How to Choose a TV Console: Size, Height and Storage

October 27, 2026

A low solid walnut TV console with drawers under a wall-mounted television, a record player on a wood stand beside it and plants in a cozy farmhouse living room

Quick answer: Choose a TV console at least a few inches wider than your television — ideally about 1.5 times its width — and low enough that the center of the screen sits near eye level when you're seated, usually 40 to 45 inches from the floor. Plan for drawers or closed cabinets, ventilation for electronics and a route for cables.

Start with the screen

Measure the actual width of your television, not the advertised diagonal. A 65-inch TV is about 57 inches wide. The console should be wider than the screen so the TV doesn't look top-heavy; a console around one and a half times the screen width looks balanced and gives room for speakers, lamps or plants at each end.

If the TV will sit on the console rather than hang on the wall, check that the stand or feet fit comfortably on the top with a few inches to spare on every side. Solid wood tops can carry a large screen easily, but the footprint still matters.

Getting the height right

For comfortable viewing, the center of the screen should be close to eye level when you're seated on the sofa, usually around 40 to 45 inches from the floor. That's why many people prefer a low wood TV stand: with the TV on top, the screen ends up right where your eyes naturally fall.

If the TV is wall-mounted, the console can be a little taller and work more like a sideboard. In that case, mount the TV a few inches above the console top so the two read as one composition rather than floating separately on the wall.

Storage that hides the clutter

Media gear multiplies: game consoles, streaming boxes, routers, controllers, remotes and a tangle of chargers. A TV console with drawers and closed cabinets keeps all of it out of sight, so the room looks calm even when the kids have been gaming all afternoon.

Open shelves are good for components that need remote signals and air flow. Closed doors suit games, DVDs and things you'd rather not look at. Many families like a mix — one open bay for the electronics and drawers for everything else.

Cables and ventilation

Electronics produce heat, and heat shortens their life. Make sure any cabinet holding a receiver or game console has a gap at the back or a cable opening for air to move. Don't push the console flat against the wall; leave an inch or two for cables and air.

Bundle cables with soft ties and run them through the back openings. A power strip with surge protection mounted inside the cabinet keeps plugs out of sight. If the TV hangs on the wall, an in-wall cable kit gives the cleanest look and keeps wires away from curious pets.

Making room for records

Vinyl has made a big comeback, and a turntable deserves a steady home. A dedicated record player stand beside the TV console keeps the turntable away from speaker vibrations and gives the albums a proper place to live.

Store records upright, never stacked flat, and keep them away from heat vents and sunny windows. Solid wood is an ideal material for a record stand because it's heavy and stable, which helps the needle track smoothly and keeps the whole setup from wobbling when someone walks past.

Matching the room

A TV console is often the largest piece in the living room, so its wood tone sets the mood. Walnut and dark finishes feel cozy and work well with leather and wool. Light oak and acacia keep a room bright and pair nicely with white walls and linen.

Repeat the wood tone at least once elsewhere in the room, perhaps on a side table or a picture frame, so the console feels connected rather than isolated. Add a lamp at one end and a plant at the other, and the wall goes from a black rectangle to a welcoming focal point.

Finally, think about the next TV. Screens keep getting bigger, so a console with a little extra width today will still look right after the next upgrade.