I’ve learned that a family living room can look organized until you focus on the home theater area. Streaming devices sit beside the screen, controllers migrate across the coffee table, remotes disappear between cushions, and cables multiply behind everything.
Kids make that setup harder to control. The TV might be used for a movie one evening and gaming the next, while the room still needs to work for homework, reading, play, and guests.
The goal is not to hide technology, but to give everyday equipment a proper home. Modular storage that looks like custom built-ins can create a more finished and organized living result with no renovation, no contractor, no DIY project taking over the room.
Choose Storage That Actually Hides the Clutter
Open shelving can keep devices neatly arranged, but neatly arranged clutter is still visible. Closed cabinet storage rather than open shelving works better for the controllers, cable boxes, and accessories that do not need to become part of the room’s decor.
The Martha Stewart Living Room Collection is a modular storage system from Flash Furniture, available in the Bedford and Lily Pond lines, that combines cabinets, hutches, and TV stands into a custom built-in look with solid wood frames, soft-close doors, and adjustable shelving.
The Bedford Set of 2 Modular Cabinets and Hutches provides six shelves total, tempered glass Shaker doors, and soft-close hinges, giving electronics and everyday media clutter defined storage instead of leaving everything around the TV. The Bedford Gray configuration stands 79.25 inches high and is one of six curated finishes.
The system gives cable boxes, streaming devices, gaming accessories, and other media clutter designated cabinet storage, while the hutches leave space for items a family actually wants to display.
Keep the Living Room Feeling Like a Living Room
A television does not need to dictate the appearance of an entire family room. The best home theater setup provides storage that reads as living room furniture, not as a media rack, particularly when the same shared family space is used for relaxing, playing, and entertaining.
Materials, proportions, and detailing all shape that distinction. Closed cabinets can keep everyday electronics from dominating the room, while open areas can hold books, photos, or decorative pieces that make the space feel less centered around a screen.
The Bedford and Lily Pond modular storage system combines media storage with the proportions and detailing of traditional furniture. That helps the TV area fit naturally into the room rather than looking like equipment storage placed against a wall.
Make Sure Cords Have Somewhere to Go
Closing a cabinet door only solves part of the problem if power and connection cables still trail around the furniture. Electronics need a practical route to outlets and one another without forcing cords around doors or across visible surfaces.
Rear cord management openings in the open hutches give wiring a defined route behind the furniture. That matters when several devices need permanent connections without leaving their cables visible.
The most common connections include:
- Power cords running from devices to nearby outlets
- HDMI and other connections between media components,
- Charging cables for controllers and accessories.
A defined cable route also makes it easier to separate equipment that stays permanently connected behind from chargers and accessories that can be stored away after use.
Compare the Finished Setup, Not Just the Furniture
When comparing ready-made options, price is most useful when the setups are solving a similar job. The Bedford Set of 2 is not the lowest-priced route: a comparable IKEA BESTA glass-door configuration is around $1,570, while the Bedford Set of 2 is around $1,678. Prices are approximate and can change.
IKEA has two straightforward advantages here: the lower price and a broader configuration range. Families who enjoy planning individual components may prefer that flexibility.
The distinction is the route to the finished room. Modular storage that looks like custom built-ins can reduce the extra work involved in turning separate storage pieces into a coordinated wall. With the Bedford system, the built-in appearance requires no renovation, no contractor, no DIY project involving added trim, cutting, or painting.
That does not mean no assembly. It means the furniture is designed to create the coordinated effect without turning installation into a construction project. Adult assembly is still required once the pieces arrive and before the setup is ready to use.
Think About What Can Safely Stay Behind Closed Doors
Not every piece of home theater equipment belongs inside the same closed cabinet while operating. The amount of heat a device generates matters just as much as whether it physically fits on the shelf. Some components need more airflow during regular use than others.
Devices that run cool, such as a streaming stick, cable box, router, or soundbar remote, can sit behind closed cabinet doors. Game consoles under load and AV receivers generate more heat and may need a vented cabinet or added cooling rather than fully enclosed storage.
For lower-heat components and everyday media clutter, the Martha Stewart Bedford pieces provide soft-close storage, while the open hutches include rear cord management openings for routing cables. Equipment dimensions should still be checked before deciding where each component will sit.
The practical rule is simple: use closed storage for appropriate equipment and everyday clutter, but do not sacrifice the operating requirements of electronics simply to keep them out of view.
Know When Semi-Custom Becomes a Different Price Point
Semi-custom storage moves the budget into another range. Contempo Space semi-custom wall units start at around $2,500 and up, compared with around $1,678 for the Bedford Set of 2. Those approximate figures frame the potential added cost of taking the semi-custom route rather than making a feature-for-feature comparison.
A modular system provides another way to build around the available space. The Martha Stewart Living Room Collection, manufactured by Flash Furniture (a Ubique Group company), offers 2-piece through 6-piece configurations, so a family is not limited to treating one cabinet arrangement as the permanent answer for the room.
That range also supports the broader idea of soft-close doors and adjustable shelving within a system that can change with the room. The collection uses solid wood frames, bases, and legs rather than relying on an added construction project to create a coordinated appearance.
A Living Room First
The best family media storage makes equipment less visually prominent once everyone finishes using it. Modular storage that looks like custom built-ins can provide that balance with no renovation, no contractor, no DIY project beyond assembling the furniture itself.
Good storage should keep everyday technology organized without allowing it to define the room. The television can remain part of family life while closed storage, practical cable routing and furniture-style design help the living room feel like a living room.
FAQs About Home Theater Storage
Can Media Cabinets Hold a Full Home Theater Setup?
Yes, provided the cabinet has enough shelf space for the individual components and their connections. Measure each device before choosing a setup, then account for cables and any accessories that also need dedicated storage space within the available cabinet layout.
Where Can I Buy the Martha Stewart Living Room Collection?
The Martha Stewart Living Room Collection is available through major retailers including Home Depot, Target, Lowe’s, Best Buy, and Walmart. Available configurations and finishes can vary between retailers, so check the specific model, dimensions and included pieces before ordering.
Does the Bedford Set of 2 Require Assembly?
Yes. The Bedford Set of 2 requires adult assembly and ships in multiple boxes, so some setup time should be expected after delivery. Each piece must be assembled properly. Creating the built-in appearance does not require construction, cutting, added trim or painting.
