Your TV stand does double duty — it organizes your media setup and anchors the most-viewed wall in your home. A mid century console brings clean lines, hidden storage, and that unmistakable retro warmth to your living room.
Here's how to choose the right one.
Sizing Your TV Stand
The golden rule: your TV stand should be wider than your TV.
| TV Size | Minimum Stand Width | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| 42-50" | 48" | 55-60" |
| 55-65" | 60" | 65-72" |
| 70-75" | 72" | 78-84" |
A stand that's too narrow makes your TV look top-heavy. Wider stands create visual balance and give you surface space for speakers, plants, or decor.
Open Shelving vs Closed Storage
Open Shelving
- Better airflow for electronics (prevents overheating)
- Easy access to cable boxes, consoles, and streaming devices
- Shows everything — needs to stay organized
Closed Cabinets (Doors/Drawers)
- Hides clutter, cables, and devices you don't want visible
- Cleaner look — especially with mid century sliding doors
- May need ventilation holes for electronics that generate heat
Best option: A combo — open center shelf for your streaming box, closed side cabinets for everything else. Most of our mid century TV stands offer exactly this layout.
Cable Management
Nothing ruins a beautiful mid century console faster than a tangle of cables falling behind it. Look for:
- Back panel cutouts: Holes or channels in the back panel for routing cables
- Open back: Some mid mod stands have a completely open back — easier for cables but shows more of the wall
- Built-in grommets: Desktop holes with rubber covers for clean cable pass-through
Materials for TV Stands
- Solid walnut: The iconic mid century choice. Heavy, stable, gorgeous grain. Worth the investment.
- Engineered wood with walnut veneer: Same look, lighter weight, lower price. Excellent for most living rooms.
- Rattan-front panels: Adds bohemian texture to the mid century silhouette. Trending hard right now.
- Wood + metal: Industrial-meets-mid-mod. Metal legs or frames with wood tops and shelves.
Wall Mount vs Stand
If you mount your TV on the wall, your console becomes a pure storage and display piece. This opens up options:
- You can go lower profile (under 20" height) since the TV isn't sitting on top
- Surface becomes decor space — plants, books, candles, speakers
- The console visually grounds the wall, preventing the "floating TV" look
If your TV sits on the stand, check the weight capacity — a 65" TV can weigh 40-60 lbs. Make sure the stand handles it.
Shop Mid Century TV Stands
Browse our mid mod TV stands and consoles. Walnut, rattan, and mixed-material options from 48" to 72" wide. Free shipping over $299, 30-day returns.
