How To Decorate An Entertainment Center

Use these interior designer tips to bring yours into the 21st century.

In this post I’ll show you examples of the different ways that my own entertainment center has been decorated over the past few years. It’s gone from brown wood with rustic to decor to an updated painted white beauty.

If you’re trying to give an older wood wall unit an updated look, you might consider painting it, which is what I did to mine a few years ago. What a difference! THIS POST has all of the details about what products the painters used.

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Of course, if you decide to paint your entertainment center, this would be the perfect time to do it.

TIP: Allow new paint to cure for at least 1 -2 days before decorating a newly painted piece of furniture.

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Organize the items into piles of what you want to reuse vs items you want to save or get rid of.

If you won’t be painting your unit, give all of the shelves and the interior of the cabinets a thorough cleaning. Get rid of any outdated or unused media items or gadgets.

Dealing With Cords and Cables

Cables and cords can quickly be such an eyesore, which will be a distraction from the overall aesthetics of your entertainment center. 

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Use cable management solutions to route them behind the unit or to hide them behind objects on the shelves. 

There is a huge variety of types of cord organizers and cable clips available that will keep things neatly tucked away and out of sight. Scroll through my favorites below:

Plan for a Cohesive Design

Now that you’ve organized and cleaned, you’ve set the stage for a curated and visually appealing entertainment center that will be a reflection of your personal style.

The key to winding up with a well-put-together center, is to start off by picking a color scheme and design style that works in harmony with the overall vibe of the rest of the room.

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You don’t want to wind up with a mishmash of random stuff placed willy-nilly on the shelves.

The accessories that you choose don’t have to match, but should complement the room’s color palette and overall design style.

A well-thought-out design, where the colors and style of your decorative objects, picture frames and storage baskets harmonize with the rest of the space will have a huge impact on how happy you are with the end result!

Decorating the Shelves

If you are a fan of symmetry, the open shelves of an entertainment center is the perfect place to incorporate that into your look.

For a symmetrical look, arrange the exact same or similar decorative items on each side of the center.  

It doesn’t have to all be symmetrical. For inspiration, you can see that I have a mix of both symmetrical and non-symmetrical decor on mine.

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My favorite home decor items to decorate shelves with are:

• Vases and Faux Plants or Florals: Add a touch of nature with decorative vases of fresh flowers or faux plants, bringing life and vibrancy to the area.
• Picture Frames: Display favorite family photos or artistic prints in small frames that match your living room decor.

TIP: A pretty notecard looks beautiful in a special frame and is less expensive than a piece of art.

• Battery Operated Candles: Create a warm and inviting ambiance and can add a spot of brighness to dark corners.
• Figurines and Knick-Knacks: Showcase small decorative objects that reflect your interests and hobbies, adding a personal touch to the space.
• Books: Of course, books are natural when it comes to decorating shelves. They also work great to elevate or add importance to smaller objects.
• Baskets: Baskets can do double-duty. They can act as an item to fill an empty spot, but they can also be used to store any random items (such as remotes) that you want to keep handy.
• Decorative trays: These work well to corrall a grouping of smaller items together.
• Cherished Keepsakes: Incorporating items that hold sentimental value or are treasured collectables will infuse your space with a personal touch.

Create Depth With Accessories

One of the tricks to add depth and visual interest to the shelves is to play around with accessories of varying heights. Mix tall and short decorative pieces, ensuring none of them obstruct the view of your media equipment. 

Go for a combo of books, plants, and decorative objects to keep it lively. Small art pieces will break up the monotony and draw the eye in. 

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Add visual depth by layering accessories so that some are placed closer to the front of a shelf and others are closer to the back. 

TIP: Don’t forget the “golden rule” of 3 when it comes to accessorizing!

Favorite pieces can be layered toward the front, to draw the eye. Bolder pieces, placed toward the front, can act as a focal point.

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Adding a pretty wallpaper to the back of the unit creates another layer and is another great way to add depth and interest.

Utilize the Top 

The top of your entertainment center presents an wonderful opportunity to showcase some of your favorite accessories. 

Be sure to keep whatever you use on the large side. Small accessories on the top are difficult to see and can wind up looking like just a lot of clutter.

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On the top of mine, I love to display things such as:

• large urns
• a large, prettily shaped basket
• tall ginger jars
• oversized artwork on an easel
• a large clock
• large pottery
• a decorative birdcage
• lanterns
• tall candle holders

Maximize Storage

Entertainment centers can not only be attractive, but also work well as a place for additional storage.

Hidden behind our cabinet doors are tons of dvd’s, cords, cables, extra remotes, camera equipment, dog toys and books.

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It can quickly become a real mess though, so consider using baskets that will fit inside of your cabinets that organize and corrall the things that you want kept out of sight.

Transforming your entertainment unit is a fun way reflect your personal style and to add style and functionality to your living space. Organize, use accessories, add clever storage, and play with colors and personal touches to create a chic and personalized masterpiece that elevates your space. Happy decorating!