Knowing what you want when you’re choosing a home entertainment center is just as important as knowing what you don’t want. Once you’ve determined the size needed to accommodate your TV and its accessories and the scale to fit your space, there are many decisions to be made. From the style to the material to various features, you’ll have to narrow down to just one choice. With all that’s available online these days, that could take a fair amount of browsing.

Selecting The Proper Size
The size decisions are of course pretty straightforward. First, what size TV do you plan to use with the stand, and do you anticipate upgrading to a larger one in the foreseeable future? Next, what does the space where the piece will go dictate—not only in width but in height? Are there any architectural features that have to be accommodated, such as pass-throughs, columns, doors, or windows? Measure the space, and then measure it again to be sure, and figure in a few extra inches on either side for breathing room. You certainly don’t want to purchase something only to find after it’s delivered that it doesn’t fit.

The Perfect Style
Style encompasses a lot of factors, major and minor alike. Starting with the major factors, you will first determine whether you will situate your home entertainment center flat against a wall or in a corner. Next, decide whether you want a cabinet type that will enclose your TV and its associated electronic components or merely a stand upon which you’ll place the TV. The latter, which should be more economical, will most likely have at least one shelf for your other video equipment.

With the cabinet style you can go with a TV armoire that will contain all of your video entertainment components. This is the choice for anyone who wants a more formal piece of furniture—or simply doesn’t want to look at the TV when it’s not being used. The simplest armoires have doors that open but do not stow, while more complex ones feature pocket doors, which open and then slide back into the cabinet and out of the way both physically and visually. Another advantage of the cabinet style is that it calls for less dusting, since the doors will keep things covered (and with less time needed for cleaning, you can watch more TV, right?).

Get A List Together
Making a list of the qualities and features you seek for your home entertainment center is a great place to start. In fact you might want to make that two lists, the other being features that are ideal but not essential; you’re going to need it to help you narrow down the seemingly limitless selection online. For example, you may feel you can’t live without adjustable shelves, and pocket doors would be nice yet bi-fold doors will not be a deal-breaker. Consult the list while you’re clicking through for a corner media stand,  TV armoires, television cabinets, and media consoles you will see during your search for your ideal TV stand.