Media walls: a stylish addition to your living room
What is a media wall?
A media wall is a purpose-built design feature that is typically installed in a living room, lounge, media room or home cinema. It houses your TV, enhances your viewing experience and hides unsightly cables, creating a streamlined, built-in look that enhances your home decor and makes your space more functional.
What makes up a media wall?
Media walls are completely customisable to suit the needs of each home, but they usually comprise any combination of one or more of the following three units.
- Main feature wall
- TV back panel
- Media wall cabinets
Let’s take a look at these elements in a bit more detail…
Main feature wall
Typically, the main feature walls are applied directly to the existing wall and cover either the full height and width or just a section of the wall they are mounted to.. As the main feature wall, there is scope to create something eye-catching and impactful – this can be done through 3D wall panels like our large fluted MDF panels, standard fluted MDF panels or ribbed MDF, or something more discrete with our slat wall panels and hexagon effect panels..
Main feature walls are usually installed with a built-in gap to keep power and A/V cables out of sight and often to hide recessed accent lighting.
TV back panel
TV back panels are smaller than the main feature wall and tend to have a simpler design so as not to distract while watching TV, meaning these are often a smooth surface in just one colour (often black, white or grey). A TV back panel is fixed either fitted to the main feature wall (see above) or directly onto the wall of the home.
Back panels will have holes cut into them either to allow the screen to be flush mounted or to hide the bracket and always to allow the cables to be hidden.
TV back panels are best made from melamine boards, which are available in a wide range of colours, effects and finishes, and can be easily and inexpensively ordered online.
Media wall cabinets
Media cabinets are nothing new, but having them installed as part of a media wall hasbecome very popular as it creates a look and improves the wall’s functionality. These cabinets are perfect for storing various media components and accessories like games consoles, media players, AV amps and the all important vinyl collection. The main cabinet is often used horizontally and can be positioned either on the main feature wall or below it, either attached to the wall or just on legs on the floor. Alternatively, some people prefer to have shelved cabinets arranged vertically on either side of the TV, either open or with doors.
Melamine boards are again a popular choice for these cabinets, and using the same as what was used for the TV back panel brings cohesion to the installation.
Here at CNC Creations, we offer a bespoke cabinet making service and just need a basic sketch and some dimensions to work out some prices.
Increasing popularity of media walls
Media walls are fast becoming a must-have in modern homes thanks to how effectively they combine tech integration with elegant design, transforming your TV area into a stunning focal point.
Some popular media wall ideas include:
- Integrated LED lighting for an improved ambience
- Floating shelves or cabinets for storage and décor
- Media walls with fireplace features to create a cosy, luxurious feel
Whatever your taste, a custom media wall unit should suit your personal style and the needs of your home and entertainment habits.
Benefits of installing a media wall
Beyond the sleek looks, media walls offer a range of practical benefits:
Clutter-free living
A media wall hides unsightly wires and devices behind smooth panels and shelves, giving you a clean, minimalist look, so you can say goodbye to unsightly cables and cluttered surfaces.
Integrated storage
From shelving for books and Ojet d’art to hidden cupboards for consoles and accessories, you can design TV media walls with clever storage solutions that make them even more practical without any reduction in style.
Enhanced viewing experience
When a thoughtfully crafted backdrop, whether that’s a pitch black surround, a statement wallpaper or soft lighting, perfectly surrounding your screen, every movie night or game day feels like a Cinematic event. You can even incorporate soundproofing or adaptive lighting for the ultimate at-home immersive experience.
Multi-functionality
If you want a functional feature wall that also warms the room, think about installing a modern, ultra -realistic electric fireplace into your media wall. This installation combines design and comfort, providing a centrepiece that looks as good as it performs.
The best products for your media wall
We offer an extensive selection of high-quality boards and decorative panels that are ideal for building TV back panels, media feature walls and custom cabinets. Whether you want a minimal modern design or a warm, textured finish, we’ve got the materials to bring your media wall to life.
Best boards to use for your TV back panel
The TV back panel should offer a sleek, simple surface that complements your screen and allows it to become the centrepiece it deserves to be. We would always recommend using a melamine faced board as they offer such a wide range of colours and textures. Some of our most popular options, all of which we can cut precisely to your measurements, include:
- Wood Effect Melamine Faced Boards – Ideal for adding warmth and texture, these boards mimic natural timber without the maintenance.
- Coloured Melamine Boards – A modern, minimalist option with solid colour finishes to match your interior style.
- Concrete Effect Melamine Board – Perfect for industrial or contemporary spaces, this gives a raw, textured look with a smooth surface.
- Marble Effect Melamine Boards – Including both black and white marble styles, these offer a luxe feel without the weight or cost of real stone.
All our wood sheets can be cut to your exact measurements, with pre-cut cable holes or openings for soundbars and accessories.
Best products to use for your media feature wall
Your main feature wall is where design takes centre stage and we have plenty of options to make it personal to you and stand out:
- Slat Wall Panels – a popular choice for modern interiors, available in a variety of finishes and wood tones
- V-Groove MDF Panels – perfect for adding subtle depth and detail to your wall
- Fluted MDF Panels – available in standard, large, mini and micro sizes, offering a bold, contemporary texture that’s eye-catching and tactile
- Ribbed MDF Panels – a sophisticated way to add some rhythm and structural intrigue to your space
- Hexagon Effect Panels – for a geometric, design-led look that adds visual interest to any living room, available in a range of sizes and finishes
We precisely cut each panel to size and edge it so that it is ready to install, making it easier than ever to achieve a high-end finish.
Your options for creating media wall cabinets
If you need storage as stylish and exact as the rest of your media wall, our bespoke cabinet-making service is the perfect solution. We work to your dimensions and will cut everything to size using our industrial machines. We can also assemble the units for you, so they’re ready for installation as soon as they arrive at your home.
Visit our assembly page to explore how we can help you build beautiful, functional cabinets that match the style and scale of your media wall.
