An entertainment center is a piece of furniture that is usually placed in living rooms or home theatre spaces to accommodate various electronic devices such as televisions, gaming consoles, and sound systems. It comes in various designs, sizes, and styles to fit in large and small spaces. The piece typically has shelves, cabinets, and drawers. If you are looking for a unit to house your TV, here are the types of entertainment centers to consider:

Types
You can choose from three main types of entertainment centers:

Wall units
Entertainment walls offer a great amount of storage space to keep everything organized. A typical design here consists of a full wall or part of it covered by a large shelf for a television surrounded by smaller open or closed shelving units for media and accessories. They are larger than TV stands and come in a wide variety of sizes, designs, and colors.

TV stands
TV stands are smaller display units to hold your television and other electronics. They have a low, horizontal design and may come with drawers or cabinets to store accessories. A typical stand has a flat tabletop surface and fits in any room, regardless of the size. Here are the best options you can find:

• Corner TV stands: This design is ideal for compact rooms. Corner stands can hold the TV and offer some storage. They fit conveniently in a corner, saving space.
• Wall-mounted stands: Wall-mounted TV stands offer storage space while freeing up the floor. You can adjust the viewing height and avoid visual clutter.
• Low-profile stands: These TV stands are less bulky and do not take up a lot of space, making them a perfect addition to a compact home. They come with built-in storage to keep accessories out of sight.
• Open-shelving stand: This does not have doors or drawers offering easy access to electronics. An open-shelving TV stand is a popular design and also a stylish visual element.
• Console TV stand: This entertainment center is ideal for storing gaming consoles and other electronics. It offers an abundant surface area for your TV and typically comes with closed shelves or drawers.
• Stands with audio shelves: This type of TV stand comes with a dedicated space for speakers. It has tall structured shelves that complement the central storage space giving the appearance of a full entertainment center.
• Stands with fireplaces: Fireplace TV stands are a combination of TV stands and electric heaters. They are popular because of their design in which the top shelf holds the TV set and the bottom houses the fireplace. It can use LED lights and traditional electric heating technology to offer a realistic-looking flame.
• Stands with hutches: A TV stand with a top hutch is ideal for placing decorative items, speakers, books, and more. This variant takes up less space than entertainment walls.
• Swivel stands: The piece comes with a rotating platform that allows you to adjust the angle in any direction. This helps in better visibility of the television.
• Floating stand: Floating TV stands have a wall-mounted design elevated above the floor, giving a clean look. The TV can stand or be wall-mounted above the floating shelf. The unit may come with additional storage space.

Media chests
Media chests are entertainment centers suitable for bedrooms as well as living rooms. They are tall vertical units, hence, ideal for housing a TV at a comfortable height. Some TV armoire designs have cabinet doors and large drawers on the bottom for storage. It is an ideal piece to hold screens, and accessories can be tucked away when not in use. They also have a hole in the back to keep the wiring hidden, giving a clean and clutter-free look.

Cost
The cost of an entertainment center can vary depending on the size, material, and design. You can either get it custom-built as per your requirements or buy a readymade one. Low-end models may cost under $100, and mid-range ones can cost anywhere between $200 and $800. High-end designs can cost a few hundred to thousands of dollars. Typically, the greater the quality, the higher will be the price of the entertainment complex. The cost of custom entertainment units may be higher than store-bought ones. Custom built-in units are specifically designed for your living space, so their price can range anywhere between $5,000 to $15,000.

Entertainment centers are designed to accommodate virtually any electronic gadgets, screens, and decorative pieces and can be statement pieces in rooms. With an abundance of designs to choose from, you can find the best piece that aligns with your style, budget, and storage needs.