Oak TV Cabinets and Stands

Most households in the UK will have at least 1 room with a television and more often than not at least another 2 or 3. Whether for the front room or bedroom, an oak TV cabinet is a popular choice for keeping your TV and peripherals organised and well presented.

The front room is an area of the home in which we spend the majority of our time relaxing, and for this reason oak wood is an excellent choice. It helps bring a cosy, warm and inviting feeling to the room which is exactly what every lounge needs.

Wherever the TV is kept in the lounge, tends to be the main focal point of the room, so it makes sense that the furniture item on top of which it is placed is equally deserving of the constant attention it will receive - the oak stands tick all of the right boxes in this respect.

In addition to its natural visual appeal is the inherent strength of solid oak wood, which comes in handy when dealing with the larger screen sizes that modern televisions tend to come in these days, making oak the perfect material for a modern TV stand.

These robust and reassuringly sturdy units also offer a number of different storage items which are invaluable for organising and presenting the various peripherals that tend to gather around the television area such as:

• Video games consoles (xBox, PS3, Wii) and their peripherals (controller pads etc.)
• DVDs and computer games
• Digital boxes such as Freeview and Sky
• DVD players, records and HDD boxes

It's easy to see why these furniture units are often referred to as entertainment centres and it's a trend only likely to increase as more gadgets find their way into our homes.

Other items people typically keep in this area are those of a more personal nature such as a framed photo or a decorative ornament - something to keep the technology at bay!

Some of the larger TV units provide enough drawer space that they can be used for storing just about anything - sharing the storage responsibilities of other furniture items in the same room.

Inside the bedroom of a child a unit with a drawer becomes more of a necessity than an additional extra and can enable the room to be tidied much quicker (even if everything has just been slung in to the drawer).

The rest of this guide will explain in greater detail some of the features and models touched upon so far as well as recommending specific models for each category of unit.

Common Features and Popular Models

When searching for any item of furniture it is a good idea to have in mind exactly what it is that you need, and not making the choice based entirely on what looks the best. The following list of considerations is designed to make this process easier:

• Overall size of the unit: some of the photos may be misleading to the real size of the cabinet so make sure you double check this before purchasing to ensure you have sufficient space
• Type and level of storage required: if there are other storage furnishings in the room the quantity of storage offered is less critical, likewise if you don't have much in the room that requires organising
• Whether a corner unit model would be better suited to the location of the room where you intend to keep the cabinet
• Other items available in the same oak furniture collection - to be able to furnish the room in a consistent manner with matching furniture units

Virtually every unit listed here includes an open shelf area which is the designated area for media devices that are remote control operated. If you only have one device that you intend to keep here - the DVD player for example - the space of this shelf isn't too much of a concern, but if on the other hand you have multiple items then you are best choosing a model with ample space in this area such as the Chaucer Solid Oak TV Cabinet.

In addition to this larger open shelf, certain models come equipped with a drawer, cupboard, smaller shelves, or possibly all 3 in some models. TV stands that do include a cupboard will include either a solid oak door or one with a glass panel, keeping the contents slightly visible when closed.

If you have the room and necessity then one of the larger oak TV cabinets could be a realistic option for you to look at. The Large Rustic Solid Oak TV Cabinet is a popular option for something with a traditional look to it while the Andorra Solid Oak TV Unit benefits from a more contemporary look - fitted with closed cupboard spaces on either side of the unit.

With units that take a minimalist approach to design it can be hard to define an established look, which is where the style of handle comes in. Two identical stands can be given two completely different looks by including either antique style bronze handles or sleek brushed metal handles.

Dark or Light Oak

Between most of the oak TV units the difference in tone of the wood can appear hard to distinguish, whereas the Dark Oak TV Stand listed here at less than £250 certainly stands out from the rest.

Dark oak stands are not suitable for every home, and with the majority of the TV units for sale here made from a lighter oak it is these lighter models that are the better selling.

Light oak tends to have a more modern look and feel to it, but there are plenty of darker oak models that are styled suitably for the modern and traditional home alike such as the Small Rustic Solid Oak TV Cabinet.

Oak Corner TV Units

An oak corner TV unit is designed to maximise the available space in your living room or bedroom by fitting snuggly into one of the corners. In most cases, the corner tends to be the ideal location for a television - both the smaller and larger wide screen models - and a regular unit positioned at an angle across the corner can be very wasteful of precious floor space.

There are several examples of the oak TV corner unit listed here, but they can be harder to find than the more commonly found regular shape. The York Light Oak Corner TV Unit shown above is made from beautiful light oak wood and offers a central cabinet area. As you would expect with any modern unit it provides discreet cable holes to run wiring out of the back of the unit and away from view.

One of the larger units is the Cairo Large Solid Oak Corner TV Cabinet which boasts an impressive 6 drawers for concealed storage and maximum control over how you organise your things.