Decorating Ideas for Your Entertainment Center

Mike Beard • Feb 11, 2022

Decorating your entertainment center can be a challenge if you aren't sure where to begin. There are a variety of ways to decorate it to add an aesthetically pleasing design to this part of your home.

Since the main part of an entertainment center is a TV, it's best to think of all the spaces around the TV and decorate each entity:

The TV Section
The Spot Behind The TV
The Space Below The TV
The Area Beside The TV

Read on to learn how to decorate each section and tie it all together as you create a magazine-worthy entertainment center.

The TV Section

Before you do any decorating of your entertainment center, first figure out where your TV is going. This will ultimately help you decide which type of configuration you should have.

Wall Mounted

Some people like the look of having their television mounted on the wall. If you have a very large TV but don’t want to have a large entertainment center, this could be a good option. There are TV wall brackets that allow you to move it from side to side or full-motion where you can even extend the TV out, if necessary.

Built-In or Full Wall Centers

If you have the space to select a built-in or full entertainment center, it could be a super design choice. There will be a spot for your TV, and then shelves, drawers, and cubbies are already spaced out accordingly. You can choose to purchase one already made and ready to install or create a custom one by piecing together matching furniture or building it yourself.

TV Stands

Regular TV stands are still popular. They have the surface area to hold a decent size television and come with some form of storage or drawers underneath. While these may sound less flashy, there’s a lot that can be done decoration-wise to spruce it up.

Media Fireplace

A media fireplace resembles a regular TV stand but has a built-in fireplace for extra appeal. Your television can then be placed on top of the stand or mounted on the wall. Of course, before purchasing anything, make sure to measure the dimensions of your television first. If you are unsure of what type of TV to purchase, check out this article by Cinema Sound Unlimited Inc., What Are The Best High-Quality Large Screen TVs by Samsung.

The Spot Behind The TV

If you’re utilizing a full entertainment center, adding some contrast behind the TV is a nice way to break things up. Some people chose to paint that wall a darker color, or dress it up with wallpaper. Others prefer a wood or shiplap accent to make it stand out.

Another way to decorate the area behind your television is by creating a gallery wall. A gallery wall should be thought out strategically. Whether you’re going to choose photos of your favorite moments or photos of places you’ve traveled, decide on a theme so it all looks unified. To stay consistent, it’s a nice touch to use matching frames as well.

Pottery Barn has some great tips and ideas on how to create a gallery wall that looks cohesive for your space. If you're lacking wall space, another option is to place a large single photo or painting above the TV. You can also add accent pieces to it.

The Space Below The TV

The space below your entertainment center usually houses various media, from DVDs, to speakers, to gaming devices. The key to decorating this area is to organize accordingly. Start by purchasing either a cable management sleeve or cable management system (or both) to hide those pesky wires.

The sleeve is a nice touch especially if your TV is mounted to the wall and you have hanging wires. The cable management system goes behind the entertainment center but organizes the wires in a way that your future self will surely appreciate.

Once the wires are organized, you can move on to the media itself. Rather than placing your collection in piles, purchase decorative storage bins and baskets for them. This will not only keep you organized but also add extra texture to your entertainment area that can be matched throughout the rest of the room.

The Area Beside The TV

The space beside the TV can include the walls or any surface space on the actual entertainment center. The decorations you choose to showcase here can be applied throughout the entire room. Adding plants to your entertainment area is another way to balance everything out.

Greenery adds texture, breaks up the electronic look, and is beneficial for your health too. Candles, knickknacks, and lighting are other decorating elements that can be added beside your television. If you decorate for the various yearly holidays, you can also choose to display your decorations in this space and swap them out as needed.

Conclusion

The living room, family room, or den will typically act as “the spot” when hosting guests. Follow the tips above when decorating your entertainment center to bring new life to this area of your home!