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stephanie_ledesma62

need help finding a media/ entertainment center

7 years ago
I am looking for a new media / entertainment center but I have no idea what kind to get. The one we have now is horrible (my husband has had it since college), but I’m having so much trouble deciding on a new one! The living room coffee table & end tables are all darker wood with glass. Should I get a dark wood media center too? I was worried it would be too much dark wood. My kitchen table is also dark wood & so are my cabinets. You can see the kitchen from my couch, if that matters.

Also, any advice on decorating is welcome! I haven’t started decorating my living room because I don’t know what to do! I have that one empty corner by the staircase that looks bare to me, but I’m not sure.

Comments (23)

  • PRO
    7 years ago

    Hi. You have a great start.

    First, please try to center your sofa on the tv. If there is not enough walking space, then switch your sofa and love seat.

    I would add drapes to give your room a more grown-up and finished feel. For the corner, it is okay with nothing or you can add a plant.

    To transition out of the black, I would recommend something like this.

    https://www.wayfair.com/furniture/pdp/brayden-studio-behan-transitional-7086-tv-stand-byst5756.html?piid=23437406

    The TV should be about 2/3 -3/4 the size of the console. Right now, the console is not wide enough.

    I would add more of the gold color you have in the pillows to the room. Or, choose an alternate accent color. Blue or a deep orange would go well.

  • 7 years ago
    A few ideas.
  • 7 years ago
    A couple more.
  • PRO
    7 years ago

    Why not have something built-in?

  • PRO
    7 years ago

    I think Patricia's idea is great also. The nice thing about the Besta units is that you can intermix colors. For example......a white cabinet and black doors. They also have 2 really nice grey colors.

  • 7 years ago

    My husband would love me to ask this but have you thought about getting a larger tv?

  • 7 years ago
    I will check out besta too! And we def need a larger tv. It’s in the works! I guess we should probably buy the tv before we buy the media center...

    And about drapes, we had custom made shades installed that cost a fortune. We have three huge windows in the living room/ dining room. All are 6’ x 6’. Wouldn’t the drapes interfere with the roll down shades? I never considered drapes because we have those shades.
  • 7 years ago
    And thank you for the tip about switching the love seat and sofa!! I never even thought of that. It bugs me how the sofa is not centered!
  • PRO
    7 years ago

    It appears your shades are inside mount, so you should not have much of an issue with drapes. Just make sure the mounting bracket is deep enough to clear the shades.

  • PRO
    7 years ago

    Why not try something like this below? It might look very nice on your wall below your TV.

    The Luxe in Midtown · More Info

  • 7 years ago
    Were you thinking about the Besta in the photo below? When I google Besta, I get a lot of different options from Ikea. Also, what colors do you think would match with our set up? We have a lot of dark browns... would it be ok to get a white or gray Entertainment center?

    Thank you for your help!
  • 7 years ago
    CDR,

    If I put drapes on my two big windows in the living room, do I need to put the same drapes on my dining room window? It’s the same size as the other windows. The three windows are visible no matter where you are on the second floor. Our layout is just one big rectangle. With the kitchen at front part of house, then dining room, then living area. I’m guessing it would look weird to have drapes on only two of the three windows.

    Again, Thanks for your advice!
  • PRO
    7 years ago
    If you have an open concept, then I would add drapes to all windows. Yes to white or gray. No more brown. It would be helpful if you could post photos if the dining and living areas
  • 7 years ago
    There should be photos of the living area in my original post. I will take photos of the dining area and post them as soon as I get a chance. I can take better pictures of the living area too.
  • 7 years ago

    Since you have blinds for privacy and light control, drapes can be decorative: hung at the sides (outside the window itself) to soften the feeling of the room. You could paint the wall with the TV a dark color which would make the TV basically disappear. Or create a gallery wall with paintings, mirrors, objects, surrounding the TV. It's a beautiful space that needs personality or personalization. Take your time to find what will make you feel good. Visit galleries, antique malls, etc.

  • PRO
    7 years ago

    Love your open concept! I agree with everyone above. decorative soft drapes will be nice on the sides of your windows. Even doing some sheers will soften up the room. Media cabinet, how about this one below. Good luck!



    Four Hands Hadley Suki Media Console · More Info

  • 7 years ago
    Here are some additional pictures of my kitchen, dining area & living area. First picture was taken in my kitchen (I tried to get all three giant windows in the picture. One is behind dining table, the other two are in the living room on left and right, across from each other). the other photos were taken in my living room. I also tried to get a better picture of the coffee table & end tables, so y’all can get a better idea of the color wood I have.

    I can take more pictures if needed!!!
  • PRO
    7 years ago
    Yes. A light gray or a cream console
  • 7 years ago

    You might want to rethink the idea of a media center in this day and age. My media center is literally in my pocket right now. If I mounted it on the wall it would look like a thermostat.

  • 7 years ago
    What about something with some height?
  • 7 years ago

    these "entertainment centers" don't seem to be that much different from the older "out of date" ones except they are more open or a very light wood. Based on recommendations to give away my entertainment center to help it not be a large dark hole, I have moved two of the ends of my entertainment center to the back bedroom we use for our exercise room. The remaining entertainment part I am still trying to work with. I have appreciated and moved toward the suggestions that the houzz people have suggested. Excellent forum to get help.