20 TV Stand Ideas for Every Decorating Style

Living room with dark backdrop — Photo:
Tria Giovan

Many of us depend on our televisions for news, sports, entertainment, education, and culture, but those TVs are a challenge to design around. If your big, bulky screen doesn't fit your decorating scheme, the right TV stand or mounting setup could make all the difference.

Whether you want to make your television a focal point of the den or blend it seamlessly into the background of a formal living room, styling a television can be a breeze. Our collection of TV stand ideas will help you create a cozy media room that suits both your lifestyle and design tastes from modern to traditional (and everything in between).

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Try a Floating TV Installation

TVs often add heaviness to a space, but this one feels weightless, thanks to its mounted install—which is mirrored by the floating cabinet below. The modern lines of the cabinet mimic the rigid lines and angles of the TV. Meanwhile, the cabinet's natural wood complements the old-world style of some nearby velvet footstools. This blending of modern and traditional styles helps make the television look more at home with other elements.

02 of 20

Move the Eye Away from the TV

If you have a large, blank wall, add a long line of built-in cabinets to ground your TV and draw the eye left and right. As a bonus, this setup works with almost any size television. Stand a smaller TV on the cabinets and use the wall space for art, or mount a large television on the wall.

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Find a Secondhand TV Stand

Colorful living room decor — Brie Williams

To find the right TV stand, don't be afraid to get creative—especially if your style is eclectic or maximalist. Don't just search for 'tv stand' when shopping online. Include terms like sideboard, console, and cabinet to see a variety of furniture types that could work in your space. When searching, it's also smart to include terms specific to your interior style, such as midcentury or French country, to find vintage options that will suit your style.

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Paint a Dark Backdrop

Paint your TV stand and the wall behind your TV a dark color to blend the television seamlessly into the space. In fact, painting the entire room a dark color will not only create a cozy, moody space but will also reduce the glare on the television, making it easier to see.

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Repurpose a Dresser or Chest

Repurposed dressed in living room — Marty Baldwin

Repurposing a dresser is an easy way to get a stylish TV stand—and more storage. It’s also a budget-friendly route, as there are plenty of second-hand options available. This simple dresser with bead details suits the transitional style of this room, but the hardware and color could easily be changed to fit a different aesthetic.

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Hang Your TV on a Gallery Wall

a modern living room with a TV situated among a photo wall. — Dylan Chandler

Hang your TV as part of a gallery wall to reduce attention on it. Be sure there are art pieces of a similar scale on the wall, so that the TV isn’t the biggest item. Here, two simple floating shelves create space for the television as well as plenty of art prints in matching frames.

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Tuck Your TV Away

Enclose your TV in a cabinet (even in an armoire) to keep it out of sight and out of mind when not in use. Here, decorative midcentury panels on built-in cabinets slide closed to disguise the television when it’s not in use.

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Consider the Right Width

Farmhouse style living room — Brian McWeeney

This antique pine cabinet fits perfectly in this room, which is full of other antiques and natural wood. It’s also a good illustration of proportion: Despite being a similar width to the TV, there are a few inches on either side, allowing the TV to rest easily on top without looking too big. The petite TV and smaller-scale stand allow for the gorgeous natural wood fireplace to be the star of the room.

09 of 20

Style with Antiques

Antique TV stand decor — James Nathan Schroder

If you love traditional style and antiques, a shiny, modern TV might feel like a glaring contrast. So, this TV stand idea relies on balance to help the TV blend. Here, large-scale vintage items diminish the impact of the TV and make sure it's not the center of attention.

10 of 20

Install Floating Shelves

Home office with open shelving — Marty Baldwin

Place your TV among open shelves to take the focus off the blank screen. Adjustable shelves like these are affordable and make it easy to change things around if you get a different-sized TV (or want a different arrangement). If your wall space is limited, make the most of it by placing your TV above your desk or workspace.

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Build a TV Built-In

Built-in entertainment center — Kim Cornelison

Build a home for your TV with custom or modular built-in shelves. This TV stand idea not only makes your TV placement look intentional, it also creates a visually engaging backdrop that’s not just about the TV. Use the shelving as an opportunity to show off objects you find beautiful or things you like to have close at hand. Amid the eye-catching items, the TV becomes almost an afterthought.

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Use a Modern Media Cabinet

Media cabinets are built to house multiple electronics, cords and all, making this a smart option if you use many types of media or have a collection of DVDs, VHS tapes, or records. The style shown here includes sliding doors that hide the TV for an upscale look, but can be opened while the television is in use.

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Solve the Too-Short Console Conundrum

If you have a piece that is the correct width for your TV but not tall enough, mount the TV above it. Then, create added height by topping the console with books, plants, or sculptures. By merging the gap between the console and the television, you can create the illusion of a single, unified piece.

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Add a Custom TV Frame

Living room with rattan furniture — Adam Albright

The custom frame built around this TV makes it feel like an intentional addition to the room. Plus, it hides any cords or other hardware for a cleaner look. The only downside? Since the frame is customized to your TV, you don't have much flexibility when upgrading or replacing your television. But luckily, if you need to create a new frame, the DIY project can easily be tackled in a single weekend.

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Create Layers with a Bookshelf TV Stand

TV mounted in front of bookshelf in living room — David A Land

Mounting your TV in front of a bookshelf creates a dynamic, layered look. Thanks to the deep blue of these shelves, the television blends in quite well and becomes just another source of media and entertainment in a room bursting with things to do and see.

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Measure for a TV in Built-Ins

To make your TV 'fit in' among built-in shelves, you’ll need to consider it’s position and size. Aim for equal space above and on either side of the TV, and slightly more space below. The extra space on the bottom keeps your TV from looking like it’s sinking or hanging too low.

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Choose the Right Size

The height of your TV stand should correlate to the size of your TV. So, check the guidelines for your TV size to learn the correct height. For example, since this television is smaller, it’s hung higher, and thus, a tall sideboard below it makes sense. To keep the television from dominating the space, make sure the width of your TV stand is always several inches wider than your TV on both sides.

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Consider Your Storage Needs

A TV stand serves a purpose, but it's also an important storage opportunity. Consider the proportions to the television, but also keep in mind what type of storage would be most useful in your TV room.

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Bring in Some Barn Doors

Large barn doors easily obscure this TV when it isn’t in use. You can create this effect by using an existing closet or by cutting into your drywall and framing to build a custom nook.

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Stash Electronics in a Small Media Cabinet

Living room media cabinet — Jean Allsopp

This media cabinet is small enough to hold electronics and media without taking over the space. The white Shaker doors on a white wall also help it blend in. Art hangs around the TV in a symmetrical arrangement creating an overall look that’s fresh but traditional.

When it comes to TV stand ideas, there are three key points to keep in mind: size, strength, and function. Look for a stand that is at least 2 to 3 inches wider than your television on either side and deep enough to accommodate the TV and all its components. If your television will sit on the TV stand, make sure the piece is sturdy enough to handle the job. Once you have the proper measurements, shop around. Look for something unique that suits your style and fits your needs. With a little ingenuity, almost anything can be a practical TV stand as long as it's functional, sturdy, and strong.

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