Modern Built-In Entertainment Center Ideas: 30+ Design Concepts for Modern Homes
by Holly Antoine
| Published 6/23/23 (Updated 4/25/24)
In today’s modern era, entertainment centers have become essential to every home. They not only serve as a hub for all the technological gadgets but also add a touch of style to the living space. With the ever-evolving design trends, modern entertainment centers have taken on a new form, providing homeowners with a range of innovative and creative ideas to revamp their living spaces.
Let Decoist help you explore some of the best modern entertainment center design ideas that can transform your living room into a stylish and functional space.
Photo Credit: Munger Interiors – Brass metal grill front TV cabinets accented with brass and glass pulls flank a flat panel TV mounted in a niche between white cabinets and drawers lit by gold conical sconces.
Photo Credit: Clemons Design – Living room with a white built-in featuring a TV centered around shelves displaying decor and blue glass blow vases. Furnishings include gray skirted accent chairs facing a balustrade coffee table atop a fringe bound sisal rug.
Photo Credit: Mandy Cheng Design – Family room features forest green TV built ins with a glass front mini fridge, brown leather chair and a white pouf as ottoman.
Photo Credit: Reena Sotropa – Gray stone fireplace with an inset tv flanked by brown oak built-in shelves in a transitional living room.
Photo Credit: Rita Chan Interiors – White built-in TV cabinets accented with oil rubbed bronze hardware and positioned beneath an above a flat panel television flanked by styled white shelves.
Photo Credit: Sam Allen Interiors – Orange and gray basement family room features walls clad in gray grasscloth wallpaper lined with a window dressed in orange ikat curtains in Quadrille Island Ikat Fabric Orange. Chic basement family room boasts a gray pit sectional adorned with navy and orange pillows illuminated by a Arteriors Diallo Small Chandelier facing a gray media cabinet filled with a flatscreen TV and orange foo dogs. A pair of orange stools is tucked below a West Elm parsons Console Table topped with navy ginger jars flanked by navy velvet chairs adorned with orange ikat pillows.
Photo Credit: Amanda Webster Design – Brown and blue cottage living room clad in blond wood floors covered in a blue chain link rug features a 3 piece octopus art piece mounted on a light blue wall and a two inward facing tan silk skirted chairs separated by a blue hourglass stool and facing shiplap accent well boasting a styled limed oak built in television shelving unit fitted with a flat panel television illuminated by a modern track light.
Photo Credit: Angelica Henry Design – Cottage playroom room features a full wall lined with a distressed shelving unit and cabinets filled with gray canvas bins with white rope handles fitted with a flatscreen TV niche. Kids’ homework room boasts an industrial desk with fitted with metal chairs atop a baseball themed rug.
Photo Credit: Sharon Taftian – Living room features a tan reeded fireplace wall with a modern gas fireplace and flat screen TV and a modern ivory sectional.
Photo Credit: Mindy Gayer – Living room features a natural linen sofa facing built in TV cabinets with wooden shelves, illuminated by track lights.
Photo Credit: Lindye Galloway – An inset arched cabinet with glass and metal doors is fixed over gray built in TV cabinets.
Photo Credit: Sklar Design – A wall of white styled built-ins surround a flat panel TV mounted against a white wall, as a vintage wooden spindle chair sits on a gray jute rug.
Photo Credit: Annsley Interiors – Basement playroom boasts a modern two-tone TV cabinet built-in under a wall mount TV framed by wood floating shelves mounted between white cabinets.
Photo Credit: Ramsey Engler – A white built-in shelving media unit not only looks great but is a practical space saving design. Closed-door storage hides the unattractive components, wires, or anything you wouldn’t want on display. Open bookshelves and cubbies boast colorful decor and books creating a bubbly contrast to the white shelving finish. A flat-panel tv is the center of it all over a set of bottom drawers with lucite and black knobs. A gold metal coffee table energizes the view over a white round shag rug layered over gray washed wood floors.
Photo Credit: Robeson Design – Green family room features a green accent wall lined with a flatscreen TV flanked by pendants above a low built in media shelving unit. A green tufted sectional topped with green accent pillows stands beside a storage coffee table atop a green lattice rug.
Photo Credit: Blackband Design – A black barn door on rails opens to a family room boasting light gray built-in desks painted in Benjamin Moore Graytint, accented with brass hexagon knobs, and seating blue desk chairs facing pin boards lit by brass swing arm sconces. The desks flank light gray built-in cabinets holding a flat panel television.
Photo Credit: Blackband Design – Styled white built in cabinets flank a barn board wall fitted with a flat panel television mounted above white TV cabinets.
Photo Credit: Butter Lutz – Staggered polyhedron pendants are hung over a pool table positioned behind a gray sectional facing a gray television unit fitted with gray cabinets and styled gray shelves flanking a flat panel television. Marquee lights are mounted to a gray wall between canvas photographs and near a gray built in desk boasting gray cabinets surrounding a cork board backsplash.
Photo Credit: Lauren Christine Henno – Metal and wood tv shelving unit flanked by a tall white lamp and a fiddle leaf fig display an industrial design in the most functional and practical design.
Photo Credit: Martha O’Hara Interiors – A gray u-shaped sectional sits on a light gray rug in a modern living room furnished with a blue tufted bench and an Eames Lounge Chair & Ottoman placed in front of a floor-to-ceiling black built-in tv unit fitted with a ladder on rails.
Photo Credit: Rose and Funk – This luxurious black and white modern living room a black sofa table placed behind a white sectional topped with white pillows and paired with a round marble top coffee table. Two black sleek wire chairs flank a black accent table that complements a black floating tv unit positioned under a wall mounted tv fixed to a black accent wall. A gray stone 2-story fireplace is located adjacent to floor-to-ceiling windows.
Photo Credit: J Kurtz Design – Light gray wash built in tv shelf is the perfect wall unit showcasing decorative ceramic pieces, art prints and books. A center nook for a wall mounted tv sits around lots of storage space including lower drawers with horizontal nickel pulls. An industrial oval netted chandelier adds a rustic feature amongst this wood themed living space mixing the themes but coming together beautifully.
Photo Credit: Sarah Wittenbraker – Transitional living room features a wall to wall white built in shelving unit lined with a flat screen TV and grey trellis wallpaper on the back of shelves.
Photo Credit: Sage Design – Blue and orange living room features a mirrored waterfall cocktail table and a pair of blue geometric accent chairs lined with orange velvet pillows placed before floor to ceiling built in media unit, with backs of shelves painted blue, filled with a flatscreen TV and orange accents.
Photo Credit: Marea Clark Interiors – Family room features a gray velvet sectional accented with turquoise blue striped pillows, a blue built in TV unit with cane cabinet doors and green accent chairs with blue pillows.
Photo Credit: Rita Chan Interiors – A sawhorse bench sits at the back of a blue sectional placed beneath a ceiling fitted with stained wood beams facing a white custom built-in TV unit accented with oil rubbed bronze hardware and styled white shelves. Natural lights stream in front folding glass patio doors.
Photo Credit: Amy Storm and Company – Stylish attic playroom features a wall mount TV fixed in a nook to an accent wall covered in paint splatter wallpaper over a black built-in TV unit. Three peacock blue bean bags sit on gray carpet between facing black built-in window seats finished with drawers and pink cushions.
Photo Credit: Lucy and Company – Incredible light gray wall to wall entertainment center with hidden doors for concealed storage. Light Gray floor to ceiling built-In cabinets surround wall mounted flat screen with shelf cubbies above television for decorative display. Warm rich brown hardwood floors contrasting the light gray cabinetry.
Photo Credit: Kelly McGuill Home – Family room with a barn door on rails encloses a space with a built-in entertainment center, a set of barn sconces and a set of blue pillow top spindle chairs with matching ottomans.
Photo Credit: Summer House Style – A vintage ceiling fan lights a cottage style family room boasting a white entertainment center accented with beadboard trim and brass hexagon knobs.
Modern entertainment centers have become an essential part of any household. They provide a focal point for the living room, a place to display your TV and other electronics, and a storage solution for your media collection. But with so many design ideas to choose from, it can be overwhelming to decide on the perfect entertainment center for your home.
Photo Credit: Munger Interiors – Brass metal grill front TV cabinets accented with brass and glass pulls flank a flat panel TV mounted in a niche between white cabinets and drawers lit by gold conical sconces.
Photo Credit: Clemons Design – Living room with a white built-in featuring a TV centered around shelves displaying decor and blue glass blow vases. Furnishings include gray skirted accent chairs facing a balustrade coffee table atop a fringe bound sisal rug.
Photo Credit: Mandy Cheng Design – Family room features forest green TV built ins with a glass front mini fridge, brown leather chair and a white pouf as ottoman.
One popular design trend is the minimalist approach. With this design, the entertainment center is sleek and simple, with no frills or unnecessary details. The focus is on clean lines and functionality. This style is perfect for small spaces, as it doesn’t take up too much room and can blend seamlessly with other furniture.
Photo Credit: Reena Sotropa – Gray stone fireplace with an inset tv flanked by brown oak built-in shelves in a transitional living room.
Photo Credit: Rita Chan Interiors – White built-in TV cabinets accented with oil rubbed bronze hardware and positioned beneath an above a flat panel television flanked by styled white shelves.
Photo Credit: Sam Allen Interiors – Orange and gray basement family room features walls clad in gray grasscloth wallpaper lined with a window dressed in orange ikat curtains in Quadrille Island Ikat Fabric Orange. Chic basement family room boasts a gray pit sectional adorned with navy and orange pillows illuminated by a Arteriors Diallo Small Chandelier facing a gray media cabinet filled with a flatscreen TV and orange foo dogs. A pair of orange stools is tucked below a West Elm parsons Console Table topped with navy ginger jars flanked by navy velvet chairs adorned with orange ikat pillows.
Another popular design trend is the industrial look. This design incorporates metals, raw woods, and exposed brick or concrete to create a modern, edgy feel. This style is perfect for those who want to make a statement with their entertainment center and create a unique focal point in their living room.
Photo Credit: Sklar Design – A wall of white styled built-ins surround a flat panel TV mounted against a white wall, as a vintage wooden spindle chair sits on a gray jute rug.
Photo Credit: Lindye Galloway – An inset arched cabinet with glass and metal doors is fixed over gray built in TV cabinets.
For those who prefer a more traditional look, there are plenty of classic designs to choose from. These often feature rich woods, intricate details, and a timeless elegance. This style is perfect for those who want their entertainment center to blend in seamlessly with their other furniture and decor.
Photo Credit: Mindy Gayer – Living room features a natural linen sofa facing built in TV cabinets with wooden shelves, illuminated by track lights.
Photo Credit: Sharon Taftian – Living room features a tan reeded fireplace wall with a modern gas fireplace and flat screen TV and a modern ivory sectional.
One design trend that has gained popularity in recent years is the floating entertainment center. This style features a wall-mounted unit that appears to be floating, creating a sleek and modern look. This design is perfect for those who want to save floor space and create a minimalist, streamlined look in their living room.
Photo Credit: Angelica Henry Design – Cottage playroom room features a full wall lined with a distressed shelving unit and cabinets filled with gray canvas bins with white rope handles fitted with a flatscreen TV niche. Kids’ homework room boasts an industrial desk with fitted with metal chairs atop a baseball themed rug.
Photo Credit: Amanda Webster Design – Brown and blue cottage living room clad in blond wood floors covered in a blue chain link rug features a 3 piece octopus art piece mounted on a light blue wall and a two inward facing tan silk skirted chairs separated by a blue hourglass stool and facing shiplap accent well boasting a styled limed oak built in television shelving unit fitted with a flat panel television illuminated by a modern track light.
Photo Credit: Annsley Interiors – Basement playroom boasts a modern two-tone TV cabinet built-in under a wall mount TV framed by wood floating shelves mounted between white cabinets.
When it comes to storage, there are many options to choose from. Some entertainment centers feature open shelving for displaying books, decor, and media, while others have closed cabinets and drawers for storing DVDs, video games, and other electronics. The key is to find a design that not only looks great but also meets your storage needs.
Photo Credit: Ramsey Engler – A white built-in shelving media unit not only looks great but is a practical space saving design. Closed-door storage hides the unattractive components, wires, or anything you wouldn’t want on display. Open bookshelves and cubbies boast colorful decor and books creating a bubbly contrast to the white shelving finish. A flat-panel tv is the center of it all over a set of bottom drawers with lucite and black knobs. A gold metal coffee table energizes the view over a white round shag rug layered over gray washed wood floors.
Photo Credit: Robeson Design – Green family room features a green accent wall lined with a flatscreen TV flanked by pendants above a low built in media shelving unit. A green tufted sectional topped with green accent pillows stands beside a storage coffee table atop a green lattice rug.
Photo Credit: Blackband Design – A black barn door on rails opens to a family room boasting light gray built-in desks painted in Benjamin Moore Graytint, accented with brass hexagon knobs, and seating blue desk chairs facing pin boards lit by brass swing arm sconces. The desks flank light gray built-in cabinets holding a flat panel television.
In terms of color, there are no hard and fast rules. Some popular options include white, black, and natural wood tones, but many entertainment centers are available in a variety of colors and finishes. The key is to choose a color that complements your existing decor and creates a cohesive look in your living room.
Photo Credit: Blackband Design – Styled white built in cabinets flank a barn board wall fitted with a flat panel television mounted above white TV cabinets.
Photo Credit: Butter Lutz – Staggered polyhedron pendants are hung over a pool table positioned behind a gray sectional facing a gray television unit fitted with gray cabinets and styled gray shelves flanking a flat panel television. Marquee lights are mounted to a gray wall between canvas photographs and near a gray built in desk boasting gray cabinets surrounding a cork board backsplash.
When building an entertainment center, it’s important to use materials that are strong, durable, and can support the weight of your electronic equipment. Solid wood or engineered wood like plywood are great options, as they provide stability and are easy to work with. Metal is also a popular choice for the frame or legs of the entertainment center, as it’s sturdy and can add a modern touch to the design.
Photo Credit: Sage Design – Blue and orange living room features a mirrored waterfall cocktail table and a pair of blue geometric accent chairs lined with orange velvet pillows placed before floor to ceiling built in media unit, with backs of shelves painted blue, filled with a flatscreen TV and orange accents.
Additionally, tempered glass can be used for shelves or doors to provide an elegant look while ensuring safety. Ultimately, the materials you choose will depend on your style, budget, and desired functionality of your entertainment center.
Photo Credit: Sarah Wittenbraker – Transitional living room features a wall to wall white built in shelving unit lined with a flat screen TV and grey trellis wallpaper on the back of shelves.
Photo Credit: J Kurtz Design – Light gray wash built in tv shelf is the perfect wall unit showcasing decorative ceramic pieces, art prints and books. A center nook for a wall mounted tv sits around lots of storage space including lower drawers with horizontal nickel pulls. An industrial oval netted chandelier adds a rustic feature amongst this wood themed living space mixing the themes but coming together beautifully.
Photo Credit: Rose and Funk – This luxurious black and white modern living room a black sofa table placed behind a white sectional topped with white pillows and paired with a round marble top coffee table. Two black sleek wire chairs flank a black accent table that complements a black floating tv unit positioned under a wall mounted tv fixed to a black accent wall. A gray stone 2-story fireplace is located adjacent to floor-to-ceiling windows.
Photo Credit: Martha O’Hara Interiors – A gray u-shaped sectional sits on a light gray rug in a modern living room furnished with a blue tufted bench and an Eames Lounge Chair & Ottoman placed in front of a floor-to-ceiling black built-in tv unit fitted with a ladder on rails.
Photo Credit: Lauren Christine Henno – Metal and wood tv shelving unit flanked by a tall white lamp and a fiddle leaf fig display an industrial design in the most functional and practical design.
Photo Credit: Marea Clark Interiors – Family room features a gray velvet sectional accented with turquoise blue striped pillows, a blue built in TV unit with cane cabinet doors and green accent chairs with blue pillows.
Overall, there are many modern entertainment center design ideas to choose from. Whether you prefer a minimalist look, an industrial feel, or a more traditional style, there is an entertainment center out there to suit your needs. The key is to find a design that not only looks great but also meets your storage and functionality needs.
Photo Credit: Rita Chan Interiors – A sawhorse bench sits at the back of a blue sectional placed beneath a ceiling fitted with stained wood beams facing a white custom built-in TV unit accented with oil rubbed bronze hardware and styled white shelves. Natural lights stream in front folding glass patio doors.
Photo Credit: Amy Storm and Company – Stylish attic playroom features a wall mount TV fixed in a nook to an accent wall covered in paint splatter wallpaper over a black built-in TV unit. Three peacock blue bean bags sit on gray carpet between facing black built-in window seats finished with drawers and pink cushions.
Photo Credit: Lucy and Company – Incredible light gray wall to wall entertainment center with hidden doors for concealed storage. Light Gray floor to ceiling built-In cabinets surround wall mounted flat screen with shelf cubbies above television for decorative display. Warm rich brown hardwood floors contrasting the light gray cabinetry.
Photo Credit: Kelly McGuill Home – Family room with a barn door on rails encloses a space with a built-in entertainment center, a set of barn sconces and a set of blue pillow top spindle chairs with matching ottomans.
Photo Credit: Summer House Style – A vintage ceiling fan lights a cottage style family room boasting a white entertainment center accented with beadboard trim and brass hexagon knobs.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What are some popular modern entertainment center design ideas?
Some popular modern design ideas for entertainment centers include floating shelves, built-in media cabinets, and minimalist designs with clean lines.
How do I choose the right size for my entertainment center?
When choosing the right size for your entertainment center, consider the size of your TV and any other electronics you plan on storing, as well as the size of your room and how much space you have available.
How can I incorporate storage into my entertainment center design?
You can incorporate storage into your entertainment center design by adding shelves, cabinets, or drawers to hold DVDs, games, and other media accessories.
What materials are commonly used in modern entertainment center designs?
Common materials used in modern entertainment center designs include wood, metal, glass, and acrylic.
How can I make my entertainment center stand out in my room?
To make your entertainment center stand out, consider adding a pop of color or incorporating unique textures or patterns into the design.
How do I ensure that my entertainment center is functional as well as stylish?
To ensure that your entertainment center is functional as well as stylish, consider the layout of your room and how you plan on using the space. Additionally, make sure to choose furniture and accessories that are both aesthetically pleasing and practical.
Take a look at these related articles for more design inspiration:
Holly Antoine is a Home, Lifestyle and DIY content creator. After leaving behind an 11-year career in the dental field to pursue her passion for design and decor, she developed her own branded site, HollyGrace.ca, where she shares her love of home design, decor, DIYs and inspires others to get creative and build[...]
