Living Room Lowboard — Dimensions, Solutions, Ideas
A lowboard is a low cabinet unit with a typical height between 30 cm and 50 cm, serving in the living room primarily as a base for media equipment and the television.
Unlike classic, floor-to-ceiling living room cabinets, a lowboard keeps the wall surface clear and puts media technology at the centre. For DIY enthusiasts and furniture makers, questions regarding correct proportions, load capacity, and clever cable management often arise during planning or self-assembly. This guide provides the technical data for selection and installation.
Dimensions & Suitability: Matching Width and Depth Correctly
The sizing of the lowboard depends directly on the size of the television and the equipment to be accommodated. A screen should not visually overhang the edges of the furniture. As a rule of thumb: the unit should be at least 10 cm to 15 cm wider than the TV on both the left and right sides.
A 55-inch television has a physical width of about 123 cm. Here, a lowboard 140 cm represents the absolute lower limit. For larger screens from 65 inches upwards or if additional speakers are placed on the top panel, a wider model is required. For spacious rooms and home cinema set-ups, a lowboard 250 cm offers plenty of surface area and creates a continuous, calm line along the wall.
The depth of standard models is usually between 40 cm and 50 cm. This is a critical dimension when housing AV receivers. Including rear cable connectors and front control dials, these units often require a clear internal depth of at least 43 cm.
How to Choose: Material, Finish, and Fittings
Wood-based materials dominate the carcass and fronts. Melamine-resin-coated chipboard is scratch-resistant and easy to maintain, whilst fronts made of MDF (medium-density fibreboard) are often used for painted or thermoformed surfaces.
The colour scheme significantly influences the room's atmosphere. A TV lowboard beige reflects light softly and matches wooden flooring, whereas a lowboard concrete look creates a cool, industrial contrast.
Alongside the finish, the installed hardware determines the longevity of the piece. Look out for the following components during assembly:
- Hinges: Doors should be fitted with a concealed cup hinge featuring integrated soft-close damping. An opening angle of 110° is sufficient for standard flaps and doors.
- Drawer runners: For drawers holding heavy consoles or game collections, a full-extension runner is advisable. This allows the drawer to extend 100%, keeping the rearmost corner accessible.
- Flap stays: For downward-opening fronts, sturdy braked flap stays prevent the door from dropping uncontrolled and tearing out the hinges.
Solutions for Storage and Cable Management
A well-planned piece of furniture conceals technology rather than accentuating it. To turn the lowboard into a functional living room cabinet with ample storage, cable management is essential.
The back panel made of thin HDF (high-density fibreboard) should feature factory-made cable outlets. If this is not the case, you can make neat cut-outs using a hole saw (Ø 60 mm). A proven fitting trick for devices placed on the top surface: insert a cable grommet for desk into the top panel of the lowboard. This allows television cables to disappear directly into the carcass without dangling down behind the unit.
To achieve a uniform look in the room, TV lowboards & TV benches can be complemented with a living room chest of drawers in an identical finish placed to the side. This creates extra storage space for items unrelated to media equipment.
Assembly and Installation: Tips for the DIYer
Assembling a lowboard is like building the foundation of a house – if the base is not precisely aligned, the door gaps will appear crooked.
Required tools:
- Cordless screwdriver with torque control
- Pozi screwdriver bit (usually PZ2 for chipboard screws)
- Spirit level (at least 60 cm in length)
- Rubber mallet for wooden dowels
Work precisely when inserting cam lock fittings. The connecting bolt must be screwed in flush so that the cam casing engages properly when tightened. Once the lowboard is on the floor, adjust the furniture feet using the spirit level to compensate for floor unevenness. Only with an accurately horizontal carcass can the fronts later be adjusted cleanly via the adjustment screws on the hinge.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How high should the television hang above the lowboard?
The optimal height depends on the seating position. When seated, eye level should align approximately with the upper third of the screen. With an average seat height of 45 cm and a lowboard height of 40 cm, the TV is usually placed directly on the unit or mounted on the wall a few centimetres above it.
Can I wall-mount any lowboard?
No. A floor-standing lowboard is structurally designed to transfer weight through the base panel. For wall mounting, the unit must feature dedicated, adjustable cabinet hangers. Furthermore, wall installation requires solid walls (brick, concrete) and appropriate heavy-duty wall plugs. For stud walls, the internal framework must bear the load.
How much clearance does a lowboard need from the wall?
If the unit is not wall-hung, a clearance of 3 cm to 5 cm from the wall is recommended. This ensures air circulation for heat-generating AV receivers and consoles inside, whilst providing sufficient space for thick HDMI and power cables running behind the furniture.