When you have a determined space in your living room, lounge room or TV Room, it’s very tempting to let this dictate the size of your Entertainment Unit. But the internal measurements of the Entertainment Unit and what you will store in the unit are just as important to consider.
Accurate Measurements
Measuring an Entertainment Unit can be very tricky! Taking accurate measurements is very important to make sure that the unit will store all of the consoles, screens and discs that you need to house inside it. Remember that its not just the external dimensions of the Entertainment unit you need – measure up the internal dimensions as well to make sure that things will fit.
What size is your Television
As well as measuring the unit, make sure you have an accurate measurement of the television that the cabinet will house. A television screen measurement is taken on the diagonal. Never assume that your TV will fit into any kind of TV Cabinet – older entertainment units are not built to accommodate wide screen televisions.
What will you be Storing in your Entertainment Unit
First, collect together everything you’re planning to house inside the unit and measure these items for height, depth and width. And write the measurements down!
- TV (on the diagonal, and height including stand)
- DVD Player
- PVR or Set-top Box
- Gaming System
- Audio
- Speakers
- Power Boards and Surge Protectors
Now you’re ready to measure the entertainment unit itself, using a standard tape measure.
Depth: Measure the depth of the entertainment unit – and allow at least 3 cm for cords and plugs at the back of any of the devices. This is a really important measurement, and one that will dictate whether this is the right cabinet for you or not. You want your television screen to be able to rest at least 5 cm back inside the unit for added safety.
Height: Measure the available height of the entertainment unit. A snug fit is fine but make sure you can still reach in to remove the screen when you want to.
Length: Measure the available length of the entertainment cabinet. Remember that some screens have buttons on the side which you’ll need to leave room to access. When you’re measuring the Entertainment Unit, pay special attention to which internal shelves and drawers can be removed and which are fixed. This will impact on the components that will fit inside the unit. If everything fits and fits safely- you’re good to go.
Getting ready to buy or sell an Entertainment Unit? Take the guesswork out of the preparation, check out our Furniture Guides. At HouseofHome.com.au we’ve got the best tips on how to buy or sell Entertainment Units.
