How to Decorate an Entertainment Center? | Style Without Clutter

For the full breakdown, see our best Entertainment Center guide.

An entertainment center gets more daily use than almost any other piece of furniture in the house. It holds the TV, the streaming boxes, the game consoles, and probably a stack of remotes — and still needs to look like part of the room instead of a black hole for clutter. The decorating process that works repeatably starts with a clean slate, then builds outward in layers so the unit serves both the screen and the space around it.

Start With A Clean Slate And A Clear View Of The TV

Before any decorative decisions, empty the entire unit and dust every surface. Sort everything into three piles: items that go back on display, items that store inside cabinets or drawers, and items that leave the room entirely. Old cables, dead remotes, and outdated tech gear have no place in the final styling.

Now position the TV itself. The screen should sit roughly at eye level from your seating position — and the discipline matters before you add a single decorative object. The Spruce’s guidance on entertainment center styling emphasizes keeping the viewing area functional and unobstructed. That means nothing blocks the screen, the ports, or the speakers at any point.

Build In Layers: Large Pieces First, Then Smaller Details

The most reliable shelf-styling order places larger items first, then layers smaller pieces around them. Group objects in odd numbers — threes and fives — and vary the heights within each cluster. A tall vase beside a stack of books beside a small ceramic dish reads intentional; a row of identically sized frames reads monotonous.

Use the visual-weight logic that interior designers rely on:

• Tall pieces on the outer edges of the unit, medium pieces near the electronics
• Low accents in front of taller ones so every object stays visible
• Books placed both vertically and horizontally for textural change
• Decorative boxes or baskets to hide small items while adding mass

Do not fill every inch of shelf space. Negative space is part of the design — a mostly empty shelf with one well-chosen object draws the eye far better than a crowded one.

Style The Wall Above And The Lighting Around The Center

When ceilings are high, the wall above the entertainment center deserves attention. Homes & Gardens and other styling sources recommend a gallery wall, a single large piece of framed artwork, or floating shelves to fill the vertical space. A textured backdrop such as shiplap or reclaimed wood adds depth without adding clutter, though that is a commitment best reserved for a room you plan to keep in that direction for a while.

Lighting finishes the setup. LED strip lights behind the TV reduce eye strain and add a soft glow around the screen. A small table lamp on one side of the unit, wall sconces flanking the artwork, or picture lights aimed at the frames all make the arrangement feel deliberate rather than accidental.

Palette, Materials, And The Mistakes That Undo The Look

Pick the color palette to match the room, not the store display. A mostly neutral base with one accent color keeps the unit from competing with the TV, and seasonal accents can shift the feeling of the whole setup without a full restyle. Mix materials — wood, glass, ceramic, metal, linen, woven textures — but keep the overall scheme cohesive.

Personal photos deserve a place, but they work best in a small cluster rather than scattered across every shelf. And if you notice the styling makes the unit feel heavier than the TV, both The Spruce and Homes & Gardens suggest pulling back — fewer objects, more breathing room.

If the wall or ceiling conditions allow for running cables through the wall for a totally clean look, that route works — but in-wall routing is not possible in every setup. Wall type and local building conditions decide that. Cord covers painted to match the wall are the universal fallback.

FAQs

Should I decorate before or after mounting the TV?

Mount or place the TV first, at its final height, then decorate around it. Styling before the screen is positioned means rearranging everything once you discover the viewing angle or sightline requires a different layout. Start with the electronics, then build the decor around them.

How much empty space should an entertainment center have?

Leave roughly a quarter of the available display space empty. Negative space keeps the unit from feeling overloaded, gives the eye a resting point, and leaves room for seasonal swaps or new purchases without forcing a full restyle. A crowded unit reads as storage, not decoration.

What is the best way to group decorative objects on shelves?

Group items in odd numbers — three or five per cluster — and vary the heights and textures within each group. Pair tall pieces with short ones, mix books with ceramics or greenery, and space the clusters apart rather than lining them evenly across the shelf.