Lowboards: Modern TV stands for your living room
A lowboard is now much more than just a TV unit – it defines the living room with a calm, horizontal line, provides storage space for electronics and everyday items, and at the same time adds a design accent. At Möbel Ehrmann, you’ll find a carefully curated selection of lowboards in a variety of materials, sizes and styles, which blend harmoniously into both modern and classic interior designs. Our interior design consultants will help you find the model that’s right for you – either in person at our showroom or directly from our range.
Lowboards – where design and function come together
A lowboard is a low, wide living room furniture piece that positions the television at a comfortable viewing height while also providing storage space for set-top boxes, consoles, books, or decorative items. Unlike a traditional wall unit, a lowboard has a lighter appearance and leaves the walls uncluttered, which helps to create a modern, tidy look, particularly in open-plan living and dining areas.
Typical heights range from 35 to 55 centimetres, whilst widths range from a compact 120 centimetres up to a generous 240 centimetres and beyond. This makes it possible to tailor lowboards to various room layouts—whether as a minimalist standalone unit beneath a wall-mounted TV or as part of a coordinated wall unit. Lowboards are also often referred to as TV stands or TV base units; in each case, the term refers to the same type of furniture with a specific function centred on audio-visual technology.
Styles and designs: The right lowboard for every interior style
A modern lowboard is characterised by clean lines, minimalist handles and a sleek front. Handleless push-to-open solutions or narrow handle strips emphasise the horizontal effect and fit well with Scandinavian or contemporary living room interiors. Those seeking a warmer aesthetic often opt for country-style variants with visible wood grain, framed fronts, or subtle mouldings.
In the industrial style, wood and metal combine to create a striking look – for example, as a lowboard with a wooden body resting on a slender metal frame. A metal lowboard in black or anthracite lends the room an urban character, whilst classic oak versions bring a sense of calm and a connection to nature into the living area. Which style suits you best depends above all on the atmosphere you wish to create in your living room and which pieces of furniture already set the tone.
If you’d like to incorporate the lowboard into a larger interior design scheme, it’s worth taking a look at matching sideboards for the dining room or hallway, as well as wall units, which combine lowboards, wall-mounted units and display cabinets into a harmonious ensemble.
Materials and finishes: From solid wood to high-gloss
The material not only defines the look of a lowboard, but also its feel and durability. At Möbel Ehrmann, you’ll find models in a variety of material combinations – from solid wild oak and veneered board materials to high-gloss lacquered fronts and subtle metal accents.
Lowboard made of wood and solid wood
A wooden lowboard brings natural warmth to the living room and ages with character. A solid wood lowboard – such as in wild oak, heartwood beech or knotty oak – stands out thanks to its tangible quality, substantial weight and unique grain. Each plank displays its own pattern of knots, cracks and colour variations, giving the furniture an unmistakable character.
A oak lowboard is one of the most popular options because its warm, medium-brown hue can be combined with almost any wall colour and floor covering. Oiled surfaces have a matt finish and emphasise the texture, whilst lacquered versions are more resistant to stains. Veneered models offer a more economical alternative with a genuine wood look and are slightly easier to assemble and transport.
Lowboard in white, black and coloured finishes
A white lowboard looks light and inviting and makes smaller rooms appear more spacious. Matt-lacquered fronts have a particularly calm appearance, whilst high-gloss surfaces reflect light and create an elegant effect. A black lowboard , on the other hand, provides a striking contrast, emphasises the television as the focal point and goes well with light-coloured walls or natural wood floors.
Between these two extremes, you’ll find shades of grey, anthracite, sand and greige, which blend discreetly into the room’s décor. If you are unsure which colour scheme would suit your living room, a personal consultation at one of our showrooms may be helpful – there you can see the finishes in natural light and feel them for yourself.
Wall-mounted or freestanding lowboard – the right installation option
Lowboards are available as freestanding models on plinths, legs or sled bases, as well as wall-mounted lowboards, which are mounted directly on the wall. Both variants offer practical and aesthetic features that have different effects depending on the layout of the room.
A wall-mounted lowboard appears to float and leaves the floor completely clear, which makes cleaning easier and makes small rooms appear more airy. This requires a load-bearing wall – in the case of plasterboard or older building walls, a specialist firm should check the fixings. Freestanding models, on the other hand, are simpler to assemble and often offer more storage space, as drawers and flaps can be utilised right down to the floor.
Models with a raised plinth or slender legs combine both advantages: they look light and airy without the need for wall mounting. Which option suits you best depends on the condition of your walls, your desired look and your storage requirements.
Sizes, proportions and visual impact in the room
Choosing the right size depends primarily on the size of the TV and the width of the wall. As a guideline, the lowboard should be wider than the TV – ideally by at least 20 to 40 centimetres on each side – so that the unit visually supports the screen and does not appear to overwhelm it. For a 65-inch TV, for example, a 200 cm wide; for larger televisions, a correspondingly wider unit is required.
The seat height of your sofa also plays a role: from a relaxed sitting position, the top third of the screen should ideally be at eye level. If the lowboard is too high, your neck and eyes will tire after watching television for a long time. Deep models from 45 centimetres offer space for set-top boxes and soundbars, whilst slimmer versions under 40 centimetres blend more harmoniously into smaller living rooms.
Technical details: Cable management and lighting
A well-designed lowboard not only accommodates devices but also tames the often underestimated cable clutter behind the TV. Cable outlets in the rear or side panels, removable panels and integrated cable channels make it easier to route power, HDMI and network cables. When buying, make sure the cable outlets are positioned where your socket and your devices are actually going to be.
The lighting on the lowboard is playing an increasingly important role. Integrated LED strips beneath the body, in glass display cabinets or behind back panels create indirect light and help to create a pleasant atmosphere in the evening. Soft-close fittings on drawers and flaps ensure quiet closing, whilst height-adjustable shelves inside allow receivers, games consoles and speakers to be accommodated with precision.
Care and Maintenance
To ensure you can enjoy your lowboard for many years to come, your care routine should be suited to the material. Oiled wooden surfaces benefit from occasional re-treatment with care oils designed for this purpose, whilst lacquered and veneered surfaces can usually be cleaned with a slightly damp cloth. For high-gloss finishes, a soft microfibre cloth is recommended to avoid fine scratches. Prolonged exposure to direct sunlight can cause colours to fade, so it is best to position the unit away from the intense midday sun.
Personal advice at Möbel Ehrmann
As a family-run business with over 30 years’ experience, we place great emphasis on providing personalised advice. In our furniture showrooms in the Palatinate, Baden and Trier, we’ll show you a selection of lowboards from various manufacturers and in different styles, allowing you to compare them side by side. Our interior design consultants take the time to assess your living situation, discuss the layout of your rooms, lighting conditions and existing furniture with you, and suggest solutions tailored to your needs.
Delivery and assembly are carried out by our own fitting teams – without the use of external contractors, drawing on expertise gained from day-to-day practice. Upon request, we can also provide advice on affordable financing options, so you can plan your living room furnishings at your leisure. You can find an overview of all our furniture stores on our location map; you can discover suitable complementary furniture in the Highboards.
Frequently asked questions about lowboards
How wide should a lowboard be in relation to the TV?
As a rule of thumb, the lowboard should extend 20 to 40 centimetres beyond the TV on each side. This makes the screen appear visually embedded and keeps the room looking balanced. For a 65-inch TV, a width of around 200 centimetres or more is therefore recommended.
What is the difference between a lowboard, a sideboard and a TV stand?
A lowboard is lower and wider than a sideboard and is usually specifically designed for AV equipment – with cable outlets, ventilation and a suitable seating height. The terms ‘lowboard’ and ‘TV unit’ are usually used interchangeably, whilst a sideboard tends to serve as storage furniture in the dining room or hallway.
Is a wall-mounted lowboard suitable for any wall?
A wall-mounted lowboard should be secured to a load-bearing wall, ideally solid masonry or concrete. In the case of plasterboard or older building walls, a specialist contractor should check in advance which fixing solution is appropriate. If in doubt, a freestanding model is the simpler choice.
How do I look after a solid wood lowboard properly?
Solid wood should be kept dust-free on a regular basis and wiped occasionally with a slightly damp cloth. Oiled surfaces should be treated once or twice a year with a suitable maintenance oil to ensure the wood retains its warm, rich appearance. You should avoid direct sunlight and standing moisture.