. If your model uses feet at the far ends, check that the top surface of the unit is long enough to support both. If it uses a central stand, check that the unit is deep enough for the stand to sit fully on the surface with no overhang at the front.
Finally, think about weight. A 55 inch TV is not especially heavy by modern standards, but anything that holds a screen should feel solid when you press on the top. Wobble is a sign that the structure will not suit daily use, especially in a home with children or pets.
A low unit is the classic pairing for a screen of this size, and for good reason. It keeps the centre of the screen close to seated eye level, which is easier on the neck during a long film or a box set evening. Most sofas put your eyes somewhere around a metre from the floor, so a low unit with a TV on top tends to land in the right zone naturally.
Low units also make a room feel larger. Because they keep the visual weight close to the floor, the wall above stays open. You can hang a single piece of art, add a pair of wall lights, or simply leave the space clear. In a room with a low ceiling, which is common in many post war and modern new build homes, this matters more than people expect.
There is also the practical side. Soundbars, games consoles and streaming boxes all sit comfortably on or inside a wide unit, and cable management is easier when everything is on one level. Many low designs include closed drawers alongside open compartments, so you can keep equipment ventilated while hiding the clutter.
The main drawback is floor space. A low unit wide enough to suit a 55 inch TV will typically take up a good stretch of wall, and that can clash with radiators, doors or a bay window. If your only usable wall is short, a long unit may simply not fit.
A tall TV unit, sometimes called a highboard or a media cabinet, stacks storage vertically. The TV usually sits on a shelf at around waist height, with cupboards below and open or glazed shelving above. For a 55 inch screen, you will need to check that the TV compartment is both wide enough and tall enough, as some designs are built around smaller screens.
The biggest advantage is footprint. A tall unit can offer as much storage as a long sideboard while using a fraction of the floor space. In a narrow Victorian terrace, a flat with an open plan layout, or a room where one wall is interrupted by doors, that can be the difference between a cluttered room and a tidy one.
Tall units also suit alcoves. Many older UK homes have chimney breasts with recesses on either side. Placing a tall unit in one recess, or using a matching pair, gives the wall a built in feel without the cost and upheaval of joinery.
Viewing height is the thing to watch. If the TV shelf sits too high, you end up looking up at the screen, which becomes uncomfortable over time. Tall units can also dominate a small room if they are dark in colour or very deep. Lighter finishes, glass doors and open shelving help reduce that heavy feeling.
Start with the wall. Measure the full width you have available, then note anything that interrupts it: sockets, radiators, skirting heaters, door swings and windows. Mark these on a quick sketch. It is surprising how often the ideal spot turns out to be a few centimetres short once a radiator valve is taken into account.
Next, measure your seating distance. Sit where you normally sit and measure from your eyes to the wall where the TV will go. For a 55 inch screen, a comfortable distance usually falls somewhere between two and three metres, although personal preference plays a big part. If you sit closer than that, a lower screen position tends to feel better.
Then measure your eye height when seated. Ask someone to measure from the floor to your eye line while you sit on the sofa. Aim for the centre of the screen to land close to that height, or slightly below it. Compare that figure with the height of the TV surface on any unit you are considering, and add half the height of the screen itself.
Finally, check ceiling height and any sloping ceilings if you are furnishing a loft room. A tall unit that fits on paper can feel oppressive under a low ceiling.
It is worth being honest about what the unit needs to hold. Some households have a single streaming stick and a remote. Others have two games consoles, a collection of discs, a router, a soundbar and a basket of controllers. The more you need to store, the more a tall unit starts to earn its place.
Low units handle equipment well because it sits close to the TV and cables stay short. Tall units are better for mixed storage: books, board games, photo frames and decorative pieces alongside the technology. If the TV wall is also your main display wall, a tall unit gives you somewhere to show things off.
If you only need a modest amount of storage and the wall is awkward, our modern TV stands and units UK sale collection includes compact designs, and corner TV stands UK make use of space that is often wasted in smaller rooms.
You do not have to choose one extreme. Many people mount a 55 inch TV on the wall and place a low unit beneath it for storage and a soundbar. This frees you from the height of the unit, because you can set the screen exactly where you want it.
Mounting also works well with a tall unit placed to one side, giving you storage without the screen needing to sit inside a compartment. If you are considering this, choose from our wall TV brackets UK sale range with the weight and fixing pattern of your TV in mind, and always check the wall type first. Solid brick, stud walls and dry lined walls each need different fixings.
A tilting bracket can help if the screen ends up a little higher than ideal. A small downward angle reduces glare from windows and makes the picture easier to watch from a low sofa.
Proportion is what makes a TV wall look settled. A low unit that is noticeably wider than the TV creates a strong horizontal line, which tends to feel relaxed and contemporary. A tall unit creates a vertical line, which draws the eye upwards and can make a room with a high ceiling feel more balanced.
Think about the other furniture too. If your sofa is long and low, a matching low unit will echo that shape. If the room already has tall pieces, such as a bookcase or a display cabinet, a low unit stops the space from feeling crowded. Mixing heights works best when there is a clear reason for each piece.
Finish plays its part. Light oak, white and soft grey help larger pieces blend into the background, while walnut, black and high gloss colours make more of a statement. In a small room, a tall unit in a pale finish is usually easier to live with than a dark one.
Choose a low, wide unit if you have a clear stretch of wall, want the screen at a relaxed viewing height, and prefer an open, uncluttered look. This is the more flexible choice for most living rooms and pairs naturally with a 55 inch TV.
Choose a tall unit if floor space is limited, if you are working with an alcove, or if you need a lot of storage for mixed items. Check the TV compartment dimensions carefully and make sure the screen will not sit too high for comfort.
If you are planning the wider room at the same time, our guide to small living room layout ideas for UK homes looks at how the TV wall shapes everything else in the space.
Whichever direction you take, you can browse our full collection of TV furniture at Furniture in Fashion, where we offer free delivery to most UK mainland postcodes. Returns are available up to 30 days.
The unit should be wider than the TV itself, which is usually around 123 to 125 centimetres across. A unit with some extra width on each side looks more balanced and gives the stand room to sit securely.
Not necessarily. It depends on the height of the TV shelf. If the centre of the screen sits close to your seated eye level, a tall unit is entirely comfortable. Problems arise when the shelf is set too high.
Often, yes, but measure the alcove width carefully. Many alcoves in older homes are narrower than they look. A tall unit designed for alcoves, or a wall mounted screen above a slim cabinet, can both work well.
Wall mounting gives you full control over screen height and frees up the surface of your unit. It works with both low and tall units, provided the wall is suitable and the bracket is rated for your TV.
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