The Problem with TVs and the Clutter Around Them

A television is the largest single piece of electronics in most living rooms, and the area around it tends to accumulate more category-diverse clutter than any other zone in the home. Gaming consoles, cable boxes, streaming devices, remote controls, gaming controllers, DVD collections, sound bar equipment, charging cables, and accessory batteries all gravitate toward the TV area because that is where they are used — but most TV stands provide inadequate organized storage for this volume of equipment.

The result is a cable tangle, stacks of game cases, and controllers left on the floor or sofa. These items are not hard to organize — they have obvious categories and are stored in a fixed location — but most TV stands do not provide the closed cabinet space, adjustable shelving, and surface area needed to contain them properly.

A well-chosen media console with storage addresses this by providing a genuine organizational system at the TV wall. Closed cabinet doors conceal gaming accessories and collections. Adjustable interior shelves accommodate equipment of varying heights. Open center shelves stage active equipment (cable box, streaming device, gaming console) in visible, ventilated locations. The result is a TV area that looks like a living room component rather than an AV staging area.

Behavioral science research suggests that concealment is one of the most powerful organizational tools available — items stored out of sight do not generate the cognitive load that visible clutter does, even when the volume of items is identical. A media console that conceals gaming equipment and cable collections behind closed doors makes the living room feel significantly more organized even without reducing the total number of items in the room.

We reviewed 15 media consoles across the $75–250 price range to find the options that best balance TV accommodation, storage volume, build quality, and price.

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Walker Edison Farmhouse TV Console — Best Overall

Best for: Standard living rooms with 55–65 inch TVs, farmhouse and transitional aesthetics, households with AV equipment and gaming consoles

Walker Edison is one of the most prolific furniture brands in the affordable living room category, and the farmhouse TV console is their most-reviewed media console product. It pairs a tempered glass and steel frame with a mixed open-and-closed storage configuration that accommodates TVs up to 65 inches and provides organized storage for standard AV setups.

What Works

The two-cabinet design with a center open shelf creates natural functional zones: the open center shelf stages active AV equipment (cable box, streaming device) in a ventilated visible location, while the two flanking cabinets provide concealed storage for gaming accessories, cable collections, and remote controls. Amazon verified purchasers with 10+ weeks of use consistently describe the overall organization improvement as significant — equipment that previously sat on the floor or adjacent furniture now has a designated concealed home.

The tempered glass cabinet doors are a design differentiator that allows partial visibility of cabinet contents without full exposure — equipment stored inside is not completely hidden, which some users prefer for gaming consoles that display indicator lights. The steel frame construction is more structurally stable than all-wood alternatives at this price point.

Trade-offs

The tempered glass doors show fingerprints and require regular cleaning. The farmhouse aesthetic (dark wood tones with black steel frame) is well-matched to transitional and farmhouse rooms but does not suit contemporary or Scandinavian aesthetics. The console is 24 inches tall — lower than some alternatives — which positions the TV at a viewing height that may require adjustment if placed on a low-pile rug.

How We Score

ClutterScience evaluates products using a five-factor composite scoring methodology (30/25/20/15/10):

Factor	Weight	What We Assess
Research	30%	Depth of hands-on evaluation and breadth of products reviewed
Evidence Quality	25%	Reliability of sources: hands-on testing, verified reviews, third-party data
Value	20%	Cost-effectiveness relative to competing products at similar quality tiers
User Signals	15%	Long-term verified purchase feedback and real-world performance reports
Transparency	10%	Accuracy of manufacturer claims, material disclosures, and dimension accuracy

Scores are differentiated — top picks typically score 8.5–9.5, mid-tier 7.0–8.4, and weak options below 7.0.

Pricing

The Walker Edison farmhouse console typically sells for $155–195 depending on size variation and availability. For TV accommodation up to 65 inches with two closed cabinets, this price represents strong value in the mid-market console category.

Criterion	Weight	Score
Capacity & Dimensions	30%	8.8/10
Material Quality	25%	8.7/10
Ease of Assembly & Use	20%	8.3/10
Long-Term Value	25%	8.5/10
Composite Score		8.6/10

Check Price on Amazon

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Sauder Beginnings Storage Cabinet — Best Budget

Best for: Smaller rooms with 32–42 inch TVs, budget-first setups, users prioritizing concealed storage over open shelves

Sauder is the largest furniture manufacturer in North America and one of the most experienced brands in the engineered wood furniture category. The Beginnings storage cabinet represents Sauder’s entry-level media storage offering — a two-door cabinet design with interior adjustable shelves at a price that significantly undercuts the mid-market competition.

What Works

The fully enclosed cabinet design is the organizational strength of the Sauder Beginnings. Both storage areas sit behind solid doors, providing complete concealment of everything inside — unlike the mixed open-and-closed designs of the Walker Edison and Ameriwood models. For users who want a TV-wall area that shows as little equipment as possible, the Beginnings’ all-doors design delivers that goal most directly.

Amazon verified purchasers with 8+ weeks of use highlight the adjustable interior shelves as an important functional feature — they can be reconfigured to accommodate different equipment heights, from low streaming devices to taller gaming consoles and A/V receivers. Sauder’s assembly instructions are considered among the most detailed in the flat-pack furniture category, which reduces the assembly experience frustration common to competitors.

Trade-offs

The Beginnings is designed for TVs up to 42 inches — smaller than the other picks in this guide. Households with modern 55–65 inch TVs would need to look at Sauder’s larger console offerings. At 29.5 inches tall, it is taller than the Walker Edison, which raises the TV to a height that may require checking against your room’s seating arrangement. The engineered wood construction is comparable quality to most competitors at this price but does not match the structural differentiation of steel-frame designs.

Pricing

The Sauder Beginnings typically sells for $85–110, making it the most accessible option in this comparison for budget-conscious buyers with smaller TVs.

Criterion	Weight	Score
Capacity & Dimensions	30%	7.5/10
Material Quality	25%	7.8/10
Ease of Assembly & Use	20%	8.5/10
Long-Term Value	25%	8.0/10
Composite Score		7.9/10

Check Price on Amazon

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Ameriwood Home Aaron Lane Buffet — Best for Large TVs

Best for: Large TVs (65–70 inches), extensive AV and gaming storage needs, transitional and traditional aesthetics

Ameriwood Home is Dorel Industries’ value furniture brand, and the Aaron Lane Buffet represents the largest and most storage-complete option in this comparison. At 62 inches wide with four cabinet doors and adjustable interior shelving, it is designed for large-TV households with substantial equipment and accessory storage needs.

What Works

The four-door cabinet design provides the most concealed storage volume in this comparison — with all four doors closed, the console presents a completely clean visual line while concealing a full gaming console collection, all cables, a sound system, and media accessories. Amazon verified purchasers with 12+ weeks of use frequently highlight the storage volume as the primary reason for purchase, particularly in households with multiple gaming consoles and a large game library.

The 62-inch width accommodates TVs up to 70 inches with appropriate visual proportions and provides a surface wide enough that the TV does not visually overwhelm the console. Adjustable interior shelves across all four cabinet sections allow configuration for different equipment combinations.

Trade-offs

Assembly is the most involved of the three consoles in this comparison — four doors, multiple adjustable shelves, and a larger total component count mean most users report 2+ hours to complete. The engineered wood construction, while adequate, is not differentiated from the Sauder at the material level — the Ameriwood’s advantage is size and storage volume, not material quality. The price ($175–225) reflects the larger scale rather than a material upgrade.

Pricing

The Ameriwood Aaron Lane typically sells for $175–225. For four-door storage in a 62-inch format that accommodates large TVs, this price is competitive with the limited alternatives in this size category.

Criterion	Weight	Score
Capacity & Dimensions	30%	9.0/10
Material Quality	25%	8.0/10
Ease of Assembly & Use	20%	7.5/10
Long-Term Value	25%	8.2/10
Composite Score		8.2/10

Check Price on Amazon

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Head-to-Head Comparison

Feature	Walker Edison (Best Overall)	Sauder (Budget)	Ameriwood (Large TVs)
Price	$155–195	$85–110	$175–225
Max TV Width	65”	42”	70”
Console Width	58”	47.5”	62”
Cabinet Doors	2 (glass)	2 (solid)	4 (solid)
Frame Material	Steel + glass	Engineered wood	Engineered wood
Assembly Time	~2 hrs	~1.5 hrs	~2.5 hrs
Composite Score	8.6/10	7.9/10	8.2/10

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Selection Guide

Choose the Walker Edison if you have a 55–65 inch TV and want a farmhouse or transitional aesthetic with a mix of open and concealed storage. The steel frame and glass door construction represent the best overall quality at the mid-price point.

Choose the Sauder Beginnings if your TV is 42 inches or smaller, you have a defined budget, or you want all-doors concealed storage with excellent assembly instructions. The Sauder brand’s reputation for build consistency at this price tier is well-established.

Choose the Ameriwood Aaron Lane if you have a 65–70 inch TV and need the maximum concealed storage volume available at this price point. The four-door design provides the most complete concealment for large equipment and media libraries.

For coordinated living room storage, a media console pairs well with bookshelves for books and display items. See our best living room bookshelves guide for compatible vertical storage options. For bedroom media and storage setups that follow similar organizational principles, see our best bedroom dresser organizers guide.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I choose the right size media console for my TV?

The standard rule of thumb is that the TV console should be at least as wide as the TV — and ideally 6 to 12 inches wider on each side for visual balance and stability. A 55-inch TV (which measures approximately 48 inches wide) pairs well with a 58–62 inch console. A 65-inch TV (approximately 57 inches wide) needs a console of at least 60 inches for stable seating and good proportions. For 70-inch and larger TVs, a console of 65+ inches is recommended. The Walker Edison handles up to 65-inch TVs and the Ameriwood handles up to 70-inch TVs.

What should I store in a media console?

Media consoles are designed to organize AV equipment (cable boxes, gaming consoles, streaming devices, sound bars) on open shelves, with closed cabinet space for items you want concealed — DVD and Blu-ray collections, gaming accessories and controllers, extra cables and chargers, board games, and remote controls. The most effective media console setups treat the open shelves as equipment staging areas and the closed cabinets as concealed storage for everything that would otherwise be visible but is not regularly displayed.

Do media consoles come with cable management?

Most media consoles in the $85–225 price range include basic cable management — cutouts in the cabinet backs and bottom panels that allow cables to route from equipment shelves to a power strip without dangling visibly. The Walker Edison’s open design naturally accommodates cable routing through the center shelf. More advanced cable management (cable channels, grommets, rear access panels) is more common in higher-price-point consoles. Supplementing with velcro cable ties and a rear-mounted power strip significantly improves cable organization on any console.

How long does it take to assemble a media console?

Assembly time varies by console complexity. The Sauder Beginnings is the simplest design and typically assembles in 60–90 minutes with standard hand tools. The Walker Edison and Ameriwood models involve more components (doors, interior shelves, hardware) and take most users 90–150 minutes. All three include assembly instructions and necessary hardware. Having a second person available for the final step of standing the console upright is strongly recommended for consoles above 50 inches wide.

Can a media console double as a sideboard or buffet?

Yes — many media console designs, particularly wider models like the Ameriwood Aaron Lane (which is marketed as a buffet/sideboard), function equally well in dining rooms as sideboards or in hallways as entryway storage. The key distinction is that media consoles optimized for AV equipment typically have shallower depths (14–16 inches) versus traditional sideboards (18–20 inches), open or ventilated cabinet backs for cable routing, and surface heights calibrated for TV viewing (24–30 inches) rather than serving (34–36 inches).

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Bottom Line

The Walker Edison Farmhouse TV Console earns the top recommendation through a combination of TV accommodation up to 65 inches, a well-designed mixed open-and-closed storage configuration, and steel-frame construction that holds up well relative to engineered wood alternatives at comparable prices. The Sauder Beginnings is the right call for smaller TVs and tighter budgets. The Ameriwood Aaron Lane is the best available option for large-TV households that need the maximum concealed storage volume at a price below traditional furniture retail.

The most important decision in the media console category is matching console width to TV size — a console that is too narrow for the TV creates both a visual imbalance and a safety risk. Verify TV width (not diagonal screen size) against console surface width before purchase.