How do you decorate a TV stand? Keep the decor on either side of the screen and low enough not to block it. Use three to five decorative objects in different shapes and heights, put the tallest piece at one end, add something living or natural, and hide cables and remotes. If the TV takes up most of the surface, move the decor to the wall and the floor around the stand.
The TV is a big black rectangle, and that's what makes this piece of furniture hard to style. These TV stand decor ideas show what to put on the stand, what to put around it, and how to adjust the look for a wall-mounted TV, a small living room or a stand with no TV at all.
Rules That Make TV Stand Decor Look Intentional
| Rule | Why it works |
|---|---|
| Stand wider than the TV | Leaves room for decor; aim for at least several inches each side |
| Low surface decor near the screen | Keeps the view and the remote sensor clear |
| Tall decor at the ends | Frames the TV and draws the eye up |
| Odd numbers | Groups of three look natural |
| Different shapes | A tall vase, a round bowl and a flat book stack feel balanced |
| One or two finishes | Stops the look from getting cluttered |
| A little breathing room | Empty space makes each piece stand out |
If you're still choosing furniture, start with what size TV stand you need. A stand that's too narrow can't be fixed by styling.
What to Put on a TV Stand
1. A tall vase with stems
A tall vase at one end is the classic start. Fill it with branches, dried grasses or faux stems so it reaches about the height of the top of the TV. This single piece of tall decor offsets the wide, flat screen.
2. A table lamp
A small lamp on one side provides a soft glow, which reduces eye strain during evening viewing. Keep the shade clear of the screen so it doesn't reflect light onto it.
3. Framed photos
A framed photo or two brings in personal touches. Lean them against the wall at the end of the stand, overlap them slightly and vary the sizes. Keep the frames in one color.
4. Stacked books
Stacked books add height where you need it. Put a small plant, a candle or a sculptural object on top. A stack also makes a good base for a smaller item that would otherwise look lost.
5. A small plant
A small plant adds life and natural textures next to all that black glass. Pothos and snake plants tolerate the low light beside a TV well. Faux plants are fine if the spot gets no sun. See our guide to decorating with plants.
6. A decorative tray
A decorative tray pulls small items into one group, so remotes and coasters look tidy rather than scattered. Wood, rattan and marble trays all work.
7. Candles and bowls
A low bowl or a trio of candlesticks fits well in front of or beside a screen. Keep lit candles away from electronics, or use flameless ones.
8. Sculptural objects
Organic shapes soften the straight lines of a TV. A ceramic sculpture or a wooden bowl gives the eye something better to rest on when the screen is off.
Styling Open Shelves and Closed Cabinets
On open shelves, use woven baskets for game controllers and cords, and leave some open space around your media boxes. Stick to a few storage pieces in one material. Closed cabinets are the easier option: everything disappears, so you only need to style the top. Before you close the doors, check whether the remote can still reach any equipment inside the cabinet. An IR repeater solves that if it can't.
How to Hide Wires
Visible cables ruin the whole setup, however good your decor is. Bundle them with Velcro ties, run them through the back of the stand and use cable covers on the wall in a color that matches the paint. A power strip mounted to the back of the stand keeps the floor clear. If you're mounting the TV, ask an electrician about an in-wall cable kit. Our guide on how high to mount a TV covers the correct height.
Decorating Around a TV Stand
The TV area includes the wall and floor too, and this is often where the room's real style comes from.
Add floating shelves
Floating shelves on either side of the TV give you more display space without taking up any floor space. Keep them at the same height, or stagger them for a more relaxed look.
Hang wall decor
Art or a small gallery on both sides of the TV makes the screen blend into the tv wall. Black frames work especially well because they echo the screen. Our gallery wall ideas and living room wall decor ideas can help with layouts.
Flank it with tall pieces
Bookcases, tall plants or a floor lamp on each side add height and create a symmetrical look. An accent chair or a small side table on one side balances a long wall.
Paint the wall a dark color
A deep green, navy or charcoal wall helps the TV blend in, so the screen is less obvious when it's off.
TV Stand Decor Ideas by Setup
| Setup | What works |
|---|---|
| TV sits on the stand | Keep the center free; put decor on the ends only |
| Wall-mounted TV | Low decor under the screen, tall decor at each end, leave a gap above the objects |
| Soundbar in front of the TV | Keep everything out of its path; style the ends only |
| Small living room | One tall piece and one low group; use a mirror or art to lift the eye |
| No TV on the stand | Treat it like a sideboard: a large mirror or art above, a lamp and a low group |
How to Style a TV Stand by Decorating Style
- Modern TV stand: keep it spare. Use one tall ceramic vase, one low sculptural object, and a single black frame.
- Mid century: a walnut or warm wood stand with a ceramic lamp, a stack of art books and a trailing plant. See our mid-century modern guide.
- Farmhouse: a woven basket, a wooden bowl and greenery in a stoneware jug.
- Glam: brass candlesticks, a mirrored tray and one large floral arrangement.
- Boho: rattan, trailing plants and layered framed prints.
TV Stands That Are Easy to Style
The stand itself sets the tone, and a longer top gives you more room for decor.
- Orbis Streamline Edge TV Console in Natural Wood or Black Walnut: long and low at 19.7 inches high and 86.6 inches wide, with closed cabinets and drawers. There's room for a large TV with decor on both sides, and everything else stays out of sight.
- Nacre TV Stand: 78.7 inches wide with mother-of-pearl fronts and a marble-style top. The piece is decorative, so keep the styling to a few light pieces and let the fronts reflect light.
- Relievo Panel TV Console: 60 inches wide with a carved white front, a good fit for traditional rooms and a smaller wall.
- White Entertainment Center with 5-Tier Bookcases: 118 inches wide with built-in lighting and open shelves on both sides, so the shelves become the display. Our built-in entertainment center ideas have more on styling this look.
Check the tabletop weight capacity before you add a heavy TV and heavy decor. The Orbis, for example, is rated for 110 pounds on top. See every option in our TV stand collection.
Common TV Stand Decor Mistakes
- Blocking the remote sensor or the bottom of the screen
- Lining up lots of small decor pieces in a row
- Using decor all the same height
- Leaving wires and boxes on show
- Placing heavy objects where a child could pull them down. Anchor tall furniture and TVs, as our guide to anchoring furniture explains
- Choosing a stand narrower than the TV
Related: see our guide to decorating a console table, TV wall ideas, TV stand alternatives, ideas for hiding a TV, guide to hiding TV cords, and guide to cleaning a TV screen.
FAQ
What can I use to decorate my TV stand?
A tall vase, a small lamp, framed photos, stacked books, a small plant and a decorative tray. Pick three to five, not all of them.
What should you put on either side of a TV stand?
Tall pieces such as a floor lamp, a plant or a slim bookcase. Matching pairs give a formal look, and mismatched pieces of similar visual weight look more relaxed.
How do you style a modern TV stand?
Keep it minimal. Use one or two sculptural objects, a clean-lined vase and hidden storage, and leave at least half the surface empty.
Should a TV stand be wider than the TV?
Yes. A wider stand looks more stable, and it leaves room for decor. Many designers suggest a few inches of extra width on each side.
How much decor is too much on a TV stand?
If you can't dust it in a minute or it blocks the screen, there's too much. Three to five objects is enough for most stands.
How do you decorate above a TV?
Usually you don't need to. If the wall feels empty, hang art on either side, or add a pair of sconces, rather than crowding the space above the screen.
What can I use instead of a TV stand?
A sideboard, a low dresser or a long console table all work, as long as the surface is wide and strong enough. Our sideboard styling guide is useful here.
Related: What size TV stand do I need? · How high to mount a TV · Living room layout with fireplace and TV · How to style a coffee table