built-in or furniture for TV

15 years ago

We are building a home and have an alcove where a tv entertainment center should be. It's about 1 foot too small for my current 2 bookcases and TV cabinet( Don't even ask!) I really don't have much else in the way of componets other than DVD player( BOSE 3-2-1)and cable box. The current cabinet will stick out too much, I think. Current TV is 37" and about 10 years old. It is the focal point in the room with the fireplace to the right and cornered.

Here's my question. Should I have the trim guy build out a cabinet and maybe two shelves above it or should I purchase furniture. This assumes I purchase a 42" flat screen. The house interior is simple and quiet. Not much movement in the design. The traditional entertainment center look will not work for our style for our style. It is the focal point (along with large windows along another wall) with the FP to the left and cornered.

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Comments (4)

bevangel_i_h8_h0uzz
15 years ago
With electronics changing so much so fast, I personally don't think it makes sense anymore to have built-in furniture to accomodate the stuff.
For example, the traditional entertainment center no longer has an opening large enough for most of our TVs. Or, if we pick a smaller TV that will fit into the entertainment center, then a huge amount of space is wasted behind the flat screen TV - and one of the advantages of having a flat screen is lost. I figure the next generation of TV's will probably be even flatter and will allow you to choose a screensaver of some sort so that, when not in use, it looks like a picture or maybe an aquarium or a window - and not like a TV at all. Either that or there'll be some sort of small cube that projects a 3D image right into the air in front of you. LOL!

We're going back to old fashioned book-cases (which will be nice since I've got about a thousand books!) and will hang the new TV (flat screen of course) on a wall. The rest of our electronics (DVD player, CD player, etc) will go into a credenza below the TV so it is mostly out of sight. And, all the CDs, DVDs etc. will go into a near-by closet. IF/when 3D-projecting-cube TVs come on the market, I'll hang a painting where my old fashioned flat screen TV used to be and not have to redecorate my entire house - or, at least that's the plan! LOL
frog_hopper
15 years ago
I agree with bevangel. I assume you know that a 42" flat screen is less than 42 inches wide, and that the 42 inches is the diagonal measurement of the screen. The set will actually be less than 42 inches wide.
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Here is another thread that will answer some of your questions - linked below. As to how heavy mine are - no idea. But they are not lightweight. What keeps them from sliding off? They are drawer glides, so they have stops on them. They won't slide off. We have to reach behind the panels (in open position) to release a lock in order to take them down. I have no idea how far they extend past the TV, if you mean when open how far they stretch out. The glides go a good ways, if not all the way, across the top/bottom of the panels. Sagging? My panels are quartersawn oak. The glides hold up to 100lbs. The ends/top/bottom are finished, so if you are looking from below/either side, you see finished panel. I can't really give you any more details than that. Someone who knows their way around the workshop should be able to make you something similar. I posted on a Decorating thread about other options, some lightweight: You could use pre-bought stretched canvas panels (paint, wallpaper, decoupage, fabric covered) for a more light weight cover. If your TV is not recessed, you could still make a cover deep enough to cover. If lower on the wall, the panel(s) could go up instead of sideways. This couldn't be done in our case due to height and surround sound speaker built-in wall above ours. Here is a link that might be useful: Other TV thread
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Wow, you guys are terrific! Thank you all so much for taking the time to answer! I love the idea of the built in. That might be the best/cheapest solution for now. I'm posting a few shots from the back of the room so you can get a better idea of the entire space. I didn't prep the room, so it looks a bit cattywampus. It used to have a pool table in it and the man person that lives here thought the tv on the high shelf would be better for viewing while playing pool. Probably would have been if anyone ever played pool in there. So glad to see that thing go, but boy do I miss my laundry folding table. ;) After the kitchen is done (next week=yay!) I'm going to begin on this room starting with that corner area, some kind of window treatment for the sliders, new lighting (PO put ceiling fans in there 8( ) and paint for the entire great room. So, should I keep the depth? You'll notice that the shape of the space is squared off then moves into a triangle. Arcy, I'd still really love a gas fireplace in there. Not only for ambiance but warmth too. My only option would be propane however. Not out of the question some time in the future.
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The only thing you can do with this without changing the shelving at all would be to try to find a small piece of furniture with a couple of drawers that would fit into the space. With minimal change you could take two of the shelves that are behind the TV and move them into the space aligned with the current shelving. Remove the existing trim on the shelf above the doors and replace it with one piece going all the way across with the new shelves in place. If you could get a set of doors for the front center it would be better than open shelving. No matter what you do the new TV is always going to look awkward floating in front of the shelves. These shelves are stationary - someone anchored them to the walls, but that does not make them permanent. They really are not that hard to remove and you can do it yourself at zero cost. You may be able to use one or both sides in another room - maybe the babies room for some extra storage - a place for toys and books. You could use both on opposite sides of one wall and place a single shelf between the two and create a desk for future homework time.
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Here's what the area looks like now. I kept the angle for the TV to avoid ceiling and floor repair. After priming the new drywall, I liked the white walls, so I painted the family room white. The TV is 82". I'd like to add a faux beam to the top of the opening someday in the future. The framing and drywall was done by Sullivan Builders, Canyon Lake, TX.
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lindybarts
15 years ago
Well I personally like the built in look over a separate piece of furniture. I think as long as you make an adequate opening, you should be able to fit many tv's inside. We did build ours out to an exact screen size but it's large enough that I think we'll be okay if technology changes. We might have extra space around it but it won't be too small. If the TV's get even thinner, it won't show the extra space behind the TV since it's built into the wall. There are alot of good TV buying guides online that can help make your decision on which type to buy for your needs. We opted for the DLP and are loving it.

Here is ours and you can see we still have some wiggle room around it. The shelf above can be moved if we need more room above. But I don't think we'll get a size bigger than this one....ROFL!

Here is a link that might be useful: TV Buying Guide
carolyn53562
15 years ago
We are in the same dilemma and our house was finished 2 years ago except for the TV hole (which is big) in the wall and the fireplace mantel. We finally have finally decided to got with a built-in cabinet. We will have 24" high cabinets for the components and then the open space above the cabinets will change as our TVs change (we have a small TV now and will put shelves on either side of the TV for now that can be removed if we ever decide to move the 60" TV there from the basement) and we can also just put in book shelves later if we decide to do that. I would have preferred to put furniture in the "hole", but can't find anything that fits. If we were doing it over, we would have found the furniture first and then built the hole to fit the furniture.

built-in or furniture for TV

Comments (4)

bevangel_i_h8_h0uzz

frog_hopper

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