If you're in the market to buy TV stands and you want to get one that's appropriate for both your TV and your home, then you need to form a plan. This buying guide will help you narrow down your choices, find a TV stand that you'll love, and choose a place to buy it. Learn everything you need to know about buying TV stands right here.
Know What You Need: TV Stand or Entertainment Center
Glass Shelving Brackets
Before you even start looking for TV stands, you need to decide what kind of stand you are looking for. This will depend largely on the size of your TV and the size of the room where the TV is located. The two most common types of stands are the basic TV stand and the entertainment center. However, you may also choose not to get a stand at all and mount your television instead.
TV Stands
To decide what kind of television stand is right for you, you need to know what each piece of furniture really is. TV stands are usually smaller pieces of furniture that the television stands on top of. While it can be simply a stand with no storage, there is usually some sort of shelving or drawers beneath the television that can be used for cable boxes, DVD players, or media storage. TV stands take up less space than entertainment centers and make the television itself the focal point of the room. Though they are smaller than entertainment centers, TV stands are not only for small televisions. You can find stands that are especially made for plasma, flat screen, and big screen televisions as well.
Entertainment Centers
When you choose an entertainment center, you're choosing a piece of furniture that will be the focal point of your room, rather than just the TV. An entertainment center has a variety of shelving and storage space options that surround the television, and a large central space that the television fits inside. Some entertainment centers even have doors that can be used to hide the TV when it's not being used. As a result, when you buy an entertainment center, you want to purchase one that will look good in your home, match your home's décor, and that has the right proportions for your room. An entertainment center is a great option if you have a lot of other media equipment that you need to store, such as game consoles, video games, DVDs, and any other media accessories.
TV Mounts and Storage
If you are more of a minimalist and don't want a large piece of furniture for your television, then a TV mount may be just what you need. TV mounts allow you to attach your television right to the wall, so you don't have to use a stand at all. It is important when purchasing a mount to buy one that is appropriate for the size of your television. You don't want it to break and have your TV come crashing down. If you still need some storage for your media equipment, many stores also sell furniture that is specifically for storage.
Know What Fits: Style and Size
Once you've decided between a TV stand and an entertainment center, you still have a few things to consider.
What's Your Style?
TV stands come in all shapes and sizes, so to help you narrow down your options, you need to think about the look you want from your stand. Is the rest of your house contemporary? Then you might want to look for stands made out of glass or metal and that provide that modern, streamlined style. If you prefer a cozier atmosphere, check out entertainment centers made of wood in rich, warm colors. Take a look around your house to get a sense of what will match the rest of your décor. Thinking about style will help you find a TV stand that fits right in.
Don't Forget to Measure
It's absolutely necessary that you measure both your television and your room. A TV stand may look like it is the right size in a picture or even in a showroom, but until you bring it into your home, you won't really know if it's proportionate to the room. The only way to be sure that it's the right size is to pull out the measuring tape and measure.
TV Placement
You also need to know where in the room you will be placing the television before you look at possible stands. If the only place you can put your television is in the corner of your room, then you will want to start your search with corner TV stands. On the other hand, if you have an entire wall available for your television, then you can look at entertainment centers.
Decide Where to Buy TV Stands
Lastly, you need to decide where you're going to purchase your TV stand. Going online can be a great way to look for and purchase a stand or entertainment center. You can view a wide variety of stands, you can check measurements, and you can have it shipped directly to you.