The humble TV stand has come a long way. Once a purely functional piece of furniture designed simply to hoist a television to eye level, it has evolved into a central design element in our living spaces. It’s often the focal point of the room, drawing the eye not just to the screen, but to the entire vignette surrounding it. Treating your media console as just a stand for your tech is a missed opportunity. With a little thought and creativity, you can transform it into a stylish, curated display that reflects your personality and elevates your entire room’s decor.
Before you start placing objects randomly, take a step back and consider the core principles of good design:
balance, scale, and layering. Your television is, by nature, a large, dark, and visually heavy object. The goal is to create a composition around it that feels harmonious, not cluttered or lopsided. Resist the urge to fill every square inch of surface space. Negative space—the empty areas around your objects—is just as important as the objects themselves. It gives the arrangement room to breathe and allows each piece to be appreciated individually.
Achieving Visual Harmony
The first step in decorating your media console is to establish a foundation. This involves choosing a few larger “anchor” pieces that will ground the display. Think of these as the main characters in your story. Once they’re in place, you can fill in the details with smaller, more personal items.
The Power of Asymmetry
While a perfectly symmetrical arrangement can look elegant and formal, an asymmetrical layout often feels more modern, dynamic, and relaxed. The key to successful asymmetry is achieving
visual weight balance. For instance, if you have a tall, slender lamp on one side of the TV, you can balance it on the other side with a shorter, bulkier stack of books topped with a decorative object. The two sides don’t mirror each other, but they feel equally substantial. This creates a sense of intentionality and flow, guiding the eye across the console in a more interesting way than a static, mirrored setup.
Varying Heights and Shapes
One of the most common decorating mistakes is using items that are all roughly the same height. This creates a flat, monotonous line that does little to engage the eye. To create a professional-looking display, you need to introduce variation. Layer objects with different heights, shapes, and textures. A tall, elegant vase, a low, wide bowl, and a medium-sized framed photo create a much more compelling composition than three medium-sized candles. Mix vertical elements like candlesticks or a plant with horizontal elements like a stack of art books. This interplay of forms is what brings a surface to life.
A foolproof method for creating a balanced arrangement is the “rule of three.” Grouping objects in odd numbers, particularly threes, is naturally more appealing and memorable to the human eye. Try creating a small vignette with three items of varying heights and textures on one side of your console. This simple guideline helps avoid the static feeling of pairs while creating a sense of intentional composition.
Infusing Personality and Warmth
Once you have the basic structure down, it’s time for the fun part: adding pieces that tell your story. This is where your TV stand transitions from a piece of furniture to a reflection of your life and style. Don’t be afraid to mix and match different materials and textures to add depth and interest.
Bring Nature Indoors
Plants are a decorator’s best friend. They literally breathe life into a space, adding a pop of color, organic texture, and a sense of vitality. For a media console, low-maintenance options are often best. A small snake plant, a trailing pothos, or a collection of succulents in a stylish planter can soften the hard edges of your electronics. If you don’t have a green thumb, don’t worry. High-quality faux plants can look incredibly realistic and offer the same visual benefits without the need for watering.
Curate Your Collections
Your media console is the perfect stage to display items you love. This could be a collection of ceramic vases, a few favorite novels, or souvenirs from your travels. The key is to
curate, not clutter. Instead of putting everything out at once, select a few of your best pieces. Books are a fantastic styling tool. Try stacking three or four hardcover books horizontally to create a pedestal for a smaller decorative object, like a small sculpture or a beautiful paperweight. Leaning a piece of framed art or a favorite photograph against the wall behind the console adds a casual, layered feel that is very contemporary.
Functional Decor and Cord Management
Not every item needs to be purely decorative. Incorporate beautiful objects that also serve a purpose. A stylish tray is perfect for corralling remote controls, coasters, and other small essentials, keeping them organized and accessible. A decorative box can hide away less attractive items, while a beautiful bowl can be a catch-all for keys or spare change. Let’s not forget the unavoidable reality of media consoles: cables. Nothing ruins a beautifully styled surface faster than a mess of tangled wires. Invest in a simple cable management box that matches your console, or use adhesive clips to run cords along the back edge, keeping them neat and out of sight. This small step makes a huge difference in the overall polished look of your setup.
