How to Choose Shelving and Storage for a Media Wall

A media wall can look balanced in a design and still be awkward to live with if the storage does not suit what you actually use. Before choosing shelves or cupboards, work out what needs a home, how often you need to reach it and what you want the room to feel like.

Here at PSG Northampton, we think that is the useful starting point for planning a media wall: make the storage work for the room, not just the picture you have in mind.

Start with what you need to store

List the items you expect to keep around the TV. That might include media equipment, games, books, ornaments or everyday items you would rather put away. Their size and how often you use them will help determine whether open shelves, enclosed storage or a combination makes sense.

Measure the items themselves, including any cables or plugs that take up space behind them. A shelf that looks generous in a sketch can become a tight fit once equipment is in place. Also think about whether you need to connect, remove or reach an item regularly. A storage space that hides everything but makes routine access difficult may not be the right choice.

Open shelves or closed storage?

Open shelves make displayed items easy to see and reach. They suit things you want to keep on show, but everything on them remains visible. If you prefer a quieter look, or have smaller items that can make a room feel busy, closed storage may suit you better. It keeps contents out of sight, though you will need to open doors to access them.

A mixed layout can balance those priorities. You might reserve open shelves for a few chosen items and use closed compartments for things you do not want on display. The key is deciding what each section is for before settling on the overall arrangement. Otherwise, you can end up with attractive shelves that do not hold the things you meant them to.

Think about depth, access and movement

Storage needs room to do its job, but extra depth is not automatically better. Consider the dimensions of the objects going inside, how you will take them out and whether projecting shelves will interfere with movement through the room. This matters particularly where the media wall sits near a doorway, walkway or seating area.

For cupboards, consider the space needed to open the doors and reach inside. For shelves, think about whether items can be lifted out without catching on the TV or nearby fittings. Looking at the room from your usual seat can also help: the storage should support the viewing area rather than compete with it.

Plan for equipment and heat

If media equipment will sit inside a cabinet or recess, check the manufacturer’s guidance for ventilation and required clearances. Equipment that needs airflow should not be enclosed in a way that restricts it. Plan access to connections as well, so that changing a device or tracing a cable does not mean emptying the whole storage area.

If the design includes an electric fire, check how much space its instructions require around it when planning nearby shelving or cupboards. Do not assume a space is suitable simply because the fire fits within it. The appliance instructions are the reference for its placement, and the storage layout needs to work around those requirements.

Make the layout fit your room

The same arrangement will not suit every living room. Look at the available wall, the TV position, nearby doors and windows, and where people sit. In Northampton homes, as elsewhere, the actual alcoves and wall layout matter more than an assumed standard room shape. A layout that feels balanced on a drawing may need adjusting once those details are considered.

It can help to separate the decisions: first decide what must be stored, then choose which items should stay visible, and finally consider the space each section needs. That gives you a practical brief for the design rather than starting with a row of shelves and trying to make your belongings fit afterwards.

For more about what a media wall can include, visit our Media Walls page. If you are planning a media wall in Northampton, talk to us about the room, the equipment you use and the storage you want. Those details are what help shape a layout that makes sense for everyday use.