11 TV Unit Organisation Ideas That Actually Work
Let's be honest. If your TV unit is currently being held together by tangled cables and a mysterious instruction manual from 2014, you're not alone. The TV area is the hardest working spot in the living room and also the place where clutter goes to thrive.
This guide is not about living in a showroom. It is about TV unit organisation ideas that work in real homes, with real people, real mess and very real TV habits. Think clever, stylish solutions that make your living room feel calmer and more put together.
1. Choose a TV unit with storage
Organisation starts with the TV unit itself. If it has no cupboards, drawers or shelves, it's basically setting you up to fail. A good TV unit mixes closed storage for the not-so-pretty stuff and open shelving for things you're happy to show off.
2. Sort the cables or accept the chaos
Loose cables are the fastest way to ruin a tidy TV setup. Even the nicest unit cannot compete with a spaghetti junction of wires. Use cable clips, trunking or built in cable holes to keep everything hidden.
Bonus points for grouping plugs together and labelling them. It is unnecessary, but it's also incredibly satisfying.
3. Baskets: the unsung heroes
Baskets are doing a lot of heavy lifting in stylish homes and it is time to let them help you too. They're perfect for remotes, controllers, chargers and all the random bits that never have a home.
Slide them into open shelves and suddenly your TV unit looks curated rather than chaotic. They also work beautifully on lower shelves of coffee tables and side tables, keeping the whole room feeling cohesive.
4. Create zones, not piles
Piles are not a system. Zones are. Split your TV unit into clear areas. One zone for gaming, one for streaming devices, one for books or decor. When everything has a job, it's far more likely to end up back where it belongs.
5. Let other furniture share the load
Your TV unit does not need to carry the entire storage burden. Side tables, coffee tables, an armchair with a nearby storage ottoman can all help spread things out.
A coffee table with drawers or shelving is ideal for hiding magazines, coasters and games, giving your TV unit a much needed break.
6. Do not treat the top like a storage shelf
The top of your TV unit is not extra shelving. Keep it calm. A plant, a tray, a couple of books and stop there. Leaving some empty space makes the whole living room feel more intentional and less like a to do list.
This also lets statement pieces like a rug or sofa shine without competition.
7. Think vertically
If floor space is limited, vertical storage is your friend. Shelves above or near the TV unit are great for books, plants and decorative objects. Just remember that less is still more.
Vertical storage works especially well in smaller flats where every inch of living room furniture needs to earn its place.
8. Store seasonally, not emotionally
Your TV unit doesn't need to house everything you have ever owned. If it's not used daily, it probably doesn't need to live there. Store seasonal items elsewhere and keep only the essentials close by.
This also helps keep the area clear around flexible furniture like a sofa bed, which functions best without clutter crowding it.
9. Let soft furnishings distract from the small stuff
A well placed rug instantly grounds the TV area and pulls focus away from any minor mess that sneaks in. Cushions and throws on the sofa or armchair add warmth and texture without adding clutter.
10. Trays are organised chaos in disguise
Trays are key when it comes to TV unit organisation. They hoard remotes, coasters and small tech into one neat group so things feel intentional rather than scattered.
They also make tidying faster because you can lift everything in one go and feel productive in under 30 seconds.
11. Reset often, not perfectly
The most organised TV units are not spotless at all times, they just get reset regularly. A five minute tidy once a week stops clutter from becoming overwhelming and keeps your living room feeling easy to live in.
A well organised TV unit is not about being minimalist or impressing guests. It's about creating a living room that works for how you actually live, whether that means movie nights on the sofa, friends crashing on the sofa bed or quiet evenings in an armchair with your phone on DND.
