Entertainment Furniture Buying Guide
Dim the lights and open the curtains. It's time to view the cast of hundreds called entertainment furniture. Before the players take the stage, let's be sure we're ready for this special showing. Here's a pre-show checklist:
- Do you have enough space in a room for the entertainment furniture you want?
- If the entertainment furniture is for a TV, will the TV fit in it?
- Is there additional entertainment-related furniture or components that could complement the room and make it more multimedia friendly?
- Is there a particular style that you're looking for in a furniture item, such as:
- Traditional – Classic lines, decorative carvings and mouldings, rich finishes, more formal furnishing
- Contemporary - Modern look with neutrals to black to bold colors, more casual look; curved metal styles or clean lines in wood styles with warm finishes
- Country - Bead board panels, rustic styles with rough-hewn woods, distressed
- finish, simple hardware
- Country Cottage –Typically louvered panels, clean white finish, wooden drawer and door knobs
- Mission – Straight-line design, slatted wood features, no decorative or carved elements, warm wood finishes
- Transitional – Designs that blend influences from various category styles, usually a blend of traditional rich finishes and contemporary clean lines.
Ready now? Then let the show begin. Here are the stars featured and the roles they play in providing all you need for the best in home entertainment furniture:
Entertainment Centers
The starring role in a family room or media room goes to entertainment centers – large, medium and small size TV cabinets, TV armoires, TV stands and other multimedia products for the home. Many larger models feature drawers and shelves for multimedia components and accessories as well as an opening for a big screen TV. But which one is right for your room? Consider these choices:
Wall Units
If you own a big-screen TV, need lots of storage and have a large room, entertainment wall units are ideal. They have the most storage capabilities and are best suited for TVs with the biggest screens. Most entertainment wall units feature:
- TV console
- Storage for audio components
- Audio piers
- Connecting bridge, some with lights
- Abundance of storage and display area
- Accents such as ornate carvings, patterned veneers and decorative molding
- Traditional and contemporary styles
- Variety of finishes
Many wall unit items can be purchased separately.
Contemporary Entertainment Centers
If your family or media room has a modern decor, contemporary entertainment centers will blend in nicely. Smaller than wall units, most hold a TV up to 37 inches, though some hold larger sizes, and have storage for audio components. Available in both wood and metal consoles and stands, they have plenty of storage for multimedia items.
Wood Entertainment Centers
If you need a wood wall unit, armoire or console for a TV, with some storage for multimedia accessories, wood entertainment centers will fill the bill. Styles range from contemporary to traditional, and the entertainment centers have beautiful finishes, including cherry, maple, mahogany, espresso and beech. Wood entertainment centers can accommodate almost any size TV and additional multimedia components. With any entertainment center, always measure carefully both for placement in a room and placement of a TV inside the entertainment center.
TV Armoires
If you're looking for an attractive entertainment cabinet that has multiple functions, TV armoires are ideal. These cabinets are designed specifically to hold a small to medium-size TV and other multimedia components. Many TV armoires can be used as a clothing wardrobe, too. TV armoires feature doors that conceal the TV until you're ready to turn it on. They come in a variety of finishes, with plenty of storage space, and are available in several styles. Be sure that the internal dimensions of the TV armoire will accommodate the size of your TV and provide adequate ventilation.
TV Stands
Need something as basic as a TV stand? You'll have a plenty of choices. Although TV stands are small, most have storage for multimedia components and accessories. Before you choose, consider the room in which you want a TV stand:
- Is a corner of a room the best place for it?
- Is there a stand best suited for the type of TV you own?
- Is there a design or style that would complement the room it's in?
Then consider these possibilities:
CORNER TV STANDS are ideal for small-to-medium size rooms and provide needed support for medium-to-small size TVs. Most are designed to fit in corners or small areas of a room. They can feature:
- Wood and metal styles
- Storage areas for multimedia components
- Display shelves
PLASMA AND FLAT PANEL TV STANDS are perfect companions for plasma and flat panel TVs. They have a wide-set, short base; some have a special mount to attach a flat screen TV. They’re available in traditional, classic and contemporary styles. Their supporting
features can include:
- Metal, glass or wood construction
- Cable wire management
- Adjustable shelves
- Cabinets or drawers for storage
- Built-in CD and video accessories storage
Some have brackets that mount on the wall to hold a flat screen TV. WOOD TV STANDS offer the crafted beauty of wood. These low cabinets and stands range in styles from contemporary to traditional and come in a wide range of beautiful wood finishes. Some also feature design elements such as carvings, decorative moulding, and ornate drawer and door pulls. Most have some storage for multimedia components. Whether a room is traditional or contemporary in style,or something in between, a wood TV stand can match the mood of the room.
Multimedia Storage
There's a behind-the-scenes aspect to entertainment. Storing movie and music selections isn't glamorous, but it's crucial for preserving your entertainment choices. Multimedia storage options come in wood, metal or a combination of the two andcan feature:
- Spinning towers
- Cabinets
- Wall-mountable racks
- Multimedia cabinets that are also TV stands
- Stackable units
Offering a variety of styles - traditional, contemporary, country, mission - and a variety of finishes, multimedia storage units will do their part without upstaging the stars.
Speaker Stands
You choose the best in sound, and we'll provide the best in speaker stands. With attractive finishes and contemporary designs, speaker stands can accommodate speakers from mini systems to large hi-fi speakers. Speaker stands offer such features as:
- Fully adjustable stands
- Built-in multimedia storage shelves
- Weighted steel bases
- Channels to conceal cables
With a pair of speaker stands, you'll get the maximum in sound enhancement and raise the entertainment level of your room to new heights.
Audio Racks and Audio Stands
These attractive audio racks and audio stands can hold audio receivers, video players, game consoles, even collectibles. They come in wood, metal and a combination of the two. Check out the variety of sizes, finishes and styles. Features can include:
- Glass doors
- Removable/adjustable shelves
- Cable management in back for wire access
Don't be surprised if the audio rack or audio stand you choose gets as much attention as the audio or video component that sits on it.
Theater Seating
Who doesn't need great theater seating for watching television? With choices of 3 to 5 adjoining seats, you'll be front and center for the show. These seats can feature:
- Leather upholstery
- Reclining seats
- Built-in arm rests
- Built-in storage in the sides
Many have modular designs that allow for a flexible arrangement of seats in a room. So, grab your popcorn and a soft drink, lean back in your comfy theater seating and enjoy the show!
Children's Entertainment Furniture
Videos, games and television shows are part of most children's lives. And having a place just for them to enjoy entertainment is what you'll want to carefully choose. And the choices in children’s entertainment are many:
CHILDREN ENTERTAINMENT CENTERS feature kid-friendly designs, including cabinets with built-in storage for TVs, video players and game consoles. They also come in an array of colors and finishes to brighten your child's room. These entertainment centers feature:
- Traditional, classic, contemporary and country styles
- Cable channels for managing wires
- Drawers and cabinets for storage
- Built-in shelves for game consoles and video players
CHILDREN'S TV STANDS are shorter cabinets, consoles and carts for TVs and video collections. Let your child help choose from among the many
colors and styles. Many carts and consoles
feature:
- Built-in storage for games and movies
- Cubbies for video components
- Wire management in the back of a stand
- Adjustable legs to compensate for uneven floors
CHILDREN'S ENTERTAINMENT SEATING offers exactly what any youngster or teen could dream of - if they had to design a perfect place to sit.
- Want to watch football? Relax in a football-shaped vinyl bean bag chair.
- How about some sweet thoughts while watching cartoons? A "jelli bean" lounger made of shiny vinyl and available in 7 colors is just the thing for a small tot.
- How about this teen favorite: a video rocker with built-in vibration motors and speakers for an interactive gaming experience?
Choices in
sizes, shapes and
colors of seats are as numerous as toys in a toy box.
- Colorful bean bag chairs
- Folding foam chairs and sleepers
- Kid-size ottomans with built-in storage
If you can imagine it as a fun seat on which to watch movies or play video games, then it's probably a reality ready for your child to enjoy.
Entertainment Accessories
Now that it’s time to kick back and enjoy the show, don’t forget that your entertainment room needs more than a TV and other media components. Creating just the right ambiance requires some important entertainment accessories:
RECLINERS provide that oh-so-comfortable seat for the media event. Most styles have sturdy metal frames, and some have push-button reclining action. Many recliners coordinate with theater seating sets, sold separately.
LOUNGE CHAIRS are ideal for relaxing and chilling out. Choices in lounge chair colors and styles range from funky to fashionable. From black to rainbow colors, chaise lounges to cell phone stash chairs, these lounge chairs are comfortable and functional. Lounge chairs will be a laid-back favorite in any room.
ENTERTAINMENT LIGHTING needs to be stylish and functional, and that’s exactly what these models are. From 6-feet high incandescent torchieres to a portable boom box lamp with 2 speakers and a cradle for an iPod, entertainment lighting will match what your room has to offer.
ENTERTAINMENT ROOM RUGS add warmth, color and style to your room. And these area rugs come in a vast array of sizes, colors and designs. With the often high-tech look of an entertainment room, these economical entertainment room rugs are ideal for adding beauty and a softer feel to an area. Protect your rug and floors with a rug pad, sold separately.
ENTERTAINMENT ROOM PLANTS bring the sense of the outdoors into your home. The beauty is, these plants don’t require watering or special care! But they look real enough to plant outdoors. Many plants are custom-made and cannot be returned.
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If you've reviewed the choices in entertainment furniture and entertainment accessories and have read the credits for each item, then you're ready to make your picks and start the show. So, let the entertainment begin!
