The TV unit trends interior designers are favouring at the moment centre on texture and warmth: fluted and reeded door fronts, rich walnut and darker oak, softened curved edges, long low proportions and floating wall hung designs. Mixed materials, such as wood with stone or metal accents, and a clear effort to hide cables and devices, complete the picture. The common thread is a move away from purely functional media furniture towards pieces that look good with the screen switched off.<\/p>\n
Below we look at each of these in turn, with notes on how they translate into everyday UK living rooms. Many of the designs in our premier modern TV stands UK collection<\/a> reflect these directions, so it is a useful place to see the ideas in real pieces.<\/p>\n For years, the TV unit was treated as a practical stand for a screen and a set top box. As televisions have become thinner and often wall mounted, the unit beneath has been freed to become something more decorative. Designers now treat it the way they might treat a sideboard: a long, prominent surface that sets the character of the room.<\/p>\n There has also been a broader shift towards calmer, more tactile interiors. Homes are asked to do more, serving as offices, cinemas and social spaces, and people are choosing furniture that softens the technology rather than celebrating it. You can see this change across the whole TV stands and units UK sale<\/a> category, from compact benches to wide media walls.<\/p>\n Vertical grooves running down door fronts are among the most recognisable features of current TV unit design. Fluting adds texture and a gentle rhythm, catching light and shadow in a way flat panels cannot. It works in wood, painted finishes and even glass.<\/p>\n Designers like fluting because it brings detail without clutter. A plain wall and a fluted unit create enough interest that you need fewer accessories. In smaller rooms, choose fine, narrow flutes, which read as texture rather than pattern. Wider reeding suits larger spaces where the unit has room to make a statement.<\/p>\n After a long period dominated by pale Scandinavian finishes and white gloss, deeper woods have returned. Walnut in particular is being used for its warmth, fine grain and slightly retro character, recalling mid century furniture without copying it directly. Darker smoked oak is also appearing more often.<\/p>\n These tones sit well against the warm neutrals currently favoured for walls: cream, oatmeal, putty and soft clay. They also pair nicely with brass, bronze and blackened metal. In a north facing room, a deep wood unit can feel heavy, so balance it with lighter flooring, a pale rug or a unit that sits on legs to let light pass underneath. Our wooden TV stands UK sale<\/a> range covers walnut, oak and other timber finishes.<\/p>\n Curves have been moving through furniture for some time, from sofas to coffee tables, and they have now reached the TV unit. Rounded ends, radiused corners and pill shaped handles soften what is usually a long rectangular form.<\/p>\n This has a practical benefit in busy households. A unit without sharp corners is kinder to shins in narrow rooms and safer around young children. Visually, curves help a TV unit relate to other rounded pieces, such as a boucle armchair or an oval coffee table, making the room feel more cohesive.<\/p>\n Designers are favouring TV units that are lower and longer than before. A low unit emphasises the width of a room, which suits the rectangular lounges common in UK homes. It also allows a wall mounted screen to sit at a comfortable height without the unit crowding it from below.<\/p>\n The key is balance. A very long unit needs enough wall to breathe, ideally with a little space at each end. In a smaller room, a slightly shorter low unit, combined with a large artwork or shelves above, creates a similar effect without dominating the space.<\/p>\n Floating units, fixed to the wall with no legs, continue to appeal for their clean look and the sense of space they create. Showing more floor makes a room feel larger and makes cleaning simpler.<\/p>\n Designers are increasingly pairing floating units with integrated lighting, such as a soft LED strip beneath the unit, which adds a gentle glow in the evening. Before choosing this style, check that the wall is solid enough or that suitable fixings can be used, particularly in homes with plasterboard partitions.<\/p>\n Rather than a single finish, many current TV units combine two or three materials. A wooden carcass might sit on a stone plinth, have a marble or travertine top, or feature slim metal legs. Smoked glass doors over a wooden frame are another popular combination.<\/p>\n Mixed materials add depth, but they need restraint. Two materials are usually enough, with a third used only as a small accent. Link each material to something else in the room: a stone top that echoes a side table, or metal legs that match a floor lamp.<\/p>\n Fluting is not the only way designers are adding surface interest. Cane and rattan panels, woven into door fronts, bring a relaxed, handcrafted quality that suits bohemian and coastal schemes as well as more pared back rooms. The open weave also lets remote signals pass through, which makes it a practical choice for hiding devices.<\/p>\n Timber slats are another option. Spaced vertical battens on a door or side panel give a similar rhythm to fluting but with a lighter, more architectural feel. Some designers extend the idea to the wall behind the TV, fitting matching slatted panels so the unit and the wall read as one composition.<\/p>\n Ribbed or reeded glass is appearing on cabinet doors too. It softens whatever is behind it, so books and devices become vague shapes rather than visual clutter, while still allowing a glimpse of colour. This works well in small rooms where solid doors might feel heavy.<\/p>\n When choosing a textured front, think about cleaning. Deep grooves and woven panels gather dust more readily than flat surfaces, so a soft brush attachment on the vacuum becomes a useful companion. Finer textures are easier to maintain and tend to sit more quietly in compact spaces.<\/p>\n When TV units are painted rather than left in natural wood, the colours are soft and earthy. Sage green, olive, clay, mushroom and warm grey appear more often than bright white or strong primaries. These shades feel restful and sit easily alongside natural textures.<\/p>\n Painted units are a good way to introduce colour without committing to painted walls. They work particularly well in rented homes, where the walls may need to stay neutral.<\/p>\n A quieter trend, but an important one, is the effort to make the technology disappear. Designers are specifying TV units with cable management channels, ventilated cupboards for consoles and routers, and push to open doors that keep the front clean. Remote friendly glass or slatted panels allow signals through while hiding the devices behind.<\/p>\n This reflects the wider desire for calm living rooms. When the screen is off, the unit should look like a good piece of furniture rather than an equipment rack.<\/p>\n Trends are most useful as a menu rather than a rulebook. Pick one or two ideas that suit your room and your existing furniture, rather than trying to combine them all. A fluted walnut unit, for example, already carries two trends. Adding curves, stone and a painted colour at the same time can tip it into feeling busy.<\/p>\n Think about longevity, too. Natural wood tones, simple forms and good proportions tend to outlast more specific details. If you love a particular trend but worry it may date, bring it in through accessories or a smaller piece before committing to a large unit. Our walnut TV units buyer’s guide for UK homes<\/a> explains how to choose a wood unit that feels current now and remains easy to live with, and our look at fluted TV units for UK living rooms<\/a> shows how to find the reeded look in accessible designs.<\/p>\nWhy TV Units Are Getting More Attention<\/h3>\n
Fluted and Reeded Fronts<\/h3>\n
Walnut and Deeper Wood Tones<\/h3>\n
Soft Curves and Rounded Edges<\/h3>\n
Long, Low Silhouettes<\/h3>\n
Floating, Wall Hung Designs<\/h3>\n
Mixed Materials<\/h3>\n
Texture Beyond Fluting: Cane, Slats and Ribbed Glass<\/h3>\n
Colour: Earthy and Muted<\/h3>\n
Hiding the Technology<\/h3>\n
Bringing a Trend Into a Real Home<\/h3>\n