A TV unit and a bookshelf answer different questions. A low TV unit keeps the wall calm, holds the screen at a comfortable height and hides the devices that come with it. A bookshelf, or a tall unit with a screen niche, gives a wall vertical storage and a place for books and objects. Choosing the right one starts with the wall, the screen and what you actually need to store.
This guide covers that choice, the measurements that matter, cable planning and finishes. Every piece in our TV unit and bookshelf collection is handmade in the Sitdesign factory in Büyükçekmece, Istanbul, and custom dimensions are available on request.
Low TV unit or bookshelf: which one does the room need?
A low TV unit is usually the better choice when:
- the screen is wall-mounted, or will sit directly on the unit;
- the wall has windows, radiators or artwork you do not want to cover;
- the room is small or medium-sized and a tall unit would make it feel narrower.
A bookshelf or combined unit makes more sense when:
- you own a real collection of books, records or objects that needs a home;
- the wall is wide and plain, and a low piece would leave it looking empty;
- you want the screen framed by shelves so it reads as part of the wall rather than a black rectangle.
The Horizon TV cabinet is an example of the first approach: a low cabinet under a wall-mounted screen. The Compasso TV unit & bookshelf shows the second, combining a TV unit with shelving in one composition. The Quinto TV unit is another model to compare when you want a stand-alone piece.
Getting the width, height and depth right
Width
A common rule is that a TV unit should be clearly wider than the screen. A 65-inch screen is about 145 cm wide, so a unit of 180 to 220 cm looks balanced beneath it. Aim for at least 15 to 20 cm of unit on each side of the screen. On a long wall, leave some empty wall at both ends as well, so the unit does not look squeezed between corners.
Height
Low TV units are typically 40 to 55 cm high. With a seat height of around 42 to 45 cm, the centre of the screen is usually comfortable at roughly 100 to 110 cm from the floor. If the screen stands on the unit, check that the unit height plus the screen stand brings it close to that range; if it is wall-mounted, a lower unit leaves more room above.
Depth and viewing distance
TV units are typically 40 to 50 cm deep, enough for a set-top box, a console or a soundbar. Shelving for books can be shallower, around 30 to 35 cm. For viewing distance, a widely used guideline for 4K screens is 1.2 to 1.6 times the screen diagonal: for a 65-inch screen (about 165 cm diagonal) that means roughly 2 to 2.6 m between the screen and the seat.
Shelf spacing
Most hardback books need 25 to 30 cm of clear height; large art books and folders need 35 cm or more. As a general rule, a shelf spanning more than about 80 to 90 cm should be thicker or supported in the middle if it will carry a full row of books.
Planning cables before you order
Cables are the detail most often forgotten. A few minutes of planning avoids a tangle behind a new piece:
- List your devices. Router, set-top box, game console, soundbar, streaming box: each needs power and space.
- Mark the sockets. Note where the wall outlets and the aerial or network point are, measured from the floor and the nearest corner.
- Think about heat. Devices that run warm need an open or ventilated compartment rather than a fully closed one.
- Check your remotes. Infrared remotes do not work through solid doors; open shelves, or remotes that use Bluetooth or radio, solve this.
- Plan the soundbar. If it sits on the unit, make sure it does not block the bottom of the screen; if it goes inside, it needs an open shelf at the front.
Share this list with us when you ask for a quote, so cable openings and compartments can be discussed for the model you choose.
Materials and finishes for daily use
A TV unit is touched every day, so the finish matters as much as the shape. As general guidance:
- Solid wood and wood veneer bring visible grain and warmth; oiled surfaces benefit from occasional re-oiling, lacquered wood is easier to wipe clean.
- Matt lacquer gives an even colour and hides fingerprints better than high gloss.
- Stone tops add weight and texture but need care with liquids and heavy impacts.
Materials differ by model; each product page and our wood materials page show what is available. Wood pieces are made in 6 to 8 weeks.
Placing the unit in the room
Before deciding on width, check the circulation around the wall. A common rule is to keep about 80 to 90 cm of free passage in front of the unit, and to make sure doors and drawers can open fully without hitting a sofa or coffee table. Our article on how circulation patterns influence furniture placement explains this in more detail. If the wall is interrupted by a door or a window, a shorter low unit is usually calmer than a tall unit cut around the opening.
Custom dimensions on request
Our catalogue has standard models, and many walls fit them well. When a wall needs a different width or height, custom dimensions are available on request. Send us the wall width, the ceiling height, the screen size and the socket positions, and we can tell you which model works and in which size.
To discuss a TV unit or bookshelf for your room, contact us with your measurements and a photo of the wall, and we will prepare a quote.
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