Large Room Solutions: SAALA Wall Unit for Spacious Living Areas

A wall unit is a modular furniture combination of standing and wall-mounted elements that serves as a central storage and media system in the living room. The SAALA series is designed specifically for expansive living spaces where individual items of furniture would visually disappear. As a complete room solution, it structures large wall areas, offers organised storage for electronics, books, and decorations, and seamlessly integrates televisions into the interior design. This guide is aimed at DIY enthusiasts, explaining the technical properties, materials, and correct assembly of this large-format furniture combination.

Modular Components of a Complete Room Solution

A generous wall unit rarely consists of a single solid block. The SAALA system uses individual modules that combine to form a cohesive visual unit. This simplifies transport, assembly, and allows flexible adaptation to the layout of the room.

The TV Lowboard as a Base

The centre of the media wall is the lowboard. It has a low profile, providing a base for large TV sets or serving as a visual foundation beneath a wall-mounted screen. Modern lowboard for TV modules from the SAALA series are typically available in widths from 120 cm to 200 cm and are often positioned side by side in pairs to achieve a total width of over 300 cm. They feature flaps or drawers where receivers, gaming consoles, and cables can be concealed.

Wall Cabinets and Floating Shelves

To make use of the vertical space in a large room, wall-mounted elements are introduced. Enclosed wall cabinets offer concealed storage, whilst open floating shelves act as display surfaces. Wall mounting creates a floating appearance that visually lightens the substantial volume of the furniture units.

Floor-Standing and Wall-Mounted Display Cabinets

Display cabinets break up solid front panels with glass inserts. They are often arranged asymmetrically — for example, a tall floor-standing display cabinet on the left side and a shorter wall-mounted display cabinet on the right side of the lowboard. Their internal fittings frequently include glass shelves resting on dedicated shelf support studs fitted into 5 mm holes in the System 32 grid.

Complementary Storage Furniture

In very spacious living areas, a standard TV wall is often not enough to furnish the entire room. Here, the system is complemented by freestanding units in matching finishes. A matching living room chest of drawers or a wide sideboard for TV on an adjoining wall extends the design across the room and maximises usable storage capacity.

Materials and Finishes

The stability and visual appeal of the furniture depend significantly on the core substrates and surface coatings used. The SAALA series employs proven materials standard in modern furniture manufacturing.

Core Materials: Carcase and Fronts

The carcase (the structural frame and internal shelves of the cabinets) is usually constructed from chipboard. These boards are dimensionally stable and carry substantial structural weight. For the front panels (doors and flaps), MDF (medium-density fibreboard) is frequently used. MDF has a finer internal structure than chipboard and can be shaped and routed cleanly at the edges, which is especially important for handleless designs or deep surface grooves.

Decors and Surface Coatings

The surface of the panels is sealed with a layer of melamine resin or thermoformed foils. This coating determines the final appearance of the wall units:

• Wood Decors: Replicas of oak (such as Sonoma oak or Wotan oak) bring natural texture into the room. A wall unit wood finish creates a warmer feel and conceals dust better than plain solid colours.
• High Gloss: A wall unit white high gloss finish reflects light. In deep, expansive rooms with limited daylight reaching the rear wall, this can make the space feel significantly brighter. The smooth surfaces are achieved using PET films or acrylic coatings.
• Dark Tones and Industrial Look: Anthracite, black, or concrete-effect finishes create a striking contrast. However, a wall unit black finish strictly requires good room lighting, as it absorbs a substantial amount of ambient light. Matt surfaces in these shades are noticeably less prone to visible fingerprints.

The edges of the boards are finished with ABS edging (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene). This impact-resistant plastic protects the edges from moisture ingress and mechanical damage during vacuuming.

Planning Considerations for Expansive Living Areas

Furnishing a large room requires different considerations compared to decorating a compact space. Proportions must be carefully balanced so the furniture does not look lost.

Dimensions and Room Proportions

A wall unit modern configuration for wide spaces should have an overall width of at least 280 cm to 350 cm. Measure the available wall space precisely. Ensure that at least 40 cm to 50 cm of clearance remains on the left and right sides toward the nearest wall or door, preventing the arrangement from feeling cramped. The depth of the lower units is typically between 40 cm and 50 cm, whereas wall cabinets are shallower at around 30 cm deep to guarantee ample headroom.

Room Acoustics

Large, sparsely furnished rooms tend to suffer from echoes. An extensive cabinet arrangement breaks up sound waves. Open shelving modules filled with books act as effective acoustic absorbers. If you want to improve room acoustics, plan a combination featuring a higher proportion of open display areas.

Cable Management

In wide living spaces, power sockets are rarely positioned exactly where media appliances stand. Plan your cable routing in advance. The back panels of the lowboards are usually made from thin HDF (high-density fibreboard), which can easily be drilled with a hole saw to create neat pass-throughs for cables.

Integrated Hardware and Fittings

The durability of a cabinet wall depends directly on its moving parts. To guarantee smooth operation, various furniture fittings are used, which require precise adjustment during installation.

Concealed Hinges for Doors

The hinged doors of display cabinets and storage units are mounted to the carcase using a concealed cup hinge. The standard drill hole in the door has a diameter of 35 mm. The SAALA series generally uses a full overlay mounting. This means that when closed, the door completely conceals the front edge of the carcase side panel. The opening angle is usually 110°. If the hinges include soft-close damping, an integrated hydraulic cylinder within the hinge arm shuts the door silently over the final centimetres.

Drawer Runners

Drawers are integrated into the chest of drawers and lowboard modules. A distinction is made between two main runner types:

• Roller Runners: A straightforward system where plastic wheels run inside a metal track. These are usually single-extension runners, meaning the drawer pulls out to roughly 75% of its total depth.
• Ball Bearing Runners: Telescopic slides containing steel ball bearings. These often provide full extension (100% travel path) and offer higher load capacities.

Flap Stays and Gas Struts

Lowboards frequently feature downward-opening drop-down flaps. To prevent these from falling abruptly and tearing the hinges out of the carcase, a gas strut is fitted. The force of this damper is specified in Newtons (N) (such as 60 N or 80 N). The rating must match the weight and height of the flap precisely.

Assembly and Installation of the SAALA Wall Unit

Building a multi-part complete room unit requires a systematic approach, adequate floor space, and ideally two people.

Aligning the wall-hung cabinets forms the foundation of the entire installation's appearance — once the first module is perfectly level, the remaining units align smoothly.

Required Tools

• Cordless screwdriver with drill bits (PZ for standard wood screws, often TX for wall fixings)
• Hammer drill (for concrete or masonry walls) or standard drill
• Spirit level (at least 80 cm long)
• Tape measure and pencil
• Cross-head screwdriver (for fine-tuning the furniture hardware)
• Rubber mallet

Step-by-Step Assembly

1. Preparation: Sort all components by module. Avoid assembling every cabinet simultaneously; build module by module to prevent mixing up fixings and screws.
2. Carcase Assembly: Panels are joined using wooden dowels and cam lock connectors. The steel connecting bolt is screwed into the pre-drilled panel, while the cam casing is inserted into the matching hole in the adjoining panel and locked with a half turn. This pulls the panels together without visible exterior gaps.
3. Fixing the Back Panels: Place the carcase face-down on the floor, ensuring it is perfectly square (measure both diagonals; they must match to the exact millimetre). Nail the back panel into place at intervals of approximately 10 cm to 15 cm. The back panel provides the cabinet with its final structural rigidity.
4. Positioning Base Units: Place the lowboards in their intended location. Level them precisely using a spirit level. Use levelling shims or adjustable furniture feet underneath if the floor is uneven.
5. Wall Mounting Upper Units: Mark the drill hole positions on the wall. For solid walls (concrete, brick), use standard wall plugs (typically 8 mm or 10 mm). For plasterboard partition walls, heavy-duty cavity wall anchors are essential. Hang the cabinets securely onto the mounted wall brackets or hanging plates.
6. Fitting Fronts and Fine Adjustment: Attach the doors and drawer fronts. A concealed cup hinge can be adjusted across three dimensions (height, depth, and lateral overlay) to achieve perfectly consistent gap spacing between all panels.

Frequently Asked Questions About the SAALA Wall Unit (FAQ)

How much space do I need for a large wall unit?

To achieve a balanced look in the room, the wall surface should be at least 3.50 metres wide. The furniture modules themselves will occupy approximately 2.80 metres to 3.20 metres of that width. Ensure adequate clearance from room doors and radiators. A minimum viewing distance of 2.50 metres should be maintained between the lowboard and the sofa.

Can I arrange the wall unit modules in any configuration?

Yes, because these are separate modular elements, you are not tied to the arrangement shown in standard product diagrams. You can switch the positions of the display units, alter the spacing between cabinets, or mount wall cabinets at custom heights. Only the base lowboard modules are best positioned continuously to create a stable foundation.

What type of wall plugs do I need for wall-mounted cabinets?

The fixings supplied with furniture packs are generally standard wall plugs suited for solid masonry or concrete walls. If your walls consist of aerated concrete or plasterboard stud walls, you must source suitable specialist fixings from a hardware supplier. For plasterboard, the sheet thickness (single or double boarded) determines the maximum safe weight capacity.

How do I adjust the cabinet door hinges correctly?

Adjustments are made using the adjustment screws on the concealed cup hinge. The front screw on the hinge arm alters the side-to-side overlay (the gap between adjoining doors). The rear screw adjusts the depth (the gap between the door and the carcase). Vertical alignment (height) is adjusted via the mounting plate screws on the inside wall of the cabinet.

How should I clean and maintain high-gloss front panels?

Always use soft cotton cloths or dedicated glass cleaning cloths. Microfibre cloths can leave micro-scratches on delicate gloss surfaces. Lukewarm water mixed with a drop of mild washing-up liquid is entirely sufficient for cleaning. Avoid abrasive cleaning agents or harsh chemical solvents.

Do large TVs (over 65 inches) fit on the lowboard?

A 65-inch television measures approximately 145 cm in width. By combining two 140 cm wide lowboards (yielding a total width of 280 cm), there is plenty of room visually and structurally for large screens. Always verify the maximum load rating of the top panel, which typically supports between 30 kg and 40 kg.

How long does it take to assemble a complete wall unit?

An experienced DIYer should allow approximately 4 to 6 hours for a four-piece wall combination. Most of this time is spent measuring, levelling, and drilling for the wall brackets, followed by fine-tuning the alignment of the doors and drawer runners. It is best carried out with two people.

Related Hardware Fittings and Components

When planning your living room furniture layouts, explore our extensive selection of matching furniture hardware fittings designed for large interior installations. Browse our comprehensive ranges of furniture fittings, high-grade hinges, and runner systems tailored to support bespoke and modular wall units of all sizes.