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How to Choose Your Entertainment Center



Buying the right entertainment center for your home can be a daunting task. With so many different options and TV sizes it can be hard to know where to start. Let us help you figure out the best entertainment center for your needs!
 
Click on a section to quickly jump to it.
 
STEP 1: Determine your space requirements
 
Choosing the perfect entertainment center for your home requires you to take great care in knowing the size of your room versus the size of the entertainment center to fill it.
 
There are many different types of entertainment centers in varying sizes for your home.
 
For Small/Medium Rooms:
 
For tighter spaces, you should consider a TV stand or TV armoire. The TV stand will allow you to proudly display your TV in full view. The TV Armoire allows you to keep your TV out of sight and protected when not in use, and is especially good for bedrooms.   Corner TV stands or Armoires are also very efficient and popular choices.
 
For Medium/Large Rooms:
 
The more space you have in your entertainment room, the more choices you have available to you. Using a TV stand or TV Armoire in a large room is perfectly acceptable. However, if you want a nice piece of furniture in your home that glorifies your television viewing area, then an Entertainment Wall Unit is for you.  Wall units offer the most storage if you have a lot of components, CDs, or DVDs or simply want to display your favorite collectibles. Many of our wall units feature lighted bridges, audio piers with adjustable shelves, and lighted cabinets. They also have the most space to accommodate the biggest plasma and LCD TV sets.
 
STEP 2: What Type of TV Do You Have?
 
TVs come in all shapes and sizes. Knowing how much space you have to accommodate for is a must when determining your Entertainment Center purchase. 
 
TV sizes are determined by the screen size measured from diagonal to diagonal. The screen size however, does not account for the size of the TV case. When purchasing your entertainment center, be sure to measure the height, width, and depth of your TV set. Typically, you want your television to fit in the space with at least an inch of clearance on all sides so your set will not overheat.
 
If you have a stand alone rear projection TV set, you might want to consider a 3 piece Wall Unit that includes the two audio piers and the connecting bridge. Many wall units have adjustable bridges to account for the width of rear projection TVs. 
 
For large TV sets 40” or above, you may want to consider Wall Unit because they have the most space to accommodate large screens. Many of our wall units are adjustable to allow for larger sets if you decide to upgrade later on. A wall unit also allows more storage space for accessories. 
 
For mid-sized to small TV sets there are a lot of options that are dependant on your individual needs. If you have a lot of accessories, we recommend an entertainment center. If you have limited space or rearrange your furniture a lot, a TV stand will work for you because it is smaller and more versatile. A TV Armoire is also an important option to consider because of its versatility. Most TV armoires include multiple storage options and can protect your TV when not in use.
 
STEP 3. What Style Entertainment Center Do You Want?
 
Entertainment centers come in all sizes, shapes, and colors. With all the choices, it can be overwhelming to pick just one! It all depends on your personal tastes and your existing dé cor. 
 
If you prefer a traditional style, we offer several different entertainment centers with classic designs. You can expect details like decorative moulding, intricate carvings, reeded or fluted columns, distressed finishes, and brass or pewter hardware.
 
If your tastes drift more to modern or urban styles, then you might want to consider a contemporary entertainment center. Modern furniture is highlighted with clean lines, geometric shapes, gentle curves, and rich finishes. Pieces like these have an eye-catching yet simple design that can fit with any setting. Most contemporary pieces come in a range of different finishes like espresso, cappuccino, beech, and maple. 
 
 
STEP 4. What Else Do You Need?
 
Furnishing your media room doesn't stop at getting the entertainment center. What about the rest of your accessories? You need a place for your DVD player, a place for all of your movies, and don't forget comfortable, elegant theater seating.
 
You need to consider how many accessories you have and how much you plan on expanding. You never know when you might need an extra place for an audio receiver or another game console. You might even want to purchase an extra audio rack just to display your collectibles alongside your new TV stand.
 
There is also the issue of media storage, many entertainment centers feature built in storage, but as collections grow it might be not be enough.
 
If you want to optimize your surround sound, you may want to consider a pair of speaker stands.
 
For your seating arrangements, you may want to consider theater seating. These modular units take the movie watching to a whole new level of luxury. Our theater seating sets feature banks of recliners with built in cup holders in the arm rests. Many of them are upholstered with ultra soft top grain leather to further add to their elegant design. The expandability options and luxurious appearance of theater seating makes it the optimal choice for your media room.
 
 
Entertainment Centers
 
An entertainment center is best suited for larger rooms of the space requirements. Entertainment centers have several different storage compartments for components, movies, and even for displaying collectibles. Because of the limited space within the TV area, it is very important to know your TV measurements before purchasing an Entertainment Center (see section above for more details on determining TV size) In addition to the standard Entertainment Center, there are several different specialized styles that you might enjoy. 

Wall Units
 
A wall unit is the ultimate all encompassing entertainment center for your media room They have the most storage capabilities and are best suited for TVs with the biggest screens. Defining features of a wall unit include a TV console, two audio piers, and a connecting bridge that may have lights. The sky is the limit when it comes to storage and displaying collectibles with these luxurious entertainment centers. The best part of an entertainment wall unit is the beauty of the piece. Many wall units feature ornate carvings, patterned veneers, and decorative moulding. They also range in style from contemporary to classic.

TV Armoires
 
A TV Armoire is a specialized cabinet designed specifically to accommodate medium to small sized TV sets. They offer cable management, and often have drawers and cabinets for additional storage. A TV armoire looks great in a bedroom, living room, den, exercise room, or hobby room. When buying a TV armoire, the internal dimensions MUST be taken into account (see section above for more details about TV sizing)

Flat Panel and Big Screen Entertainment Centers
 
With TV sizes becoming bigger and wider, it is important to get an entertainment center that fits these unique sizes. A flat panel entertainment center accommodates wider TVs and some units also eliminate the center console completely to accommodate free standing big screen units. They also offer ample storage capabilities.

Contemporary Entertainment Centers
 
The contemporary look is the latest trend in entertainment furniture today. A contemporary entertainment center is often accented with metal trim, clean lines, glass or metal shelves, and metal drawer pulls. They are very versatile and can blend in easily with existing decors

Wood Entertainment Centers
 
Nothing beats the look of wood styling, and what better way to reflect that than with a wood entertainment center. You can choose from many different wood styles from contemporary to traditional and finishes like cherry, maple, mahogany, espresso and beech. If you are looking to be economical, pick one made from composite wood. If you want an entertainment center that will last a lifetime, then one made from hardwoods is the right one for you.

TV Stands
 
A TV stand is a small specialized table specifically designed to accommodate TV sets. They are smaller and better suited for small to medium sized rooms A TV stand can be expanded with other items like speaker stands and audio racks, allowing them to grow with your needs.  

Corner TV Stands
 
A corner TV stand is unique because of its triangle shape. They are designed to fit in corners and perfect small to medium sized rooms. Many of these TV stands have cable management in the back for easy wire access. They also have space for medium to small sized TV sets.  Some stands also have a wide set base to accommodate large TVs and flat screen TVs.   

Plasma and Flat Panel TV Stands
 
A flat screen TV stand features either a wide set base or a special panel for mounting a flat screen TV. They are typically crafted from metal, glass, or wood. Many flat screen TV stands also feature cable management, adjustable shelves, and cabinets or drawers for storage.

Wood TV Stands
 
Wood TV stands have versatile styling that can work in contemporary or classic settings. They come in a large range of finishes that include oak, black, cherry, maple, or espresso. Some TV stands also feature design elements like carvings, decorative moulding, and ornate drawer and door pulls.

Multimedia Storage
 
Now that you have a space for your TV, you need a space for your movie and music collection too. We have storage cabinets to suit the biggest and smallest media collections. Many of these storage racks can be expanded as your collection grows. We also have spinning towers, cabinets, mountable racks, and multimedia cabinets that double as a TV stand.

Speaker Stands
 
To bring your surround sound to new heights you need a set of speaker stands. Our collection of stands can accommodate speakers from mini systems and large hi-fi speakers as well. Some speaker stands even have built in shelves for additional storage.

Audio Racks and Stands
 
If the storage on your TV stand or Entertainment center isn't enough, then you can easily expand it with an audio rack or stand. Choose from several different styles and finishes to match your existing furniture. If you are looking to protect your equipment, we have many audio cabinets with glass doors. Several of our audio racks also feature removable/adjustable shelves and cable management in the back for easy wire access. These items are ideal for audio receivers, video players, game consoles, and even collectibles!

Flat Panel Wall Mounts
 
If you have a flat screen TV but don't have the room for an entertainment center or TV stand, then a flat panel mount is right for you. Our flat panel wall mounts are designed for smaller lighter flat screen TVs, and even feature built in CD storage and video accessories

Theater Seating
 
Theater seating is composed of three to five recliners connected together in a row. Several of our theater seating units feature leather upholstery, reclining seats, built in arm rests, and built in storage in the sides. Our theater seating units also have modular designs, allowing them to expand with your media room.

Children's Entertainment Centers
 
Choose from several kid friendly designs for your child's bedroom or video room. Many of our entertainment centers feature built in storage for video players and game consoles. They also come in many different colors and finishes to make your child happy.

Children's TV Stands
 
Our kid friendly TV stands come in many different colors that your kids will love. They feature many different storage options perfect for your kids and their expanding video collection.

Children's Entertainment Seating
 
Even your kids need a place to sit while they watch their favorite cartoons. Now you choose from several different kid sized chairs. Your kids will love the chairs with built in speakers for their games and music players. We also have colorful bean bag chairs, folding foam chairs, and kid sized ottomans with built in storage.



Related Categories
Entertainment Centers
  Flat Panel
  HDTV
  Plasma
  Contemporary
  Corner
  Wall Units
  Wood

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