Standard TV stands
This style is characterized by medium-to-low height units of solid cabinets or units standing on legs. The material is almost always wood or a combination of wood and processed wood. The TV is positioned on the stand-top.
Interestingly, some designs do not house the TV; instead, the TV is mounted on the wall above the TV console, while the cabinet acts as a storage and display unit with a mix of drawers, open shelves, and glass-door cabins.
Within the standard type of TV sets, the barn style is trending because of its rustic, countryside appeal. It has a hand-made aura that matches many contemporary interiors.
Standard TV stands are good for:
- Interiors that are light, open, and airy. Rooms with large windows or French windows, undivided spaces such as studio apartments,
- Homes that need storage and display space along with their TV stands
- Homes with small children and pets
Floating style
These TV consoles don't rest on the floor but are fixed on the wall about 6" to 9" (or more) above the floor.
Designs vary from a single long unit of three or more open shelves to more elaborate shelf-drawer-cabinet combinations with large storage and display capacities. Material is mainly wood.
Floating TV stands have sleek and contemporary designs and will match most of the modern style interiors.
Benefits:
- Cleaning convenience -- unlike the floor units, dust and impurities won't settle below them.
- More comfortable viewing angle -- The raised height helps to rest the TV closer to your eye-level.
Pier style
These are large designs often covering a big part of a wall. They are multi-purpose units, and supporting the TV set is just one of their tasks. As their name suggests, they give a feeling of a platform raised on a pier. Whatever the design, the TV is at the center, with tall cabinets rising on the sides. The base is a mix of closed drawers and cabinets, often with glass doors. The side cabinets can store books and display artifacts and decor items.
As in the floating design, the TV could be resting on the base cabinet's top or be wall-mounted.
Pier style TV stands are high-end furniture pieces, accompanied by complementing decors such as pedestal lampshades, figurines, large planters, lighting arrangements, home theater, and many more. Their main benefit is that they make complete entertainment and decor units. With a good TV stand with piers, you will not need any complementing decor or furniture items in the room.
Fireplace TV stands
TV entertainment goes hand-in-hand with the cozy warmth of a fireplace on winter evenings. These entertainment centers are designed to give you the best of both worlds!
Different designs in this category include:
- Enclosed fireplace -- this type has the fire covered, but you can watch the embers burn through the glass door.
- Mobile unit comes with heavy-duty wheels, but we would advise against them. They are simply not meant to be mobile -- would you ever think of a mobile fireplace in the first place?
- Colonial and ornate -- these are the heavy, carved wooden entertainment centers that add a touch of royalty and affluence to the room. Watch out, though -- do you have a truly matching setting for such an extravagant piece, or will it be an eyesore amid your other furniture and decor items?
Corner style
They fit snugly at the intersection of two walls. They have closed cabinets with or without glass doors at the base and open shelves on the sides.
The main benefit of corner style TV consoles is smart storage and space-saving since its body is divided across two walls.
The disadvantage, though, is that the sitting arrangement has to be diagonally arranged to face the TV. Check if this is possible before getting this type.
