Picture Perfect : Storing - Entertainment Units

Get control of your home entertainment equipment
By Brad Duf ton, Store Manager, BoConcept Cambridge, USA

The big challenge with home entertainment equipment is that you can't live without it, while at the same time you don't want it taking over your living space. Working with interiors and design furniture, I love LCD flat screens because they are attractively designed. They provide the perfect picture in nearly any light and from nearly any angle, making them easy to place anywhere in a room.

That doesn't take away from the fact that a TV has lots of extra gadgets such as DVD players, hard disk recorders, satellite boxes and game consoles. And then there are, of course, the cables and wires. It can easily become a huge mess – grounds for a well-known domestic dispute! Luckily, there are ways to solve this problem.

Home entertainment storage made easy with units designed for its purpose

1: Entertainment unit, black lacquerl high-luster black. H9½xW60¾xD20". [Modii - M301] 2: Wall mounted cabinet, pcs, black lacquerl high-luster black. H14xW20¼xD8½". [Modii - 4220] 3: CD insert, brushed steel. H½xW18½xD14". [Volani - 380]

Replace the TV with a projector or hide the set with big sliding doors

1: Base, black-stained oak veneer. H8¾xW161½xD23¾". [Volani - VO28] 2: Wall mounted top cabinet, black-stained oak veneerl high-luster black. H15¼xW161½xD12". [Volani - VO31] 3: Wall shelf, pcs, black-stained oak veneer. H2xW59¼xD8¾". [Occa - 81] 4: Wall system with sliding door, black-stained oak veneer. H82¼xW129¼xD17". [Basic XT - X02]

Designed to work

First of all, I have to say that there is a world of difference between a randomly selected shelving system and a home entertainment unit, which is designed specifically for its purpose. The shelves should be able to hold the weight of all your equipment. A wellconstructed, more stable entertainment unit eliminates unnecessary vibrations and ensures better sound quality. To optimize storage space, home entertainment units are also designed with a close eye on the measurements of new DVD players, game consoles, and CDs and DVDs.

Alternatively, units with adjustable shelving allow you to place the shelves according to the size of your home entertainment equipment. Many units feature drawers specifically designed for storing CDs and DVDs. Glass front panels ensure that your remote control can still remain in contact with your DVD player even though it is hidden. And finally, wires and cables are also hidden away. So I would always recommend investing in a piece of home entertainment furniture to get maximum enjoyment from your TV.

Hide and Seek

I believe that a TV, even the new, elegant LCDs, should complement a room, not dominate it. It should be difficult to locate the TV at first glance. The Basic XT system, which features a sliding door to hide the TV, is the ideal solution. On the one hand, you get enough room for a 50" LCD screen and all the extra gadgets that go along with it. On the other hand, you can simply slide the door shut to hide the TV, and reveal your decorative belongings, magazines and books on the other side.

The best view

To get the most out of your investment, remember what your mother always said about sitting too close to the TV. For the optimal viewing experience, you need to maintain the right distance between your viewing area and your television screen.

The right distance depends on the size of your TV:
• For 20-27" TVs, you should be able to watch comfortably from 2½ to 5 feet away.
• For 32-37" TVs, you should sit 6 to 8 feet back from the screen itself.
• For 42-46" TVs, you'll need 10 to 14 feet between you and the screen.
• For 50"-TVs, the best view is achieved from 12 to 16 feet away.

Make sure that the TV is at a height where your eyes are level with the middle of the screen. Now lean back, switch it on and enjoy the show!