Popularity of a floating media center is on the rise. As living spaces grow smaller sleeker designs become more and more in demand. Giant wall systems and their bulky shapes eat up a lot of floor space. Not to mention that they often look old-fashioned and are quite expensive. Floating shelves and modern entertainment systems, on the other hand, can accommodate a lot of things like DVDs, books, decor objects without taking up any space at all. They come in various styles, shapes and sizes. And the choice varies greatly between a thin shelf with less storage capacity but airier look and a bulkier TV cabinet with multiple shelves and drawers.
Carefully chosen floating media center is not only about style though. Its functionality should correspond with your needs. If you have a lot of things in your media center you’re probably better off investing in a wall system. This is especially true if you don’t want to have a separate console or a bookcase.
Floating Media Center Designs for Modern Living Rooms
Designed by Prepac Furniture this best-selling Altus wall-mounted TV stand comes in a shape similar to that of a piano complete with three shelves. Its elegant silhouette must have been what made it so popular. Available in black, espresso and white this is a great combination of modern and classic styles.
This modern lacquered entertainment center by Casabianca Home has some edge to it thanks to its metallic accents. A couple of glass inserts allow a peek of what’s inside but this unit is perfect for hiding your precious movie or music collection.
Montana Sound is a collection of customizable floating boxes that come in a wide variety of colors both bright and pastel. Assembling a floating media center out of these must be a lot of fun and allows you to control its size, shape and color scheme.
Floating Entertainment Centers
Some of the modern entertainment centers are quite big still, but designer Massimo Castagna makes his designs space-conscious. He also adds a sliding screen to allow you to hide (and protect) your TV screen when it’s not in use.
This marble-like design is built with a feature wall as a backdrop for the floating opaque and transparent shelves with a TV unit hidden behind a glossy white panel.
By the way, a media center with a built-in feature wall is a great way to immediately create a focus in the room. Manhattan Comfort specializes in designs like that. One of them is a City 2.2 Theater Panel that features two shelves, on top and bottom, for sweet nothings and external devices. It doesn’t just create a focus but also keeps the area looking neat and clean.
An Italian design company Presotto offers a lot of different floating entertainment systems. Its I-modulART line of modular furniture allows numerous combinations that vary in style and size. It consists of simple cabinet units and floating shelves.
CrossART line from the same brand works by the same principle but this one is more focused around shelving units and bookcases.
Wooden Floating Media Centers
Simple and natural-looking design makes a City Life wall-mounted media console by South Shore Furniture simply versatile. Hang it in a modern or rustic living room and it will work just fine. Its a bit rough finish creates a nice contrast with a polished high-tech style of a regular TV.
Created by Domus Arte this Charming Oak TV stand is the one that truly stands out among all others thanks to its asymmetrical shape and peculiar textured wood details.
But if you’re looking for something more polished an Ikon Floating Entertainment Set from Deluxe Deco makes a beautiful combination for a media zone or an open layout living room.
Woodwaves Entertainment Units
Not everyone needs a modern TV stand and that’s where Woodwaves Inc. come to the rescue. Their French shabby chic set of three floating bookshelves and cabinets will frame a big wall-mounted TV and give your interior a romantic touch.
Another option from the brand is this retro TV stand that features two small doors at the sides and two narrow open shelves.
Their Hollywood TV stand is clearly an Art Deco-inspired piece. Available in espresso finish it features reversible contrasting gold inserts in the side doors that can be changed, if desired.
Creative Media Centers
If you are looking to dress up your floating media center, CorteZARI has created a thing just for that. Greta TV unit is a shelving system with a designated center shelf for your TV whose frame looks just like that of an artwork.
Besides shelves there are TV cabinets that aren’t your typical floating consoles. Fimar, for instance, makes wall-mounted cabinets that look like regular medicine cabinets and which also double as wall mounts for TVs.
Rack Free is another one of their designs that opens outwards. In a set with a floating console it makes for a really modern entertainment center.
Minimalist practicality is what makes this TV wall system from Jesse Chicago so amazing. Outlining the area for the media wall, the cabinets allow for both display and hidden storage.
Customized Floating TV Cabinets
Custom-built pieces like this one by Nick Allman Design & Fabrication are definitely unique. Built in 2013 for a private residence this Media Cabinet combines a glossy finish with the rough wood.
Using their manufacturing expertise Custom Design turn customers’ ideas into reality. This floating entertainment center by Trevor Hurow features an incredible plywood accent strip that runs from console along the wall and across the dark wood floors.
Akroyd Furniture is another design firm that specializes in handmade furnishings. This screened floating cabinet is very mid-century modern and allows both hidden and display storage.
Will you get a floating media center?
Don’t want to settle for a commercial floating media center? There are quite a few options still. Modular furniture, for one, is a great base for your own custom TV unit. Hanging a few floating shelves can save some money and yet create a neat minimalist look. The best thing about them is that even a small living area can accommodate them. On the other hand, designer pieces will make your interior look more impressive and will probably have some unique custom features.
