Materials:
Whether it sits on the floor or can be wall-mounted, a wall unit entertainment center needs to be made with quality strength-bearing materials such as solid or manufactured wood in order to adequately support television sets. Corey Damen Jenkins suggests opting for a wall unit entertainment center with a metal or iron frame and wood shelves if you want extreme durability. If the wall unit entertainment center contains drawers, there will likely be ball-bearing glides and metal hardware and pulls. If there are cabinet doors, they are usually crafted out of wood with some containing a glass panel. Some units will also come with metal brackets to safely mount the television to the unit. There might also be toggle bolts to attach the wall unit entertainment center to drywall or plaster.
Weight and balance:
Nick Olsen notes that large wall unit entertainment centers that are built with several shelves and cabinets may require a tip-over restraint device which may consist of fabric straps or screws which help prevent accidents. More expansive units may also come in separate pieces that either require assembly directly to the wall or to each respective piece. If you have a floating wall unit entertainment center that needs to be properly secured to the wall, it will likely have a weight capacity of between 100 to 150 pounds. Sizable units, especially if they are able to sit directly on the floor, can usually accommodate between 350 to 400 pounds.
Style:
For those who are looking for something super sleek, a black wall unit entertainment center crafted out of solid wood with a long top shelf that showcases built-in lighting is a great option. Robert Stilin suggests creating an at-home theater look with a floating white wood wall unit entertainment center with a shelf that can house your gaming or cable box and two seamless flip-top cubbies to store DVDs. To pull off a rustic farmhouse vibe, look for a natural oak-panelled unit that mounts directly to the wall with a single shelf for necessities and easy cable management.
Additional features:
A fully functional wall unit entertainment center comes with cable management in order to organize and hide any cords from the television set to an electrical outlet. Darryl Carter recommends finding a wall unit entertainment center that comes equipped with a sound bar shelf if you have a larger home space and a sound system. For those with a DVD or game collection, there are also units that come with adjustable open shelving or cabinet storage. If you're always looking for ways to incorporate more lighting into your TV room, a wall unit entertainment center that comes with integrated lighting makes an inspired choice. You can also find wall units with a center fireplace that works to give off heat and add a romantic sense of atmosphere.