6 tips for choosing a TV stand in the living room and bedroom

When computers appeared, many experts foreshadowed the imminent collapse of the TV era. But this device has entered our everyday life stronger than anyone could have imagined. A TV, and often not just one, but several, is in every apartment. Manufacturers are not tired of offering us new technologies and developments, making TVs more and more intelligent, thin and juicy. It’s somehow worthless to put a brand-new TV on old furniture - for it I want to prepare a special pedestal so that the process of watching movies and TV shows is as comfortable as possible and brings aesthetic pleasure. Let's try to figure out the choice of a TV stand and understand what size, color, style and material it should be.

No. 1. The main types of TV stands

Probably, it will be superfluous to explain that it is necessary to start buying a TV cabinet only after this TV is selected or its basic parameters are at least precisely determined. It is also advisable to understand where will the tv stand. This is necessary in order to determine the overall parameters of the bedside table. After that, it remains only to weigh what type of structure should be, of what material it is made and in what color it is painted. With this we will help.

By design type, all television cabinets can be divided into the following types:

• pedestal differs from all other types in that the TV is not placed on a horizontal surface, but is mounted on a specially available bracket. The cabinet itself can be quite low, but the TV can be fixed at a convenient height. A special place (cable channel) is provided for the wires, so that they will not spoil the interior. In the future, it will be possible to simply change the angle of rotation and tilt of the screen. Even if someone accidentally touches such a pedestal, the TV will not fall, because it is securely mounted on the bracket;
• ordinary stand has only one function - to support the TV standing on it. These are, as a rule, compact enough products that are equipped, at best, with a pair of shelves for storing disks and installing auxiliary equipment. Such products find application in small rooms;
• chest of drawers - This is a much more functional product. Such a stand not only holds the TV on itself, but also serves as a fairly spacious storage area. If you select a cabinet in the hall, then you can store disks, documents, photos, the entire home collection of gadgets and much more in it. The height of the chest of drawers can be any: higher pieces of furniture are installed, as a rule, in the bedroomswhile low and wide are used in the living room. On the surface of the cabinet, in addition to the TV, you can arrange a lot of cute accessories. Often these cabinets are part of the whole furniture set, which also includes wall shelves and cabinets that are mounted above the TV. The advantage of such sets over traditional walls is the ability to fix the upper level at any height and choose a TV with any diagonal;
• hanging cabinet under the TV it is attached to the wall and, as a rule, is equipped with several open or closed shelves. Dimensions vary widely.It is believed that such cabinets are not visually perceived as bulky as their floor mates, so they are ideal for small rooms. The main thing is to securely fix such furniture. Installation is best done on the load-bearing wall - easy plasterboard partition may not withstand such a load;
• corner pedestal different in shape and designed for installation in a corner. If you recall what designers recommend in small living rooms If you install furniture diagonally (i.e. a sofa in one corner, a TV opposite it, in the opposite corner), then the corner cabinet will be a real salvation for owners of compact housing.

Despite the fact that modern TVs are many times lighter than their ancestors, serious loads and great responsibility are placed on the television stand. To be sure of the safety of expensive equipment, it is better to buy television cabinets from trusted sellers.

No. 2. Material of execution

The choice of material depends on personal preferences, features of the design of the premises and financial capabilities. We will talk about the relationship between material and interior style later on - first you need to study the theory, i.e. understand what properties the stands made of different materials have:

• wooden pedestals differ in the maximum durability, durability and excellent appearance. The tree is afraid of high humidity, but in the living room it does not threaten him. Caring for such a bedside table requires regular, but there is nothing complicated in it. Wooden cabinets are varnished and painted; they can be quite simple or decorated with numerous carving elements. The color is highly dependent on the breed chosen, so picking up an element that is suitable for the design will not be difficult. The only negative is the price, but you can find a more or less inexpensive product;
• Chipboard produced on the basis of wood chips and sawdust, which are bonded using formaldehyde resins. On top of the plate is covered with a film (laminated particleboard), less often - veneer. This is a very cheap material that looks great. Any pattern can be applied to the film, so the cabinets made of chipboard perfectly imitate different types of wood. Particleboard is sensitive to moisture, but it is not in the room or bedroom. If your budget is limited, this is a great option. The main thing is to clarify what class of formaldehyde emissions the product belongs to. Only E1 class furniture is suitable for the apartment, and E0 will be ideal;
• MDF They are also made on the basis of wood chips, which are pressed under the influence of high temperatures and pressure, and it is glued together using natural components. It is an environmentally friendly material that is highly dense and easy to process. The holes for the mounting hardware do not crumble, so the products come out strong and reliable. From MDF, you can get quite complex in design products. The material is more resistant to moisture and fire than chipboard, but also costs more. If you have sufficient funds, then the cabinet from MDF will be an excellent and durable acquisition;
• plastic pedestals They are cheap, lightweight and easy to care for, but you can call these products reliable only with a stretch - a lot depends on the production technology and the responsibility of the manufacturer. If you take a plastic pedestal, then only from a reliable manufacturer, otherwise the product will soon become scratched, fade or break;
• glass cabinets perfectly combined with modern flat TVs and facilitate the space, as they allow us to see what is behind the furniture, and our subconscious perceives such a room as more spacious. Glass can be of different shades, often combined with metal supports, but can be combined with wood. For the manufacture of cabinets using tempered glass, so the weight of the TV they are not afraid of;
• metal usually combined with other materials (wood, glass, chipboard), but can be used independently.To find such products is problematic, they cost and weigh a lot, and they will not fit into any interior, but they should not occupy strength and durability.

There should be no scratches or defects on the material, therefore, the product must be carefully examined before purchase. When making an audit, pay attention also to fittings elements. All handles, door fasteners, locks and other parts must be reliable and durable.

No. 3. TV Stand Size

There are no strict requirements for the dimensions of the TV stand. The main thing is that the TV does not go beyond it, i.e. the stand should either be equal to the width of the TV, or be wider than it. Here it’s how the size of the room allows, and as you please. If the cabinet is much wider than the TV itself, then it will be possible to place a lot of necessary and simply cute things on it.

The height of the TV should be such that it does not have to lift its head or lower it strongly. If you are used to watching TV while sitting on couch or in armchair, then cabinets with a height of 50-60 cm are suitable, and if you are more comfortable watching movies and shows on the floor, you can take a cabinet with a height of 40 cm. Stand-out stands stand apart. The height of the horizontal surface can be any - the main thing is that the brackets are located at the required level.

Along with the overall dimensions, some manufacturers also give us a useful volume, but to evaluate this parameter is not difficult and by eye.

Number 4. Payload

I don’t want the TV to crash and crash a couple of days after installation on the pedestal? Then, when choosing a bedside table, it is necessary to take into account the load that the furniture can withstand. Do not rush to blame manufacturers for making low-quality goods. Each of us loads the bedside table in different ways - you won’t find a universal product, but to take a cabinet with a huge margin of safety - this means dooming yourself to the constant contemplation of a bulky massive object, the potential of which will not be used like that.

Be sure to find in the description what load the top shelf or bracket can withstand. Keep in mind that not only a TV can be installed on the top shelf, so add up the weight of all equipment, accessories and other items. Do not forget to add a reserve, and if there are kids in the house who only know the world and like to hang on home furniture, then the safety margin should be maximum.

No. 5. Color and style of the TV stand

A television stand, like any other item, should fit into the overall style of the room. Depending on which your interior style, choose a product from one or another material and with a different decor:

• hi-tech and minimalism suggest the use of glass products with chrome inserts. Laconic curbstones of regular geometric shapes and calm shades will also fit perfectly;
• classic style decorate wooden cabinets or cabinets made of cheaper materials, but stylized as wood;
• in baroque, rococo and other pompous styles will fit tables with an abundance of carved elements. Openwork forging will also be appropriate;
• for style provence a light wooden stand with original metal handles will do;
• for loft you can pick up a bedside table made of rough wood or metal, it can be stylized as a box, suitcase or container;
• in style retro perfect bedside table on high legs.

It is desirable that the color of the bedside table matches the color of the rest of the furniture, but bold contrasting combinations are allowed. True, this will require a delicate taste.

As for forms, then usually the tables are made square and rectangular, there are also corner options. Much less often you can see a curbstone with a semicircular or curved facade. Manufacturers are actively fantasizing with levels and layers.The bedside table can include several parts, one will go over the other, forming conceivable and inconceivable combinations, so this piece of furniture can be quite boring, as many are used to thinking. If the assortment in the stores does not seem enough to you, you can always order the product according to your own sketch, stylize it for anything and equip with any number of compartments.

Craftsmen make bedside tables for TV on their own, using the remains of boards, logs, wooden palletsmetal and even plastic pipes.

No. 6. Functional elements

When everything is defined with the appearance of the nightstand, it is time to think about its functionality:

• compartments can be open and closed, combined options are common. Closed compartments provide a higher level of security for stored things, protect them from dust and accidental falling, and visually there will be order in the room, despite the fact that behind the doors there may be a heap of necessary and not very things. Open shelves serve for neat storage of books, arrangement of equipment and nice souvenirs. Some cabinets are equipped with drawers, rotating racks and superstructures with niches - choose depending on personal preferences;
• the doors may be hinged, folding and sliding - here, as you wish. It is only important that the fittings are strong. Doors can swing open using conventional handles or thanks to the TIP-ON mechanism: a light push and the bedside table is open;
• wheel bearings facilitate the movement of the cabinet, but make it less stable. The presence of a special mechanism that locks the wheels after moving is strictly necessary, but even this option sometimes does not make the product as stable as possible. Much better in this regard are the curbstones on the legs and those that are placed directly on the floor, without additional supports.

In conclusion, we note that an alternative to a pedestal can be a whole wall where a place for a TV will be provided, but the parameters of this “compartment” must be studied very meticulously so that the brand-new TV just fits. The TV can be mounted on a bracket to the wall, but in this case, a low pedestal in the area under the TV is still placed, because among the functions of this product is not only support for the TV itself, but also storage of necessary things.