If you’re a movie lover or a sports super fan—or if you’re both—you’ve probably dreamed of having an entertainment center at home. We want to help you create your own.
This post will talk about common concerns people have when it comes to choosing the right furniture, from the right TV stand and alternative furniture to consider, getting the seating just right, and how you can add a personal touch that makes it all your own.
We will teach you what to do to bring together the elements of your entertainment center.
How To Choose The Right TV Stand?
Let’s tackle the most important piece of furniture in your entertainment center: The TV stand. The television is the focal point of this room, and many come with short bases that leave the screen just above the ground.
This is why choosing the right TV stand is important, especially if the layout of the room doesn’t allow for the TV to go up on the wall.
So, how do you pick the right one?
Start with the length of the stand. As a general rule, the TV stand should be at least as wide as the television. This prevents anyone from bumping against the edges of the screen which may damage it, or worse, cause it to fall on the floor.
Naturally, a larger television will require a larger stand so take that into account and find exactly how much floor space you’re working with when setting up your entertainment room.
You also have to check the weight capacity of the unit to make sure it can support the weight of the television. A standard 55-inch TV weighs about 36.4 pounds (16.51 kilograms), and measures 48 inches in length.
Darius TV Stand 
Greatlin Faux Fireplace
A television that size should have a stand that measures at least 48 inches in length. Something like the Darius White Medium TV Stand or the Greatlin Electric Fireplace w/Speakers would do.
Choosing a TV Stand That’s Wider Than Your TV.
If you’ve got your heart set on a TV stand that’s too big for your television, there are ways to take advantage of the space if you see it as an opportunity to get creative.
A large stand like the Contour II has extra surface area for large speakers for your stereo or surround sound system. You could also place the TV on one end of the stand, and decorate the other with family pictures, vases, or cool objects from a local store.
It even gives you room to set up your game console next to the television, leaving more storage space available for video games and movies on the bottom shelves.
Though it’s not considered traditional, using the TV stand this way opens up a wide range of possibilities in terms of decorations and arranging entertainment devices. Give it a try if you’ve got the space. You may be pleasantly surprised.
How High Should My TV Stand Be?
The simple answer is: it depends. A rule of thumb is that the center of the television should meet your eye level. Most modern flat-screen televisions come with a short base that does little more than keep it off the floor while you unpack, so the TV stand will do most of the work in getting the screen to the appropriate height. But unless you plan to stand up while you binge your favorite shows, you must factor in the height of your couch or recliner.
If you can’t get the center of the television to the right height, see if you can set up so that it’s higher than your eyes. Lowering the center of the television is not a good idea. It could cause you to crane your neck downwards as if you were looking at your phone. And you don’t need any more of that.
If you have a smaller television, a taller stand, like the Uribia Electric Fireplace or the Tivo Gray TV Stand, will do the trick.
The time it takes to measure these things before you start buying will save you the hassle of returning the items. Measure twice, travel once.
Storage in Your TV Stand.
Like with the height and length of the stand, storage options vary depending on your collection of electronic devices. You’re going to need a lot of storage space if you have a Blu Ray player, streaming devices, cable box, gaming console, games, and movies. We recommend spacious TV stands like the Madrid TV Stand, the Ferretti TV Stand, or the Valery TV Stand. All of these offer ample space for entertainment devices and their peripherals.
What Can I Use Other Than A TV Stand?
TV stands are made specifically to hold the size and weight of a range of televisions, but that doesn’t mean they’re the only pieces of furniture that are up to the task.
If storage is a must, then you could use a sideboard, or “buffet” instead. Sideboards have lots of shelves and compartments to show off or hide your media devices and movie collection. Sideboards are typically sturdy, so they should bear the weight of a television without issue.
If storage is a must, then you could use a sideboard, or “buffet” instead. Sideboards have lots of shelves and compartments to show off or hide your media devices and movie collection. Sideboards are typically sturdy, so they should bear the weight of a television without issue.
The same guidelines apply to consoles and sideboards. Make sure that whatever you choose as a TV stand is at least as wide as the television.
Choosing The Right Sofa.
Call us crazy, but we think you’ll get more enjoyment out of your entertainment center if you lay out on a great sofa.
Like all other parts of your entertainment center, what you choose will depend on the available space. A small house or apartment needs something compact like the Raleigh Gray Leather Power Reclining Sofa w/ Console or the Anabel Leather Power Reclining Sofa.
But if you’ve got a big room to fill, look at couches like the Austin Black Home Theater Leather Seating and the Stallion Brown Home Theater Leather Seating. Your whole family will be able to enjoy movies and sports together on one of these.
Once you’ve got your couch, you have to place it at the correct distance, which is anywhere between 1.5 to 2.5 times the size of your television. A 55-inch television should be anywhere between 7 to 11.5 feet away from your sofa.
But getting the right one is paramount. You’ll be sitting on this one for a long time, and not all couches are the same. We recommend that you have all the measurements ready if you want to get the height of every single piece to be just right for you.
If you like these ideas and saw something you liked in the article, you’re welcome to visit our online store, or come see them in person at a showroom near you! We’ve got showrooms across Miami-Dade County. We also have locations in Lee, Palm Beach, Broward, Pinellas, and Collier counties! Show off your awesome new entertainment center and tag us on Instagram @eldoradofl. Use the hashtag #myedfhome and your photos may get featured on our account!