Open plan living has become a defining feature of many UK homes, joining kitchen, dining and living areas into one flowing space. It brings light and sociability, but it also removes the walls that used to define each zone. In this kind of layout the television unit has to do more than hold a screen. It often helps to mark where the living area begins, so its design carries real weight.<\/p>\n
Contemporary units suit these spaces well. Clean lines, low profiles and uncluttered surfaces sit comfortably in an open environment, where a heavy or fussy piece would interrupt the flow. The right unit reads as part of a single considered scheme rather than a leftover from a smaller, divided home.<\/p>\n
In an open plan room, sight lines run a long way, so tall furniture can block views and break the sense of space. Low, horizontal units keep those sight lines open and reinforce the relaxed, spacious feel that open plan living is prized for. A long low unit also gives a strong visual base for the living zone without raising a barrier.<\/p>\n
This horizontal emphasis pairs naturally with modern screens and minimal styling. A streamlined unit running along one wall anchors the seating area while letting the eye travel freely across the room. Our range of TV units<\/a> includes many low line designs suited to this approach.<\/p>\n Contemporary units lean towards finishes with a smooth, refined quality. Matt surfaces feel understated and hide fingerprints well, while a subtle sheen adds a little light without the high shine of older gloss trends. Handleless designs with push to open doors keep the front clean and uninterrupted, which suits the pared back look of an open plan space.<\/p>\n Neutral tones tend to work hardest here, since they sit quietly within a larger scheme and let other elements lead. A unit in a soft grey, warm oak or off white blends with both the living and kitchen zones. For a sleeker statement, the designs in our TV stands units and cabinets<\/a> range show how modern finishes can lift a space.<\/p>\n One of the cleverest roles a television unit can play in an open plan home is helping to define the living zone. Positioned thoughtfully, a long unit signals where the relaxed seating area sits within the wider space. Paired with a rug and a sofa, it creates a clear pocket of comfort without the need for walls.<\/p>\n Some layouts use a low unit as a partial divider between living and dining areas, with the back of the piece finished neatly so it looks good from both sides. This approach keeps the openness while giving each zone a sense of identity. Our broader living room furniture<\/a> collection helps you build that zone with coordinated pieces.<\/p>\n Open plan spaces show clutter more readily, since there are fewer walls and corners to hide it. A contemporary unit with generous closed storage keeps the living area tidy and calm, which matters when the space is on show from the kitchen and dining areas. Concealed cabinets and drawers maintain the clean look that open plan living depends on.<\/p>\n At the same time, the storage should not add visual bulk. Low units with a slim profile offer hidden space without dominating, and integrated cable management keeps the area free of trailing leads. The balance of capacity and lightness is what makes a unit feel genuinely contemporary.<\/p>\n Because everything is visible at once in an open plan home, coordination across the zones is key. Picking up the wood tone of the kitchen in the television unit, or echoing a finish from the dining furniture, ties the whole space together. The aim is a single, harmonious scheme rather than three separate rooms sharing a footprint.<\/p>\n Lighting helps reinforce the zones in the evening, with a lamp or two by the seating area giving the living zone its own gentle glow. These small links make a large open space feel intentional and cohesive rather than sparse.<\/p>\n In an open plan home the television unit is on show far more than in a closed off room, so it deserves careful thought. A contemporary low line design with quiet finishes, hidden storage and the ability to help zone the space will serve the room well for years. It should feel like a deliberate part of the architecture rather than an afterthought.<\/p>\nFinishes that feel current<\/h3>\n
Using the unit to zone the room<\/h3>\n
Storage without the bulk<\/h3>\n
Coordinating across zones<\/h3>\n
A piece that earns its place<\/h3>\n