TV Unit Buying Guide: Find the Perfect Fit for Your Living Room

Buy a TV first and the unit second, and you'll spend weeks looking for something that actually fits. It's the most common mistake we see at SuperPrice Furniture, and it's an easy one to avoid once you know what to measure.

A good entertainment unit does more than hold a screen. It sets the height you watch from, hides your cables, and often becomes the main storage piece in the room. Get the size wrong and you'll notice it every single evening.

This blog covers the measurements, materials, and layout questions that actually matter, so you buy once and get it right.

Key Takeaways

• Your TV cabinet should be roughly as wide as your screen, or slightly wider, for the best visual balance.

• Average TV screen size sold in New Zealand has climbed to 49.7 inches, up from 37.9 inches a decade ago (EECA, Figure.NZ data).

• Eye level when seated should land near the middle of the screen, which usually means a unit height of 40–55cm.

• Open shelving suits gaming consoles and set-top boxes; closed cabinets suit anyone who wants a tidier look.

• SuperPrice Furniture stocks entertainment units in a range of sizes, with nationwide delivery across the Coromandel, Waikato, and Bay of Plenty.

Table of Contents

1. What Size TV Unit Do You Actually Need?
2. How Does TV Unit Height Affect Your Viewing Comfort?
3. Open Shelving or Closed Cabinet, Which Suits Your Living Room?
4. What Materials Hold Up Best in Daily Use?
5. Floating vs Floor-Standing, What's the Difference?
6. What Should You Check Before Buying?

What Size TV Unit Do You Actually Need?

Match the width of your unit to your screen, not your wall. A cabinet that's noticeably narrower than the TV looks unbalanced and doesn't leave room for a soundbar or speakers either side. As a rough rule, add 15–20cm either side of your screen's width. A 55-inch TV measures around 122cm across, so a TV unit somewhere between 150cm and 170cm wide will frame it properly without swallowing the whole wall.

Screens have grown a lot over the last decade. EECA data shows the average television sold in New Zealand now measures 49.7 inches, up from 37.9 inches in 2013 (https://figure.nz/chart/xHu018n3AAEunFa4-mFnV3TVTLZpx3Xs2). If you're replacing an older unit bought alongside a smaller TV, there's a good chance it's now too narrow for what you're mounting on it.

How Does TV Unit Height Affect Your Viewing Comfort?

Sit down on your sofa and check where your eyes naturally land. That spot should sit close to the middle of the screen, not the top edge.

For most lounge setups, this puts the ideal entertainment unit height between 40cm and 55cm. Taller units work for standing rooms or bar-height seating, but in a typical living room, going higher than this forces your neck up during long viewing sessions.

Open Shelving or Closed Cabinet, Which Suits Your Living Room?

Open shelving gives easy access to consoles, remotes, and streaming boxes, but everything on it stays visible. Closed cabinets hide the clutter, at the cost of reaching in every time you want the remote.

A mix works well for most households:

• Open compartments for anything you use daily, like a games console or soundbar
• Closed drawers or doors for DVDs, cables, and chargers
• A cable management cutout at the back, so cords don't trail across the floor

Families with kids or pets tend to prefer closed storage. It keeps small hands and paws away from cords and connected devices.

What Materials Hold Up Best in Daily Use?

Solid timber and engineered wood are the two options you'll see most. Solid timber costs more and shows wear gracefully over years of use. Engineered wood with a veneer finish costs less and still holds up well if the edges are properly sealed.

Check the weight rating before buying, particularly for wall-mounted units. A TV, soundbar, and console together can easily weigh 25–30kg, and a shelf rated for less will sag over time.

Floating vs Floor-Standing, What's the Difference?

Floating units mount directly to the wall and leave the floor clear underneath, which suits smaller rooms or anyone wanting an easier clean. Floor-standing units sit on legs or a base and generally offer more storage capacity.

1. Floating units need a solid wall fixing point. Check for a stud or use appropriate wall anchors.

2. Floor-standing units distribute weight more evenly and don't need the same wall preparation.

3. Rooms under 15sqm often look larger with a floating unit, since it reduces visual clutter at floor level.

What Should You Check Before Buying?

Measure twice, and measure your actual TV, not the box it came in. Screen sizes are measured diagonally, but width is what determines whether it fits your space.

Before you commit, run through this:

• Confirm the unit width against your TV's actual horizontal measurement
• Check ventilation space behind the unit if you're using a soundbar or set-top box
• Look at drawer depth if you're storing anything bulkier than remotes
• Confirm delivery and assembly details, especially for larger pieces

SuperPrice Furniture stocks a full range of entertainment and TV units alongside coffee tables and bookcases, so you can furnish the whole living area in one visit. Every store carries floor stock you can see and measure against in person before you buy.

Not sure which size works in your space? Visit our Thames or Whitianga showroom and bring your TV's measurements with you. Our team will help you match a unit to your room, and with FinanceNow and Q Card payment options available, spreading the cost is easy too. Browse the full range of entertainment and TV units online or call ahead to check current floor stock.

FAQs

What Size TV Unit Fits a 65-Inch TV?

Look for a unit around 170–190cm wide. That gives your TV enough visual breathing room without dominating the wall.

Can a TV Unit Hold a Wall-Mounted Television as Well as Extra Storage?

Yes. Many buyers still want a unit underneath a mounted TV for consoles, cables, and general storage, even though the screen itself doesn't rest on it.

How Much Weight Can a Floating TV Unit Hold?

It depends on the model and wall fixing, but most quality units handle 25–40kg safely when installed correctly with proper wall anchors.

Is Engineered Wood Durable Enough for Daily Use?

Yes, especially with a good veneer or laminate finish. It resists scratches and moisture better than raw timber and costs less.

Do You Deliver TV Units Outside Thames and Whitianga?

Yes. SuperPrice Furniture delivers nationwide across the Coromandel, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, and both the North and South Islands.

Getting your TV unit right changes how the whole room feels, not just how the screen looks. Come see the range at SuperPrice Furniture in Thames or Whitianga, or browse online and get it delivered to your door.