There are several key points to look for when buying an entertainment center, be sure that your entertainment center is in proportion to your TV. Make sure to check the weight capacity of entertainment centers before choosing the right one for your TV. Choose a small entertainment center for a short wall, or a larger entertainment center for a long wall, some models can also be used as a corner unit to minimize space.
Additional Size Considerations
Measure Your TV – Even though most centers are adjustable, it's important to know the dimensions of your television just in case the entertainment center you are looking at is too large or too small for your TV. Double check the height and width measurements when shopping for an entertainment center for an LCD TV. A 32-inch LCD TV is shorter and wider than a 32-inch CRT (Standard) TV.
Measure your Living Room – Or more specifically, measure the area you have designated for your center. You may want a huge, expansive wall unit but may only have room for a modest TV stand.
Take Inventory – Figure out what you need to store in your entertainment center. From DVD players to game consoles, you'll be surprised how many other electronics you have besides your television. You also will want to have your DVDs, game cartridges, music selection, and other accessories within reach.
Pick your Storage – Cabinets and shelves, closed or open, lots or little; these are all things you have to think about when deciding how to store your equipment and accessories. Some units have a combination of cabinets and shelves so that you can display attractive knickknacks as well as hide your DVDs and other media. Open cabinets don't have sides so they will give you a more spacious feel, but they don't conceal much so you may have to find alternative storage for your less attractive media.
