How to Choose the Right TV Unit Size for Your Living Room

How to Choose the Right TV Unit Size for Your Living Room

Picking the right TV unit isn't just about what looks good in the showroom — it's about how it works in your actual room, with your actual TV, and your family's daily routine. Get the size wrong and you're either cramped for storage or swamped by furniture. This guide walks you through everything you need to know to get it right the first time.

Step 1: Start With Your TV Size

The most common starting point is matching your TV unit to your television. The general rule is that your TV unit should be wider than the base of your TV — ideally with at least 10–15cm of clearance on each side. This gives you visual balance and prevents the TV from looking like it's overhanging the edge.

✦ Quick rule: Your TV unit should be at least as wide as your TV screen's diagonal measurement, and ideally 20–30cm wider.

TV Screen Size TV Stand Width (approx.) Recommended Unit Width
55 inches ~85–100cm 120–150cm
65 inches ~100–120cm 150–180cm
75 inches ~120–140cm 180–200cm
85 inches ~140–160cm 200cm+

Pro tip: Don't just measure your TV's screen — measure the width of its base feet (the two legs that actually sit on the unit). This is the number that matters when choosing shelf or top surface width.

Step 2: Measure Your Room

Once you know your TV size, look at the wall space available. A unit that's too wide for the wall will make the room feel tight and cluttered; one that's too narrow will look lost.

Wall Width

Measure the full width of the wall where the unit will sit, then subtract the space you want to leave on each side. Leaving at least 30–50cm of clear wall on either side gives the room breathing room and stops the furniture from feeling like it's fighting the architecture.

Room Depth & Viewing Distance

This affects how large a TV (and therefore how large a unit) is appropriate for your space:

TV Screen Size Minimum Viewing Distance Ideal Viewing Distance
55 inches 1.4m 2.0–2.5m
65 inches 1.6m 2.5–3.0m
75 inches 1.9m 3.0–3.5m
85 inches 2.2m 3.5–4.0m

If your lounge is only 4m deep, a 200cm entertainment unit with an 85" TV will likely feel oversized. A 65"–75" TV on a 180cm TV unit would probably suit better in that space.

Step 3: Think About Height — Lowline vs. Standard

The height of your TV unit affects both ergonomics and the feel of the room. Ideally, when seated on your sofa, the centre of your TV screen should be roughly at eye level — typically around 100–110cm from the floor for most adults.

Lowline TV Units (35–45cm tall)

Lowline units sit close to the ground and work best when wall-mounting your TV above them, or when your sofa sits low. They create a sleek, modern aesthetic and make rooms feel larger and more open — popular in contemporary and Scandi-style homes.

Standard Height Units (50–65cm tall)

Standard units place the TV at a more traditional height, better suited for floor-standing TVs. They also tend to offer more internal storage — deeper drawers and taller cupboard sections.

Step 4: Choose Your Material & Style

Once you've nailed down the size, material and finish is where you personalise your choice. The right material ties together your entire living room aesthetic. We stock four main styles across our full TV and entertainment unit range:

Style Best For Shop
Timber Warm, natural tones. Suits Scandi, rustic, and classic contemporary interiors. Timber TV Units →
Glass Sleek and light. Ideal for modern, minimalist, or small-space interiors. Glass TV Units →
Marble Luxurious and timeless. Perfect for Hamptons, glamour, or high-end contemporary style. Marble TV Units →
Affordable Great style without the price tag. Warehouse prices from $499. Affordable TV Units →

Style tip: Black and gold finishes are the most versatile across different sofa colours. Timber units work best with warm-toned lounges and wooden floors. White or marble units brighten spaces with dark feature walls or grey couches.

Step 5: Plan Your Storage Needs

TV units do a lot more than hold a screen. Before you buy, think through what you actually need to store:

  • Gaming consoles — PlayStation and Xbox are larger than they used to be; measure your console before assuming it'll fit in a standard shelf bay
  • Set-top box / Apple TV / streaming stick — usually small, but needs ventilation and access
  • Soundbar — either sits in front of the unit or on the top surface; factor in the depth required
  • DVD/Blu-ray collections — drawer storage keeps these tidy and dust-free
  • Remotes, cables, and accessories — a unit with at least two drawers makes a huge difference to daily tidiness

As a general rule, the wider the unit, the more storage it provides. A 200cm TV unit typically offers two to three times the storage of a 120cm unit — ideal for families with multiple devices or anyone who wants their living room clutter-free.

Cable management tip: Look for units with pre-drilled cable holes or open backs. Running cables through a closed-back unit is frustrating and can restrict airflow around devices.

Step 6: Choose Your Size Category

Now that you've considered your TV, room, height preference, and storage needs, it's time to settle on a size:

Unit Width Best For Typical TV Size Shop
Up to 150cm Small rooms, bedrooms, apartments Up to 60" Affordable TV Units
180cm Standard-sized lounge rooms 65"–75" 180cm TV Units
200cm Large living rooms, open-plan areas, home theatres 75"–90" 200cm TV Units

Is a 200cm TV Unit Right for You?

A 200cm TV unit (also called a 2m TV unit or extra wide entertainment unit) is the most popular choice for larger Australian homes — particularly open-plan living areas where the TV wall is a key architectural feature. At 200cm wide, these units comfortably support TVs from 75" to 90", provide generous storage across their full width, and create a commanding focal point that anchors a large room.

If your living room is over 4 metres wide, or you're working with an open-plan layout, a 200cm TV unit is almost always the right choice. Browse our full 200cm TV unit range — 12 styles from $799, available in-store in Brisbane and Gold Coast or online with free metro delivery.

Summary: TV Unit Size Checklist

Before you buy, run through this quick checklist:

  1. ✅ Measure the width of your TV's base feet (not the screen diagonal)
  2. ✅ Measure your wall width and subtract 30–50cm each side
  3. ✅ Check your seating distance matches the TV size you're planning
  4. ✅ Decide between lowline (wall-mount) and standard height (floor-standing)
  5. ✅ Choose your material: timber, glass, or marble
  6. ✅ List every device you need to store and confirm they'll fit
  7. ✅ Pick your size: 180cm for standard rooms, 200cm for larger or open-plan spaces

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