The Best Item of Furniture to Put Under a Wall Mounted TV
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Get tips on how to use the space under a wall-mounted TV and the best furniture items to place under it.
Goodbye TV stands. Wall mounted modern TV’s have become the norm in both small spaces and large living areas and are turning into works of art in our homes, but there is one problem. Where do you store and hide all the necessary components and wires in an accessible, but decorative way?
After experimenting with a few different pieces of furniture from a media console and gaming consoles to use under the wall mounted TV in my living room, I decided that I didn’t want a piece of media furniture.
These looked too modern for my interior design style.
Furniture to Use Under a Wall Mounted TV
Furniture to Use Under a Wall Mounted TVI didn’t need wall decor in the way of trying to create a gallery wall or frame the TV between bookcases. I wanted more of a minimalist look for this home entertainment area.
What Is the Best Piece of Furniture to Use Under a Wall Mounted TV?
After doing some research and online shopping, I found the perfect piece that went with the overall design of the room. It is a 4 door – 2 drawer buffet from Hygge Home.
I liked that it has both doors and drawers. I knew it could easily be made into a place to hold and hide the TV components and wires with one simple tweak.
A sideboard with doors can serve as a cable management solution that also hides the media equipment, but keeps it easy to access and use.
Plus there is just enough room to decorate the top with a few short decorative items.
When choosing a piece of furniture to place under a big tv on a wall make sure it allows for plenty of storage space.
Thrift store baskets that I collect helped me to stylishly organize the contents of the two drawers
How to Drill a Hole in Furniture Under a Wall Mounted TV for Cords
When we hung the TV on the wall, we also used a TV cord hiding kit that goes in the wall to hide the cords. That is why you don’t see any wires hanging down from the TV.
You can find out how we did that, in this post:
To have a place for the cords to go that come out at the bottom of the wall behind the sideboard, we needed to make a hole in the back of the sideboard. This may sound scary or hard, but it is very easy to do.
In fact, it’s similar to the process we used to drill a hole in the drywall. And the good news is don’t need the pvc pipe which is mandatory in the wall installation.
supplies needed:
- Power Screwdriver
- Hole Saw Drill Bit
- 100 grit sandpaper
- Optional: Plastic Hole Cover
- Measure the length of your cords and the height of the TV to ensure that the hole is positioned so that the cords will reach the TV.
2. Attach the hole saw drill bit to the drill.
3. Mark the spot with a pencil, then drill the hole. The hole can be drilled in seconds depending on how thick the wood is on the furniture. Sand the rough edges of the cut hole smooth with sandpaper.
Hole saws come in many diameters. We used a 2-1/2″ diameter saw.
If you would like the back of the furniture to look all nice and neat after you drill the hole, you can also buy a 2-1/2″ plastic cover grommet that will fit over the hole. Buy the same size hole saw and plastic cover.
Since no one will ever see this hole, we opted not to use a plastic cover/grommet, but did install cable organizers to keep everything neat
How to Hide the Cable Box Behind Closed Doors and Still Use a Remote
The buffet turned TV component cabinet for media devices has shelves to hold the DVR, dvd player, Wii, Internet router, game consoles, cable box and all the other things that connect to the TV via cords and wires that now go through the hole in the back of the buffet and up through the wall to the TV.
On the bottom center of the TV, (upper left in photo above) see the little round dot under the brand name?
That is a $16 infrared receiver which is connected to the cable box that is hidden in the buffet. It simply sticks to the front of the TV and the cord runs behind the TV and through the wall with all the other TV wires.
How to Install the Infrared Receiver to the TV
The infrared receiver has double stick tape on the back. You simply remove the backing and stick it to the front of the TV. On the other end of the cord, is the jack that goes to the cable box. For my TV, we put the cord through the wall with the other TV cords and then through the hole in the back of the cabinet to the cable box.
Once installed, it is simple plug and play. Unplug the power from the cable box then plug the IR receiver into the IR IN port. Plug in the power for the box. Then click on the remote in the direction of the TV where the attached receiver is to change the channel and turn the TV on and off.
There are many types of these receivers sold, make sure to read what TV’s they work with so you get the right one.
Here is a link to the IR receiver I used:
See more about this inexpensive little gadget in this post. It will able you to hide your cable box forever and keep the doors closed even when watching and changing the channels on the TV.
How to Decorate Furniture Under a Wall Mounted TV
After the sideboard was delivered, I searched for weeks for just the right decorative accessories to place along the top. I knew I wouldn’t be using lamps. They’re too tall and I’d also worry about glare.
Many were too tall, big, dinky or looked out of place. I finally found something just right when I brought this carved wood tray home. Moss balls I already had added the finishing touch.
A few faux green plants or houseplants in short planters fills the space without getting in the way when we swivel the flat screen TV back and forth between the living room and kitchen.
If you don’t have plants to create decor vignettes, a collection of smaller easel style photo frames would look nice.
I use Google Chromecast to help decorate my living room. It is my version of a Samsung Smart TV where you can choose a photo to look like artwork. I use the app to display pretty art on the screen to alleviate the look of a big black box effect on the wall.
What Furniture to Use for a TV Over a Fireplace
If you have a TV mounted over a fireplace and like the idea of using a sideboard or dresser to house the components or to create a TV center, see this post for an idea:
Diane this was so spot on for me. We’re remodeling a very small house and last week I nixed the fireplace because the TV would have to go above the fireplace so it was already too high for comfortable watching and difficult to style the mantel anyway. Now I’m thinking about this very thing–what to put under it and how to house the components for the TV. My problem is my video engineer husband is ADAMANT about airflow around the components. I’m hoping I can convince him if we cut larger holes in the back and maybe replace the front panels with screening, it’s enough airflow to protect his “darling” electronics. One question, do you need to open the doors to use things like the Wii (and for us old folks, the CD player)? Thanks for another great idea and execution!!
I, too, don’t like the tv high above the fireplace. It makes my neck hurt. So we found a mount that comes out and down for when we watch tv and then we swing it back up when we are done. I just love it.
Hi Mary – Creating larger holes in the back will do the trick for airflow. We did that for a TV cabinet in my previous house.
If you get an Infrared Receiver you can keep the doors closed. I wrote about it in my post. It is a little black plastic dot with a wire that connects to the front of the TV (sticks on) and the cable box. The Infrared Receiver is the best thing ever for keeping the cable boxes hidden and it only costs $16. It is super easy to install. Here is the link to it: Infrared Receiver
Incredibly lovely choice of furniture! You definitely have a way with interior design that strikes the right chord!
It’s perfect & I love the way you styled it!
Perfect timing! I’m looking for a furniture piece to put under my t.v. as well! Thanks so much for sharing.
Very nice, Diane. Love it!
I’m always confused with what to put under a TV. We can’t put ours on the wall so it sits up only about 4″ off the furniture. Put I have these same pieces and I think they just might work. Good idea. Looks great.
The buffet looks perfect in your home! I love that you’ve hidden the cords as well to get everything look neat and clean. You’ve styled the top beautifully. Thanks for linking to my dining room Diane!
Hi Jen –
Your dining room looks fabulous and I love how you decorated your buffet. I am sure it no longer has Christmas decorations on it, but I know you must have something equally as pretty on it now.
BEAUTIFUL!!! I’ve seen the post for hiding the cord but wanted to see it again. The link doesn’t work for me.
Hi Kim – Sorry about the link. I put the words in the link and not the code. Here is the link: https://inmyownstyle.com/hide-cords-wall-mounted-tv.html
You rocked it again. The whole thing looks beautiful. Love using Chrome for the rotating pictures on your TV. I didn’t know anything about that.
Wonderful piece! I’d call it multi-functional!! And hey, nice TV! It just gets better and better at Diane’s house!
Wow, so beautiful!! I’m also in love with the plant & plant holder, I think you styled everything just right! I would surely smile every day with this lovely sight.
Hi Diane: I would remove the faux plat and put it somewhere else–this buffet only needs the wood carved bowl with moss balls and the two candle holders…I would find somewhere else for the faux plant and the driftwood.
Too clutter under the tv–beautiful cabinet!
If the router connect a lot of tvs on two levels of your home, can you hide the router and get a few of those infrared receivers or is it just for one TV in same room
Hi Susanne –
One router is at the main TV for the whole house and can be hidden. It is not what turns the TV on/off or change the channel. The cable box does that. The infrared receiver does not work on the router, it only works on the cable boxes. Each TV has it’s own cable box and would need its own infrared receiver. Does that make sense?
Hi Susanne –
I have had the plant on and off over the last few weeks. Maybe it is winter and everything looks so drab outside, but I like seeing a touch of green by the door. It is making me happy. :-) Come spring and summer, I will probably move it to a side table. I really like the driftwood next to the wood bowl, I had only one piece there for a few weeks and will probably remove the darker one that is not the same color as the bowl. Being able to move things around is what makes decorating so much fun. Nothing ever has to stay the same.
The how to hide cords in the wall link above does not work.
Hi Susanne – Thanks for telling me. I just fixed it. Here is the link: https://inmyownstyle.com/hide-cords-wall-mounted-tv.html
absolutely beautiful
Very pretty cabinet in the perfect space. Styled beautifully. Well done Diane.
Looks wonderful and the perfect fit!!
Love your new cabinet looks great!! Always wondered how to hide the wires! Would love to win Karianne’s new book!!!!
I LOVE the buffet, Diane! It’s just perfect under your t.v., and the fact that it hold treasures is terrific. Well done!