Entertainment Unit and TV Cabinet Buying Guide for AU Living Rooms

The entertainment unit is the anchor of most Australia living rooms. It carries the TV, hides the cables, stores the consoles and controllers, and sets the tone for the whole space. Buy one too narrow and the TV looks like it is about to topple off the ends. Buy one built from coated particle board and the top sags under the screen within a couple of years. This guide covers how to size an entertainment unit to your TV, how the main styles actually differ in a real lounge, and how to spot the construction that separates a piece you keep for fifteen years from one you replace with the next TV.

The 30 second answer

Choose an entertainment unit that is at least 20 cm wider than the TV stand or feet, and ideally as wide as the TV itself or a little wider, so the screen looks balanced and centred. For a 55 inch TV that means a unit around 150 to 180 cm wide; for a 65 inch TV, aim for 180 to 210 cm. Pick a lowline unit for a modern open-plan lounge, a tall or highboy unit if you need more storage in a smaller room, and a solid timber build if you want the top to stay flat and the drawers to keep running smoothly for the long term. Leave room behind for cables and airflow.

Entertainment unit, TV unit, or TV cabinet: what is the difference?

These three terms are used loosely in Australia, and most shoppers search all of them while looking for the same piece. Here is how the trade tends to separate them.

• TV unit or TV stand is the general term for any low cabinet or bench the television sits on. It is the broadest of the three.
• Entertainment unit usually describes a larger or more complete piece, sometimes a low bench paired with shelving or a wall arrangement, designed to hold the TV plus media gear and display items.
• TV cabinet tends to mean a TV unit with closed storage (doors and drawers) rather than open shelves, so the clutter stays hidden.

In practice the choice comes down to how much you want on display versus tucked away, and how much floor space the room allows. You can browse the full TV unit and entertainment unit collection to see the range in solid timber. 

How to size an entertainment unit to your TV

The single most common mistake is buying a unit that is too narrow for the screen. A balanced look puts the TV centred on the unit with clear space on both ends. As a rule, the unit should be wider than the TV, or at the very least wider than the gap between the TV feet, which many people forget to measure.

Height matters too. For comfortable viewing from a sofa, the centre of the screen should sit close to eye level when you are seated, which is roughly 100 to 110 cm off the floor. That usually means the top of the unit lands somewhere around 45 to 60 cm high for a TV that stands on its feet. If you wall-mount the screen instead, the unit can be lower and is then there mostly for storage and to ground the wall arrangement visually.

Entertainment unit styles for AU living rooms

The right style depends on your room size, how much you store, and whether the TV stands on the unit or hangs on the wall above it.

Lowline unit

A long, low bench, usually wider than it is tall. This is the dominant modern look and it suits open-plan Aussie living rooms where you do not want to block sightlines across the space. Lowline units keep the TV at a comfortable seated height and give a clean horizontal line under the screen. Best when you have the wall width to spread out.

Lowline unit / Modern look

Tall or highboy unit

A more compact footprint with height for extra storage, sometimes with the TV bench combined with a hutch or display shelving. A good answer for smaller lounges and apartments where floor space is tight but you still need to store media gear, games, and books. It draws the eye upward, which can make a small room feel taller.

Corner unit

Designed to sit across a corner, which can free up a main wall for a sofa or a bookcase. Useful in square rooms and in lounges where the best seating position faces a corner rather than a flat wall. Measure the corner carefully, since the diagonal back of a corner unit takes up more wall length than its face suggests.

Floating or wall-mounted unit

A unit fixed to the wall with no legs touching the floor, paired with a wall-mounted TV above. It makes the floor easier to clean and gives a light, modern feel. It does need solid fixing into the framing, so it suits gib walls where you can locate the studs or use proper anchors. Best for renters who can patch and for owners who want the minimalist look.

Material: what your entertainment unit is actually built from

An entertainment unit carries real weight (a 65 inch TV plus a soundbar and consoles) on its top and shelves, every day, for years. Material decides whether that top stays flat.

Solid timber (oak, ash, walnut)

The longest-lasting choice. A solid timber top resists sagging under the weight of the screen, the drawers run on timber rather than flexing under load, and small knocks sand out rather than chipping through a thin coating. A solid hardwood unit comfortably outlasts several TVs and can be refinished years down the track. Our entertainment unit range is built from solid hardwood for exactly this reason.

Timber veneer over a solid core

A thin layer of real timber bonded to a stable core. A reasonable middle option when the core underneath is quality engineered board rather than loose particle board. Looks like timber and holds up acceptably, though it cannot be sanded back the way solid timber can if the surface ever wears through.

MDF or particle board (flat-pack)

The cheapest option and the one most likely to disappoint. Coated particle board tops can bow under the constant weight of a large TV, and the screw fixings strip out of the board over time, especially on doors and drawer runners that get daily use. The full reasoning is in our guide on particle board versus solid wood furniture. If budget is the deciding factor, weigh up a quality second-hand solid timber unit against a new flat-pack one.

Storage, cables, and ventilation

An entertainment unit earns its keep by hiding the mess. Before you buy, think about what actually goes inside and behind it.

• Cable management. Look for cut-outs or gaps at the back so power, HDMI, and aerial cables can run through cleanly rather than draping over the edge. A unit pushed flat against the wall with no rear gap traps cables and heat.
• Ventilation for devices. Receivers, consoles, and media boxes generate heat. Closed cabinets need vents or an open back panel so the gear does not cook itself behind solid doors.
• Drawers versus open shelves. Drawers hide controllers, cables, and clutter; open shelves suit display items and devices that need airflow and line of sight for remotes. Most households want a mix.
• Soundbar space. If you run a soundbar, check there is a shelf or a clear top edge in front of the TV at the right height so the bar does not block the bottom of the screen.

Pairing the entertainment unit with your living room

An entertainment unit looks settled in a room when the other timber pieces echo the same tone and finish. The usual companions:

• A coffee table in the same timber, centred on the sofa, as the second anchor of the seating zone.
• One or two lamp tables or side tables beside the sofa for lamps, drinks, and the remotes you reach for.
• A sideboard on a nearby wall if the room doubles as a dining or entertaining space and you need more closed storage.
• A console table behind a free-standing sofa or in the entry, tying the living zone into the rest of the room.

If you are still weighing up styles, you can browse the wider living room collection to plan the space as a whole.

Where to buy an entertainment unit in AU

Oak Furniture Store stocks solid oak, solid ash, and solid walnut entertainment units, TV units, and TV cabinets in a range of widths to suit everything from an apartment lounge to a large open-plan family room. You can order online with confidence. In-stock units ship across Australia, and our Lowest Price Guarantee means that if you find the same genuine hardwood unit cheaper elsewhere, we will match the price. Start with the full entertainment unit and TV unit collection.

Frequently asked questions

How wide should an entertainment unit be for a 55 inch TV?

Aim for around 150 to 180 cm. A 55 inch TV is roughly 123 cm wide, and a unit that extends 15 to 30 cm past each end of the screen looks balanced and gives the TV feet a stable base. The unit should be wider than the gap between the TV feet at the very minimum.

What height should a TV unit be?

For a TV that stands on the unit, a top height of around 45 to 60 cm usually places the centre of the screen near seated eye level (about 100 to 110 cm off the floor). If you wall-mount the TV, the unit can be lower and serves mainly as storage and a visual base for the wall.

What is the difference between a TV unit and an entertainment unit?

A TV unit is the general term for the low cabinet the television sits on. An entertainment unit usually describes a larger or more complete piece, sometimes a bench combined with shelving or a wall arrangement, designed to hold the TV plus media gear and display items. The terms overlap and many shoppers use them interchangeably.

Should the entertainment unit be wider than the TV?

Ideally yes. A unit that is as wide as the TV or a little wider keeps the screen looking centred and balanced, and gives the TV feet room to sit securely. A unit narrower than the screen leaves the TV looking like it is overhanging the ends.

Are solid wood entertainment units worth it?

For a piece that carries a heavy TV every day, solid timber holds its shape where coated particle board can bow and where screw fixings can strip out over time. A solid hardwood unit also outlasts several TV upgrades and can be refinished years later, so it tends to be the better long-term value despite the higher upfront price.

How do I hide the cables behind a TV unit?

Look for a unit with cable cut-outs or an open or gapped back panel so cables can run down behind it cleanly. Leave a small gap between the unit and the wall for the cables and for airflow, and use drawers or a closed cabinet section to store the power boards and excess cable length out of sight.

Can an entertainment unit work with a wall-mounted TV?

Yes. With a wall-mounted screen the unit sits below as storage and as a visual base that grounds the TV on the wall. A lowline or floating unit suits this setup well, and you gain flexibility because the unit width is no longer dictated by the TV feet.