Planning A Custom Entertainment Center or Media Wall? 10 Decisions to Make Before You Start
A custom entertainment center can completely transform a living room, bonus room, family room, or media room.
Unlike a freestanding TV stand, a built-in entertainment center is designed specifically for the wall, the television, the room, and the way your household uses the space. It can provide closed storage, open display shelves, hidden wiring, space for electronics, and a more finished architectural appearance.
However, there is more to planning one than choosing an inspiration photo.
The size of the wall, television placement, storage needs, cabinet depth, electrical requirements, and room proportions all affect the final design. Making those decisions early can help prevent awkward layouts, wasted storage, visible cords, and costly changes later.
Here are 10 important decisions to make before starting a custom entertainment center or media wall project.
1. Decide What the Entertainment Center Needs to Do
Before choosing colors, door styles, or decorative details, think about how the wall needs to function.
Some homeowners primarily want to create a focal point around the television. Others need significant storage for electronics, toys, books, games, blankets, or household items.
Ask yourself:
Do you need closed storage, open display space, or both?
Will the cabinets hold gaming systems or media equipment?
Do you want room for books, photos, or decorative objects?
Are there toys, games, or everyday items you would like to hide?
Would drawers be more useful than doors?
Do you need space for a soundbar, speakers, or internet equipment?
Is the television the main focus, or do you want the cabinetry to feel equally prominent?
The best entertainment centers are not only attractive. They also make the room easier to use.
Knowing what needs to be stored will help determine the depth, height, and configuration of the cabinetry.
2. Choose the Television Size Before Finalizing the Design
The television is usually the visual center of an entertainment wall, so its dimensions should be confirmed early.
A built-in designed around a 55-inch television will have very different proportions than one designed around an 85-inch television.
Before finalizing the cabinetry, consider:
The current television size
Whether you plan to upgrade later
The width and height of the television
The viewing distance from the seating area
Whether the television will be wall-mounted or sit on cabinetry
Space needed around the television
Soundbar placement
Access to cords and connections
It is often wise to allow some flexibility around the television, especially if you expect to replace it in the future.
However, leaving too much empty space can make the unit look unfinished. The goal is to create enough breathing room without making the television appear lost inside the design.
3. Decide Whether the Television Should Be Centered
A centered television with matching cabinetry on both sides creates a balanced, traditional look.
However, the television does not always have to sit in the exact center of the wall.
An asymmetrical layout may work better when:
A doorway or window interrupts the wall
One side needs more storage
The television needs to align with the seating
The wall is unusually wide
The room has an off-center focal point
The homeowner prefers a more modern design
An asymmetrical entertainment center might combine the television with a tall storage cabinet on one side and floating shelves on the other.
The design does not need to match perfectly from side to side to feel intentional. Repeating cabinet colors, shelf thicknesses, hardware, or trim details can create visual balance.
4. Decide How Much Closed Storage You Need
Open shelving gets a lot of attention because it is visually prominent, but closed cabinetry is often the most useful part of an entertainment center.
Base cabinets, drawers, and tall cabinets can hide:
Gaming systems
Board games
Children’s toys
Books
Blankets
DVDs
Electronics
Cords and accessories
Pet supplies
Seasonal décor
Craft supplies
Think about what you want to store before deciding on the cabinet layout.
Doors work well for larger items and adjustable shelves. Drawers can make smaller items easier to organize and reach. Tall cabinets can provide substantial storage but also add more visual weight.
A beautiful wall of open shelves may look appealing in an inspiration photo, but it may not be the best fit if you do not enjoy styling shelves or keeping everything on display.
5. Choose Between Open Shelves, Cabinets, or a Combination
Most custom entertainment centers use some combination of closed storage and open shelving.
Open shelves
Open shelves are a good choice for:
Books
Framed photos
Artwork
Plants
Decorative objects
Frequently used items
They help break up a large wall of cabinetry and can make the room feel more open.
However, shelves also require regular styling and dusting. Too many shelves can make a wall feel busy, especially in a smaller room.
Upper cabinets
Upper cabinets provide additional concealed storage and create a more substantial built-in appearance.
They may be a good option when:
Storage is the top priority
The room lacks closets
The homeowner prefers a cleaner appearance
Items need to be kept away from children or pets
The wall is large enough to support more cabinetry
A combination
Many entertainment centers combine base cabinets, open shelving, and one or two taller enclosed sections.
This approach provides practical storage while keeping the design from feeling too heavy.
6. Determine the Right Cabinet Depth
Custom entertainment centers do not have to use standard kitchen cabinet dimensions.
The ideal depth depends on the items being stored, the size of the room, and the location of the television.
Shallower cabinetry may be appropriate for:
Books
Décor
Small electronics
Narrow rooms
Walkways with limited clearance
Deeper cabinetry may be needed for:
Gaming consoles
Audio equipment
Large storage baskets
Board games
Toys
Printers
Household storage
Cabinet depth also affects the overall appearance of the entertainment center.
A deeper base can create a furniture-like feel, while shallower upper shelves can keep the wall from appearing bulky.
It is important to consider nearby furniture and walking paths. A design that looks proportionate on paper may still feel too deep once a sofa, coffee table, or recliner is placed in front of it.
7. Plan for Electronics and Ventilation
Electronics need more than a place to sit.
Gaming systems, receivers, cable boxes, routers, and other equipment generate heat and may need airflow.
Before finalizing the cabinet design, consider:
Which electronics will be stored inside cabinets
Whether doors should have ventilation
Whether equipment uses remote signals
How cords will move between components
Whether devices need regular access
Where the router or internet equipment will sit
Whether equipment may be replaced later
Electronics should remain accessible after installation.
Avoid creating a design where outlets, connections, or equipment become permanently sealed behind cabinetry.
In some cases, open shelving, vented doors, removable backs, or dedicated equipment compartments may be helpful.
8. Plan Electrical Work and Cord Management Early
One of the biggest benefits of a custom entertainment center is the ability to reduce visible cords.
That requires planning before the cabinetry is installed.
Consider whether you need power for:
The television
A soundbar
Gaming systems
Cable or streaming equipment
Speakers
Shelf lighting
Cabinet lighting
Sconces
Internet equipment
Charging stations
You should also determine where HDMI cables, power cords, speaker wires, and other connections will travel.
A licensed electrician may need to relocate outlets, add a recessed television outlet, install additional power, or provide wiring for lighting.
These decisions are much easier to address before construction begins.
Adding electrical work after the cabinetry is installed can be more difficult and may require cutting into finished surfaces.
9. Consider the Proportions of the Entire Room
An entertainment center should be designed for the room it will live in, not copied directly from an online photo.
An inspiration image may have been created for a much wider wall, taller ceiling, smaller television, or larger room.
Important measurements include:
Total wall width
Ceiling height
Television dimensions
Distance from the television to the seating area
Locations of doors and windows
Existing crown molding and baseboards
Floor vents and return vents
Wall outlets
Available cabinet depth
Nearby furniture placement
A very large wall may need taller shelving, wider cabinets, or stronger trim details to feel complete.
A smaller wall may feel crowded if too many cabinets, shelves, moldings, and decorative features are added.
Television size also matters. A large television can overpower narrow side towers, while a smaller television may look lost within an oversized opening.
Good design is often about knowing what to leave out.
10. Choose the Style, Finish, and Architectural Details
Once the functional decisions are made, the design can be shaped around the style of the home.
Painted cabinetry
Painted entertainment centers can:
Match the existing trim
Blend into the wall
Create a bold focal point
Work with traditional or modern interiors
Make a large unit feel cohesive
White and off-white remain popular, but deeper colors such as navy, green, charcoal, and black can create a more dramatic look.
Some homeowners choose to paint the cabinetry, walls, shelving, and trim the same color for a seamless appearance.
Stained or natural wood
Natural or stained wood adds warmth and highlights the material itself.
Wood finishes can work well for:
Floating shelves
Cabinet tops
Full entertainment centers
Modern or organic interiors
Rooms with neutral finishes
Spaces that need more visual warmth
Painted cabinetry can also be combined with natural wood accents, such as white oak shelves or a stained cabinet top.
Architectural details
Additional details may include:
Crown molding
Furniture-style bases
Face-frame cabinetry
Inset or overlay doors
Decorative end panels
Applied molding
Arched details
Fluted or reeded accents
Integrated lighting
Contrasting shelf backs
Each added detail affects the overall style, complexity, and visual weight of the design.
Common Entertainment Center Planning Mistakes
Many design problems can be avoided by making a few decisions before construction begins.
Common mistakes include:
Designing the cabinetry before confirming the television size
Forgetting to allow room for a future TV upgrade
Not planning for cords and outlets
Sealing electronics behind inaccessible cabinetry
Ignoring heat and ventilation
Adding too many open shelves
Underestimating how much closed storage is needed
Choosing cabinetry that is too deep for the room
Ignoring vents, windows, doors, or existing trim
Copying an inspiration photo without considering the room’s actual proportions
Planning around appearance without considering daily use
A thoughtful planning process is just as important as the final style.
What Should You Gather Before Requesting a Quote?
Providing clear information at the beginning can help a custom cabinetry company understand your goals and prepare a more useful initial estimate.
Before requesting a quote for a custom entertainment center, gather:
A straight-on photo of the entire wall
Photos showing nearby doors, windows, vents, and adjoining walls
Approximate wall width
Approximate ceiling height
Television size
Soundbar dimensions, if applicable
A list of electronics that need to be stored
Two or three inspiration photos
A list of what you need to store
Your preferred paint or stain direction
Any lighting ideas
Your ideal project timeline
It is also helpful to explain which features matter most.
For example, let the contractor know whether your priority is maximizing storage, creating a clean television wall, displaying books and décor, hiding electronics, or making the room feel more architecturally finished.
Planning a Custom Entertainment Center in Raleigh, NC
A well-designed entertainment center should feel like it belongs in the room.
The television, cabinetry, shelving, trim, and finishes should work together instead of competing for attention. Careful planning also ensures the wall functions well for your household long after installation is complete.
Raleigh Woodworks designs and builds custom entertainment centers, media walls, shelving, and living room cabinetry for homeowners throughout Raleigh and the surrounding Triangle area.
Our process begins with a virtual consultation, where we review your space, inspiration photos, approximate dimensions, storage needs, and overall goals. From there, we can help determine whether the project is a good fit and discuss the next steps toward a custom design.
Before booking your consultation, gather a few photos and approximate measurements of the space so we can make the most of our time together.
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