TV Stands as Furniture

More than ever before, TVs are design statements. Sure you could show it off by mounting the TV to the wall and displaying it like a piece of art. But why not take the design statement one step further and mate your new prize with a unique TV stand that serves to elevate the entire room’s aesthetic appeal?

Gone are the days of utilitarian steel racks and boring black particleboard. Today’s A/V furniture designers really do offer something for every taste and décor.

As you begin the quest for your room’s perfect accent piece, it’s important to remember that when it comes to equipment racks, style isn’t everything. You want to consider certain functional elements that help suit the TV stand to your particular A/V system.

In the world of A/V furniture, size and strength matter. Make sure the top shelf can support the TV you own or hope to own in the near future. Rack manufacturers will often list a maximum screen size and/or weight limit for any given stand.

If you own a rear pro or CRT, you’ll also want to pay special attention to the stand’s depth to make sure it isn’t designed specifically for a flat panel.

Make sure the stand has enough shelves to accommodate both your existing A/V components and any planned additions, like a Blu-ray player or gaming console. Are the shelves tall, deep and strong enough to support your A/V receiver or amplifier(s)?

Adjustable shelves will certainly make it easier to modify the stand to your needed specs.

And don’t forget about your center-channel speaker.

Many TV stands offer a special compartment for the center speaker that’s either open or covered with grille cloth. Make sure your particular speaker will fit in the space provided.

The more contemporary and open a rack design is, the more important it becomes to have a cable-management system that helps minimize the appearance of unsightly A/V wires.

Conversely, the more contained the unit, the greater the chance of excessive heat buildup, particularly if your system uses multiple amplifiers. Look for models that are at least ventilated or at best contain some type of advanced cooling system.

If you select a model that lets you hide your A/V components behind closed doors, look for IR-friendly glass doors or be prepared to invest in an IR-repeating unit or RF remote that allows you to control your gear with the doors closed.

Finally, for the enthusiastic theaterphile, whose system is always in a state of flux (you know who you are), we encourage you to consider a modular system that lets you mix and match pieces; the ability to expand as needed will give your equipment rack (and perhaps your marriage) greater longevity.

Options abound in the world of high-style A/V furniture. Up next is a look at some of our favorite designs.

On to the usual (and not-so-usual) suspects...