Console units are pieces of furniture with televisions incorporated into them, but these have faded from popularity with the advent of portable television sets. Portable sets are handy, especially if there is only one television in the home, but the owner still needs somewhere to put the TV. That's where television stands come into the picture.

Not only lcd tv stands but also plasma tv stands come in a variety of sizes and styles from the very simple to the elaborate. You can find everything from traditional to modern styles, in metallic to fine wood finishes. Television stands can be small or large and feature every design element from clean lines to elegant details.

Some television stands are not much more than a simple cart with casters. This type of stand can easily be turned for viewing convenience, and can just as easily be moved to the other side of the room or to a different room entirely. Other television stands come with a swivel so the TV can be seen from any angle. And TV wall mount can help you mount your tv on the wall.

Some television stands are stationary, substantial pieces of furniture, similar to low cabinets. Many have extra storage for electronic components, such DVD players, stereos, and video game consoles. They may include storage for movies, music, and games as well. The extra storage spaces may be open or closed depending on the style, but many television stands are open. Closed units usually come with solid doors or doors made of glass.

TV stands are also available in designs that compliment particular manufacturers' televisions. A stand with similar lines and a closely matching finish helps keep the look of the entertainment area more cohesive.

Perhaps you'd like to design the perfect stand yourself. You can have a piece custom made by a furniture maker, or you can use modular media units to create something that meets your style and budget needs. Incorporating modular units lets you combine different pieces to achieve the right fit. You can select the proper amount of storage, the best height for your viewing pleasure, and even locking wheels so the stand won't move unless you want it to. You can subtract pieces from the unit, or add additional pieces as you obtain more components or purchase a larger TV.

If you update your tv, you may need to update your tv stand as well. Lcd tv stands save space, provide for greater storage, and are aesthetically more appealing.

1- LCD TV Stands Save Space!

Eventually, everybodys television becomes outdated or wears out. When you purchase a new LCD or Plasma tv it is important to get a stand that matches.

Nowadays tvs are getting bigger. Panasonic just released a 103 inch tv that costs around sixty thousand dollars. Most americans watch a 27-32 inch tv. However, when they upgrade to lcd or plasma they usually add on 6-12 inches. These larger tvs won't usually fit on an older tv stand.

The good news is that lcd and plasma tv stands are made thinner because the tv is not as wide. The new designs allow you to save a lot of space.

You may want to consider putting an lcd television on your wall. You have to choose a tv wall mount. If, however you choose this option you will also need some media storage space. Many people choose a tv stand for the convenient storage space.

2- How Much Storage Space Do I Need?

Lcd tv stands provide greater storage. Why? Because the tv doesn't take up as much room.

We recommend getting a stand that can store all of your dvds. For most people, they will need at least four shelving compartments or drawers. Most people prefer a drawer or compartment with a translucent or glass face so they can see what dvds they are going to watch.

If you are a gamer (Wii, Xbox, Playstation) we recommend a separate compartment for the game console. In addition, you may enjoy having a separate drawer or compartment for video games.

Please keep in mind that you will accumulate more media over the years. You may want to consider purchasing more storage space than you have need right now or donate items on a frequent basis.

3- Aeshetic Appeal

New lcd and plasma tv stands have a more modern feel. They look cleaner and crisper than older televisions. The reason is because they are so thin. This is why most modern stands do not cover the television.

There are three types of TV wall mount brackets to consider -- low-profile, tilting, and full-motion. All have their advantages and disadvantages.

Low-Profile

Typically, low-profile TV wall mount brackets are the easiest to install and the lowest in cost compared to tilting and full-motion wall mounts.

The wall mounting process for a low-profile mount is about as difficult as hanging a picture on the wall. This ease of installation comes with a price -- an inability to adjust the TV once it’s installed.

That’s right, plasma tv stands don’t tilt and they don‘t move up/down or left/right. This lack of movement also makes it complicated when trying to switch out cables. Since the flat panel doesn’t move on it’s wall mount, you’ll have to physically remove the flat panel from the wall in order to change out cables.

Tilting Wall Mount

Typically, tilting TV wall brackets cost a little more than a low-profile wall mount, and is more comparable in cost to a full-motion wall mount.

Tilting wall mounts should install with the same level of ease as a low-profile mount. The only significant difference between a tilting wall mount and a low-profile wall mount is that you can adjust the vertical viewing angle when using a tilting wall mount.

Basically, the TV wall mount has a pivot in the middle of the installation bracket -- sort of like a see-saw turned on its side. The pivot makes it possible to maintain a good viewing angle when lying on the floor or standing on a ladder (should you be installing crown molding when watching TV).

As a result, changing out cables is easier with a tilting wall mount bracket in comparison to a low-profile wall mount, but the tilt is feature is limited. If you need horizontal swivel or tilt then a full-motion wall mount might be a better option.

Full-Motion Wall Mount

Full-motion wall mounts are as they say - full motion. This motion, however, comes with a cost, which makes full-motion wall mounts the most expensive of the wall mounts.

In addition to being costly, full-motion wall mounts are usually more complicated to install. Primarily because the mounting bracket has moving pieces -- an arm. As a result, you’ll want 2-3 people to help when hanging the TV onto the wall mount bracket.

As far as motion, the key difference between a full-motion and tilting wall mount is that full-motion wall mount brackets allow you to adjust the horizontal viewing angle by physically moving the flat panel away from the wall.

That’s because full-motion wall mounts have an arm joining the flat panel to the wall. This arm makes it possible to extend the TV away from the wall so you can swivel it on its horizontal axis.

 2 Consider what you will be doing with your cables. If you are mounting your TV on a stud wall it is possible to thread your cable down the space behind the wallboard. Running the cables this way looks great but involes a lot of effort. An alternative would be to use a surface mount conduit. There are several easy to fit conduits available on the market that can produce some outstanding results.

 3 For mounting your TV on a stud wall follow the next few steps. Other wall type require that you follow the mount manufactures guidelines.

1 Locate the wall studs in the wall you wish to hang the TV on. It is critical that the screws holding the TV to the wall are screwed into the solid wood of a stud, not just into the wallboard. The best way to find a stud is with a stud finder, which is available at any hardware store for less than $20. Be sure to find the center of the stud for the best results.

2 When you find the center of a stud, mark it with pencil on the wall. Measure the vertical distance between the screw holes on the mount. After deciding how high to mount the TV, mark with pencil where you will place each screw.

3 Double check that the mount will be level using a level. It is crucial that you mount it level. It will be hard to fix after the fact if you do it poorly, so please measure twice.

4 Use big screws. Try #14 x 1.5 inch screws. For #14 screws, drill a pilot hole 13/64" in diameter first.

 4 Attach the mount with the screws. Double check to ensure that it is level.

 5 If you are running your cables through the wall, now would be a good time to drill a hole into the wall to run your cables.

 6 Hang the TV on the mount. Usually, this involves attaching rubber/plastic mounts to the back of the TV, placing them through holes in the mount, and letting it settle into place.

 7 Double check the stability of the TV, and ensure that it is firmly in place.

 8 Connect your wiring and enjoy your TV