TV & Media Storage

Since flat-panel models became the standard, TVs aren’t the decorator’s nightmare they once were; the slim new sets are much easier to hide or to integrate with a room’s décor than their bulky predecessors. At the same time, most people’s tastes have changed, and showing off your hi-fi equipment isn’t as cool as it was a few decades ago. So storing electronics can be a tricky one, especially when you’re also dealing with multichannel sound systems and gaming equipment. The other problem is finding easy-access storage for hundreds of CDs and DVDs (and LPs, if you’re still a hi-fi maven).

One elegant solution is to load everything into an all-in-one media console, the contemporary version of an entertainment center. Many consoles have divided-lite glass doors to put a decorative face over all those black boxes. Units with ample drawer space are best for storing CD and DVD cases. Another option is to mount the TV (assuming it’s flat-panel) on the wall above a media console or sideboard that looks like a conventional furniture piece but has plenty of shelves for electronics. Units with solid doors keep the equipment out of view when you’re not using it. You can fill the top of the console with books or decorative pieces to help blend the TV into the composition.

If you’re looking for a home for an older tube TV, there are media stand units available with large top surfaces and storage shelving in a cabinet space below. However, before you spend a lot on a new specialty furniture unit, you should consider upgrading to a flat-panel TV, which gives you many more options for attractive storage. Keep in mind that electronics become obsolete (or simply stop working) in a matter of years, while a nice piece of furniture can last forever.