How to Pick out TV Stands that are Right for You

Perhaps you've had that outdated, bulky television set for a bit too long or perhaps it's no longer working as it once was and you need to purchase a new one. For the last few years the technology that goes into producing the latest TVs is rising at an exponential pace and you're finally in the market for one, but where do you place it? Do you mount it directly on the wall or do you place it on a TV stand? Regardless which approach you take, you'll need a dedicated space to store all of your audio/visual components and accessories. You'll need some sort of a TV stand. Which one do you choose? Which size? Which style? Which color?

Whether you choose to purchase a plasma TV which is lately rubbing shoulders with LCD TVs as well as the latest LED TVs, they all have one thing in common. They are so much flatter and therefore lighter, as a result, than those offered pre-1990s, but you still have to decide where to place one these must-have devices in your home. Back then, placing one directly on a wall was unimaginable. Today, however, is a different story and wall-mounted TVs add a certain aesthetic character to any room. The wall mounts that are currently available are so flexible that they can tilt and swivel for multiple viewing angles. If you're going to mount that TV, where do you place the accompanying TV components?

You'll still need some sort of a TV console to store that DVR, DVD player, DVDs, etc. There are wall mounted consoles but nothing beats the real thing because regular TV stands are so much stronger, stable, and the storage capacity is much larger. If you own a DVR, DVD player, video game consoles, and audio enhancement components like equalizers and center speakers, a wall mounted stand just won't cut it so get yourself the real thing. Make sure that the stand has adequate holes and internal wire management for all the components that need to be run to the wall outlet. Some components, especially the deeper ones, experience quite a bit of heat so try to go for those TV stands which offer ventilated back panels.

Now, if you decide not to mount that TV on a wall, you definitely need something to place it on top of. In this case, how do you choose the correct TV stand size? First you need to figure out the size of the actual television set. The dimensions can usually be found on the back of it. If not, you simply measure it yourself. In this case we're mostly concerned with width. If you only plan on placing the TV by itself on top of the stand, then make sure that the stand is a little bit wider than the TV. On the other hand, if you plan on placing any type of decorations or perhaps speakers, make sure that the stand can accommodate them. Keep in mind not to go too wide with your stand because it will look out of place in the room. The general rule is to select a stand that is roughly 25 to 30 percent wider than the actual TV.

What about style and color? Which do you choose? As far as color is concerned, you want it blend in with your existing home furnishings as well as the TV itself. Style is usually a personal taste, whether it's traditional or contemporary/modern. Try to match it to your existing furnishings as close as you can. If a certain style is not the dominant one in that room, make sure it doesn't echo with the TV stand either.