Before you hit the shops to scout for your new entertainment unit, there are a few important things you need to consider…

• Measure up. The average television used to measure between 30″ (76cm) and 40″ (101cm) across diagonally, but now there are huge screens that reach up to a whopping 80″ (203cm) for the dedicated viewer. Make sure you measure the depth as well as the diagonal dimensions of the TV before buying your unit.
• Weighty matters. If you’re going to put your TV on a swivel base, be sure to find out how much it weighs before you go shopping for the base. And make sure the TV won’t hang over the base, as it won’t be stable.
• Space age. Shoppers often forget space needs for extras, such as a DVD player or a cable TV box. A unit with shelves on either side of the TV provides extra storage display and a display area for funky objets d’art. Measure all equipment, including the cabling, to ensure a good fit.
• Cable control. Make sure you have extra room in the entertainment unit for a power board. If you’re opting for an open-shelf unit, keep cables tidy with ties or tubing.
• Speak up. If uyou want to hide your speakers but don’t want to lose sound quality, buy a unit with slatted doors.