Whether you’re a movie buff or gamer, simply enjoy entertaining or having a dedicated space to unwind at the end of the day, chances are you have some form of media setup in your home. Taking your home entertainment setup to the next level can not only enhance your viewing and listening experience, but also elevate the overall look of your space and boost yours and your guests’ enjoyment.
“A small TV stand is great for a guest room or minimalist space,” says Dave Mason, a sales associate at Copenhagen Tucson, “but for those looking to transform their living space, establish a game room, or create a home theater, tech-forward media setups supported by stylish, comfortable furnishings will provide a true entertainment experience.”
Working with Mason, we’ve created this quick guide on the essential elements of a great media setup and how to create a space that’s both inviting and immersive.
An effective media setup should cater to all your entertainment needs, including housing your electronic systems, boosting your audio/visual experience, and storing any accessories such as movies, remotes, and gaming controllers. Your first step should be to take stock of your available space and its size limitations – though your media setup will likely serve as the focal point of the room, it should enhance your existing space rather than overwhelm it. Mason adds, “When purchasing your media furnishings, the size of the room and your TV are important to consider. I generally suggest choosing a TV stand that’s the same width as or wider than your TV. TVs are now a lot larger than they used to be and the furniture industry has been handling this change in stride – The Avanti TV base is one of Copenhagen’s longest pieces, with a width of 94” that can accommodate almost any TV.” For those with extensive media collections, consider pairing your media cabinet with a storage shelf like Lunada to maximize storage space. This will help you organize your media accessories, display your favorite items, and keep clutter at bay. For smaller areas, a narrower shelf like Linea is perfect for maximizing vertical space and can even be added onto if needed.
Equally important is choosing a media cabinet with tech-savvy features to enhance your user experience and protect your electronics. If you opt for a closed cabinet, ensure its doors are both remote- and sound-friendly. This allows you to keep your cabinet closed without interrupting your viewing experience and maintains that clear, crisp sound. The doors on the Elements media cabinet, for example, are engineered for acoustic transparency and have perforated metal backings that offer IR-remote compatibility, enhancing speaker and soundbar performance. With any type of media cabinet, proper ventilation is also a concern. As Mason points out, “Ventilation is incredibly important for preventing your items from overheating. Many of our BDI products, like the Corridor TV stand, include built-in ventilation in the bottom and back panels as well as on the shelves to allow for air flow and heat distribution. I also suggest taking into account the number of components and wires you’ll need to accommodate – choosing a design with built-in cable management and removeable back panels like Align will save you a lot of frustration in case your electronics need to be loaded from the rear to avoid door hinges.” These organizational features will also help keep everything neat and tidy and give you easy access to all your components.
With the right media setup, you can make a design statement that elevates your entire living space and gifts it an instant refresh. Whether you prefer a TV console that’s simple and understated or one that stands out as a defining piece, it’s important to choose a TV console that complements the room’s current aesthetic; achieving this balance can be easy with a few design considerations.
Consoles with warmer or deeper wood tones have a classic look and timeless appeal that can seamlessly integrate with a variety of interiors. You can jazz it up by choosing one with a unique design element, like the walnut-veneered Liam TV stand, with its white ceramic top, or Mason’s personal favorite – the Elements storage console with its “laser-carved Constellation pattern and mid-century modern look.” For a more contemporary look, opt for pieces with smoother surfaces and glass or metal accents; “Both the Bella Grigio and Bella Centro TV bases feature a high-gloss finish and sleek lines that will add flash and vibrance to any room,” Mason states.
The overall color of your media furnishings will depend on your preferred ambiance; lighter, brighter colors can open a smaller area and make it feel more spacious, while darker tones can create a cozier feel that’s perfect for a home theater setup. And both open and closed media cabinets offer unique benefits – to protect your electronics from dust and keep your space as clutter-free as possible, a closed cabinet is best. If you prefer having easier access to your devices or using the shelves to display personal items, opt for an open console.
For a truly immersive entertainment experience, Mason stresses the importance of incorporating other furniture – “Keep the purpose of the entire room in mind. You’ll enjoy your media setup more if you’re surrounded by comfortable and supportive furnishings.”
Ample, individualized seating is essential for completing your space; Mason suggests the Stressless® Emily sofa as “theater-like seating to complement a larger room or longer TV stand” or a sprawling sectional with an integrated storage console and USB charging ports like Brendan. Both Emily and Brendan feature plush cushions and power motion seating so that each person can recline to their ideal position – the ultimate in custom comfort. Also worth considering is a modular system like Beacon to create a unique configuration that fits your space and entertainment needs. “For smaller spaces, swivel chairs like the Ancona are a great option because although they look stylish, they feel casual when sitting in them and naturally encourage relaxation,” Mason says. “Place one or two by a window or fireplace for a great view when you’re not watching TV.”
Another versatile item worth adding to your entertainment space is a lift-top coffee table. Both the Reveal and Cloud-9 coffee tables feature pneumatic lift mechanisms that allow you to elevate their tabletops, whether it be for eating, passing around snacks, or holding additional gaming equipment. These types of coffee tables also often include storage compartments, giving you more space to house your media accessories when not in use. Finishing off your media setup with a few carefully chosen furnishings is what transforms your space into a comfortable and stylish entertainment hub.
A high quality, ergonomic media setup has the power to upgrade your viewing and gaming experience, making your space a coveted entertainment destination and ensuring you’ll never want to go back to the movie theater. For help bringing your dream setup to life, contact or visit a Copenhagen showroom to meet our sales and interior design experts.