1) Size & Proportion: Match the Screen, Not the Wall

For most NZ homes, the sweet spot for a TV cabinet is 20–30% wider than your screen. A 55” TV pairs perfectly with a 140–160cm cabinet. This maintains balanced symmetry while leaving space for décor items or plants.

Design Ratio: Cabinet Width ÷ TV Width = 1.2 – 1.3 for ideal proportion.

2) Style That Fits Your Home

From Scandinavian oak to industrial black steel, the style of your cabinet defines your room’s emotional tone:

• Scandi light oak – suits open-plan apartments and neutral tones.
• Walnut or dark ash – gives depth to large living rooms with white walls.
• Gloss white + glass – enhances small spaces with reflection and light bounce.

3) Material Matters

4) Storage Logic: Hide the Chaos, Show the Style

Modern homes juggle streaming boxes, consoles, and routers. Use closed drawers for tech, and open niches for speakers or décor. Cable ports at the back (≥3cm gap) prevent overheating and keep wires invisible.

Explore functional options like our Entertainment Units — they integrate storage without visual clutter.

5) Design Logic from a Furniture Planner’s View

Designers use balance lines rather than wall width. A good setup follows the Golden Ratio (~1.618) between TV zone and wall furniture composition. Example:

• Cabinet + décor zone = 1.6 × TV width.
• Visual height ratio: cabinet height ÷ wall height ≈ 0.25 – 0.3.
• Allow 30–40cm clearance above cabinet top for artwork or TV float mount.

This proportion creates a “complete rectangle” effect — subconsciously read by the eye as balanced and expensive.

6) Real NZ Buying Behaviours & Insights

In New Zealand, open-plan living has made low-line TV cabinets (under 50cm) the dominant trend. Treasurebox’s 2024 data shows 68% of Kiwi buyers prefer cabinets with drawers instead of open shelves — a shift driven by visual simplicity and easier cleaning.

Coastal cities like Tauranga and Nelson face humidity levels that affect solid wood. Sealed MDF + veneer options offer more stability and prevent warping over years.

Common mistake we see: buying oversized units for narrow lounges. Anything over 180cm wide visually “cuts” small rooms — aim for 60–70% of wall width instead.