Inspiration

Tips on Purchasing an Entertainment Center

August 6, 2014

An entertainment center can be a beautiful addition to any room of the house. Because it is a major purchase, though, it is important to think carefully about what you require from the piece, how it will fit into your home, and how you want to use it before making any decisions. Today we share a few tips on purchasing an entertainment center for your home.

There are all types of entertainment centers, from small, compact pieces to enormous wall-size centers full of shelving and cabinetry. Determining exactly what you plan to store in the entertainment center will go a long way in helping you decide which size piece to buy. For example, if you have a small television, a DVD player, and a compact stereo, there is no sense in buying a large, expensive piece of furniture. However, if you've just purchased a fifty-inch television, have a DVD player, VCR, component stereo system, and hundreds of CD's and movies, you will obviously require something a bit larger.

It is important to consider the décor and size of the room you are planning to put the entertainment center in, as well. A minimalist, small, modern room full of metal and glass would look pretty silly with a gigantic oak entertainment center stuck against one wall. Instead, opt for one of the sleeker models, perhaps made of the same material that composes your coffee table and bookshelves. By the same token, large, warm, wood-accented rooms would call for a larger wooden entertainment center – your best bet would be to find a wood that matches the tones of any rugs or other furniture you already own.

Remember, the entertainment center is a piece of furniture, and as such should accompany the rest of the room rather than dominate it. If, however, you are designing a room purely for entertainment – a home theater center, for example, or a mecca in which to watch sports – the entertainment center can certainly be the centerpiece of the room. Just make certain that you have enough space for seating, tables and lighting. Nobody wants to be sitting inches from the television, no matter how nice the entertainment center might be.

Once you've decided on the size and location of the piece, it is time to decide on the specifics. For example, do you want to have the television exposed, or enclosed by a cabinet? Both are popular styles, but some people enjoy having their television more accessible while others, especially if the entertainment center is going to have multiple uses, or is going to be in a room that will be used for more formal gatherings, prefer to keep it hidden. Other questions to consider are whether you want special shelving for CD's or DVD's built into the unit, and whether or not you want display shelves for other items such as curios or others knickknacks. Again, only you can determine exactly how the center is going to function in your home.

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