Wall mounted TV units are storage cabinets fixed directly to the wall, leaving the floor beneath clear. They come in a wide range of sizes, from slim single shelves to long floating consoles, in styles from minimal to richly detailed, and in finishes including gloss, matt, wood veneer and glass. Choosing well comes down to three things: the size of your screen and wall, the strength of the wall itself and the look you want the room to have.
Before choosing a floating unit, it is worth looking at how you will mount the television. Our range of wall TV brackets UK sale includes fixed, tilting and swivel options that pair naturally with wall mounted storage. Below we explain sizes, styles and finishes in detail.
The main appeal is space. With nothing on the floor, a room looks larger and cleaner. This is especially valuable in compact British homes, where floor area is often at a premium. It also makes cleaning easier, as you can vacuum right to the wall.
Wall mounting also allows you to set the unit at exactly the height you want, rather than being limited by the height of a freestanding piece. And the floating effect gives a room a crisp, contemporary look that is hard to achieve with floor standing furniture. For comparison, browse our full range of modern TV stands and units UK, which includes both freestanding and floating designs.
As a general guide, a wall mounted unit should be at least as wide as your television, and ideally a little wider. This keeps the proportions balanced. For a larger screen, a long unit spanning more of the wall creates a stronger horizontal line and a more considered look.
In a small room, a unit that is only slightly wider than the screen keeps things neat. In a larger room, a longer unit gives the wall presence and provides more storage.
Wall mounted units tend to be shallower than freestanding ones, which helps them feel light. However, check that the depth will accommodate your equipment. Soundbars, consoles and streaming boxes all need room, and consoles need space for ventilation.
The unit’s own height affects how much it can store. Slim floating shelves offer minimal storage but maximum lightness. Deeper cabinets with doors or drawers provide more storage but have a more substantial presence.
Mount the unit so that the centre of the television, whether on the unit or on the wall above it, sits close to eye level when you are seated. For most living rooms, this places the unit itself fairly low on the wall, leaving a clear strip of floor beneath.
A simple floating shelf holds a set top box or soundbar beneath a wall mounted TV. It is the most minimal option and works well in small rooms or where equipment is limited.
A floating console has closed storage, usually doors, drawers or a drop down flap. It hides equipment and cables and offers more practical storage while keeping the floor clear.
Modular systems combine several wall mounted units, such as a low console, upper cabinets and open shelves, to create a complete media wall. They are useful in larger rooms and allow you to tailor the arrangement to the space.
Some systems include lit glass shelves or display cabinets alongside the TV storage. These create a focal point and offer space for books and decorative objects.
Gloss reflects light and suits modern interiors. It is easy to wipe clean, though it shows fingerprints more readily. White gloss is especially useful in darker rooms.
Matt finishes feel calm and understated. They hide fingerprints and suit contemporary and Scandinavian schemes.
Oak, walnut and other veneers bring warmth and texture. They soften the clean lines of a floating unit and pair well with natural materials.
Glass fronts or shelves keep the unit light and let infrared remote signals pass through, so you can control equipment without opening doors. Tinted glass hides clutter while still allowing signals through. For freestanding alternatives in glass, see our glass TV stands UK sale.
Many units combine finishes, such as a matt white body with an oak top or gloss fronts with a wood frame. This adds interest and makes it easier to link the unit to other furniture.
This is the most important step. Wall mounted units must be fixed securely, and the right fixings depend on the wall type.
Solid brick or block walls can generally support heavy units with suitable fixings. Stud walls, common in newer homes and internal partitions, need fixings that attach to the timber or metal studs, or specialist cavity fixings rated for the load. Lath and plaster walls in older homes require particular care.
Always check for pipes and cables before drilling, using a detector. If you are unsure about your wall type or the load, consult a qualified fitter. And remember to include the weight of everything the unit will hold, not just the unit itself.
If you are renting, check your tenancy agreement before drilling. Many landlords restrict wall fixings, in which case a low freestanding unit is the safer route.
A floating unit looks best when cables are hidden. Options include running cables inside the wall in a conduit, using a surface mounted cable channel painted to match the wall, or choosing a unit with integrated cable routing. Plan the positions of sockets and aerial points before installing the unit.
Because floating units are often shallower, it helps to plan storage carefully. Keep only the equipment you use within the unit and store everything else elsewhere. A nearby freestanding shelving unit or cabinet can take books, games and extras. Our shelving units and storage UK range includes pieces that complement floating designs.
Keep the top of the unit simple. A couple of objects, perhaps a plant and a small sculpture, look elegant against a floating line. Leave the floor beneath clear to preserve the floating effect. A rug in front of the unit anchors the seating area without breaking the line.
Consider lighting too. A strip of LED lighting beneath the unit enhances the floating effect and adds soft light in the evening. For larger rooms, our article on TV units for large UK living rooms offers further ideas, while tenants can find drill free options in our guide to TV unit ideas for rented UK flats.
A wall mounted unit is not the right answer for every home, and it helps to weigh it against a freestanding alternative.
Floating units are strongest in compact rooms, in homes where a clean, contemporary look is the goal and in rooms where easy cleaning is a priority. They also suit households with robot vacuum cleaners, which can pass freely beneath them.
Freestanding units are more flexible. They can be moved when you rearrange the room, taken with you when you move home and placed on walls that cannot take heavy fixings. They usually offer more storage depth, too. For tenants, or for anyone who likes to change their layout often, a freestanding unit is often the more practical choice.
Some people combine the two, mounting the television on the wall with a bracket and placing a low freestanding unit beneath it. This gives the screen a clean, fixed position while keeping storage flexible.
Take time over installation, as it determines how the unit looks and how safely it performs. Use a spirit level so the unit sits truly level, since even a slight tilt is noticeable on a long floating line. Mark the fixing points carefully and double check them before drilling.
Consider installing the unit before mounting the television, so you can position the screen relative to the storage below. Leave a small gap between the top of the unit and the bottom of the screen for air circulation and to avoid a cramped look. If the unit will hold heavy equipment, spread the weight evenly across its length rather than concentrating it at one end.
Wall mounted TV units free up floor space, create a crisp look and allow you to set a comfortable viewing height. Choose the size to suit your screen and wall, the style to suit your storage needs and the finish to suit your room. You can explore our full range of modern furniture at Furniture in Fashion.
Some are designed to, but many are intended to hold equipment while the television is mounted on the wall above using a bracket. Always check the maximum load and use appropriate fixings.
Yes, with the right fixings. Attach the unit to the studs where possible, or use specialist cavity fixings rated for the weight. If in doubt, consult a qualified fitter.
Position it so that the centre of the television sits close to eye level when you are seated. This usually means the unit sits fairly low on the wall.
Yes. Keeping the floor clear makes a room feel larger and easier to clean, which is especially helpful in compact spaces.
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