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Published 16/06/2021

Your essential guide to setting up media furniture

Your essential guide to setting up media furniture in your home...

In recent years, personal electronics have undergone major transformations. Millions of viewers now binge-watch their favourite series on the latest TVs. Streaming services keep even the most avid TV watcher up-to-date, and digital technology has turned the tables on how we listen to music in the home.

But your media system is more than just a collection of electronic objects. It’s important that the furniture that houses your system is engineered to protect and present your investment for years to come. 

Whether you are an audiophile with a taste for vinyl records or a home cinema enthusiast enjoying high-quality surround sound, how do you determine which furniture is going to match the needs of your system and your style?  

Set the Stage

Gone are the days of heavy-duty racks that look like they would be more at home in your shed than in your living room. Your media furniture sets the stage for your home entertainment set up, and there are a wealth of wonderful designs to choose from. As the focal point of the living room, the furniture you choose should speak to your personal style.

Measure the space

Measure the width of your TV and consider the footprint of its base. To protect your screen, ensure that your console is at least as wide as your TV and that the base rests securely. Not only will the TV be in better visual balance, it is protected from unintentional bumps and accidents. The centre of your screen should be at eye level to minimise neck strain.

Take stock of your equipment

Determine the space that you need to store your system. Think of your electronics, including speakers, cable box, streaming devices, Blu-Ray, etc. Leave room for future add-ons and allow space for media storage. Smaller components can be stacked, while items that give off a lot of heat - like gaming consoles and amps - should be stored on their own.

Now that you have a sense for the style you are looking for and the storage space that you need, what else do you look for in a TV cabinet? Much more. Thoughtfully engineered furniture will make your system easy to set up, maintain, and adjust accordingly.

Features to Look For

At BDI, we have partnered with AV manufacturers and installation professionals to determine the features that meet the needs of even the most-demanding systems. We were first-to-market with a host of user-friendly features designed to protect your equipment while presenting it in style, and the first to introduce furniture specifically designed for soundbars.

Individual needs will vary, depending on your equipment. But whether you're creating a complete home theatre experience or simply looking to display your screen in style, here are some of the features to look out for when considering your selection.

Remote Access

Whether you decide to keep your components out on display or hidden discreetly behind doors, they need to remain remote control-accessible. Tinted glass, louvered and perforated doors allow remote signals to pass through unobstructed. If selecting solid doors, then adding an IR-repeater ensures that your remote is always in touch.

Ease of Movement

Whether you need to access your connections or are just doing the occasional cleaning, hidden wheels allow you to glide an entire system away from the wall for easy access to cables and connections. Integrated levellers enable you to lift a cabinet off of its wheels when it needs to be secured in place.

Cable Management

Electronic cables can have a mind of their own, resulting in messy entanglements and clutter. An integrated wire management system will keep all of your components well-connected but hidden away.

Speaker Storage

If you are concealing a centre channel speaker or a full-range soundbar, select furniture that has acoustic transparency. Speakers can be kept neatly out of sight, yet still provide a full range of sound.

Adjustability

Components come in all sizes. Adjustable compartments allow you to reposition your setup whenever needed as your needs change. Vibration control shelf pins keep vibration to a minimum and ensure components perform at peak levels.

Accessibility

Access to cables and connections is a must. Look for easy access to the rear of components via removable panels, providing convenient access whenever you need to change your setup.

Ventilation

Media furniture shouldn't only look cool, it needs to stay cool. Electronic components generate a lot of heat that has to escape somewhere, so go with furniture that has built-in ventilation to promote airflow.

Security

Secure your TV to prevent accidents, with a safety strap connected to your cabinet. This is particularly important in households with small children with curious hands. For added security, utilise a TV mount to secure your screen in place.

Quality home cinema furniture can offer you a lifetime of enjoyment and the same is true for media cabinets as it is with everything else: you get what you pay for.