What Sizes Are Typical for TV Units and Dining Chairs in Small Living Rooms?

It can sometimes prove quite challenging furnishing a tiny apartment or an open-plan living space because you have to think about everything very carefully. Since you'll be combining your living room and dining areas in the same space, every little thing will count. Buying furniture that is too large can quickly make your apartment feel overcrowded, cramped, and hard to move around in.  On the other hand, purchasing pieces which are too small will leave your room looking divided and uncomfortable.

The two most significant pieces you will want to focus on are the entertainment console and dining seating. The former will help you establish the main feature of your relaxation area, while the latter will set the tone in your dining space. Finding the perfect measurements is what will turn your house into a truly magnificent space.

In this ultimate guide, we will examine all the possible measurements you need to take when buying TV units and dining chairs for small apartments. We will also show you some excellent examples available at Divano.

1. The Golden Rules of Small Space Furniture 

However, before starting to discuss particular centimeters and average sizes, it is vital to discuss the behavior of different furniture elements in a small-sized room. In addition to its physical dimensions, any furniture element has the feature called visual weight, according to which particular pieces of furniture seem heavier than others.

Thus, for example, a very dark-colored, massive cabinet having a block-like shape that is standing right on the floor has lots of visual weight. Although the piece of furniture is small in physical terms, it looks extremely heavy. On the contrary, furniture with skinny legs and light space under the element seems not to possess visual weight. This makes the room look open and light.

This is why the primary task for you when shopping for furniture in small spaces is to pick up those pieces of furniture that have ideal dimensions and minimum visual weight. Furthermore, it is important to leave the maximum possible amount of negative space. For this purpose, there has to be 45-50 centimeters left on the floor between the furniture pieces.

2. Typical Sizes for TV Units in Compact Rooms 

Naturally, the television will become the focus of the living space. The unit located underneath must be broad enough to balance the television visually, yet narrow enough not to block walking areas.

• Common Size (Length)

While in a professional home cinema theater, units may exceed 220cm in length, in a small living room, the common size for a television cabinet should lie within the range of 120cm to 170cm.

To determine how wide a unit should be, keep in mind one essential thing: the unit should be marginally larger than the width of the TV set. Therefore, a 160cm unit fits perfectly when used with a 55-inch television set (approximately 123 cm wide).

• Standard Depth

Depth is one of the most important dimensions of narrow units. Standards usually range from 45cm to 50cm depth. When dealing with small rooms, you need to go for slim profile units whose standard depth should be 35cm to 40cm. It does not matter whether the saving of an additional 10 centimeters will make such a great difference until you try walking past the console without touching your legs to it.

• Standard Height

The standard height of small-space units is around 40cm to 55cm. Low-profile units are strongly recommended since they allow creating some distance between the top of the television set and the ceiling. The vertical space created creates a visual illusion that the ceiling is way above than what it really is.

3. Top Divano TV Units for Small Living Rooms 

Finding that perfect mid-sized console that offers both style and storage can be tricky, but Divano has several fantastic options tailored specifically for compact Australian homes. Here are three top-tier choices from our Modern TV Unit Collections: 

1. Milo 160cm Sintered Stone Travertine Top ETU

Perfectly sized at 160cm, this Milo model is ideal for compact apartments. This ETU comes with a beautiful strong stone surface top in a marble look, paired with a beautiful walnut wooden surface. These thin legs guarantee that there is enough light under it, making it almost invisible while providing luxurious textures.

Milo-160cm-ETU-Entertainment-TV-Unit

2. Marmalade Hampton 160cm ETU in White Oak

In case you have a room with poor lighting and need a unit that helps you brighten it, Marmalade Hampton is an excellent choice. This ETU with a sleek design in white oak measures 160cm and creates a fresh atmosphere by reflecting sunlight into the room. Closed storage space helps you keep your wires, game controllers, and other electronic devices neat and clean.

Marmalade-Hampton-160cm-ETU-Entertainment-TV-Unit

3. Elemental 169cm ETU in Brushed Smoke Grey

For someone who prefers a touch of modern industrial look with a more compact TV unit, the Elemental model is perfect. Measuring 169cm, this unit can fix televisions up to 65 inches. With a brushed smoke grey look, this ETU blends flawlessly with small apartment walls.

Elemental-169cm-ETU-Entertainment-TV-Unit

4. Typical Sizes for Dining Chairs in Tight Layouts 

When designing an open plan house, the dining zone will always be placed right behind the sofa or close to a corner spot. Since all areas blend into each other, it's necessary to make sure that your dining chairs are small enough to move fully away from the seating space when not in use.

• Standard Width

Ordinary dining chairs can reach up to 60cm in width, provided that they have arm rests. It's best to avoid having armchairs around a dining table in a small area. Space-saving dining chairs should take about 40cm to 48cm in width. This way, it will allow you to fit four chairs around a small dining table or easily slide them underneath a narrow rectangular table.

• Standard Depth

It's important to find the right chair, whose total width measures from 45cm to 52cm. You need to have comfortable seats for dinner parties and chairs that can slip right under the table to provide you with an open path.

• Back Support Height

This is where the concept of visual weight plays a crucial role. Backed chairs that rise beyond 95cm function as solid walls by blocking out all light sources and creating a sense of separation in the room. 

In the case of small spaces that lack a dividing wall, dining chairs should be in the range of 75 to 85 cm. Chairs of shorter height would be closer to the table in height, giving you the freedom to look into the room without any blockage from the back support of the chairs.

5. Top Divano Dining Chairs for Small Spaces 

Divano offers a highly curated selection of seating that perfectly balances comfort with small-scale proportions. When browsing our Dining Chairs Collections, these models stand out as incredible choices for compact layouts: 

1. Cusco 2 Piece Scandinavian Dining Chairs

The main thing about Scandinavian furniture is that it saves up space. The Cusco dining chair consists of a beautiful solid rubberwood frame combined with an very comfortable upholstered seat. The absence of arms together with the curved and low backrest makes this chair perfect for compact dining areas. The thinner legs leave enough space under the chair making it very light.

Cusco-2pc-Set-Dining-Chair-Fabric-Seat-Scandinavian

2. The Ark Wishbone Replica Hans Wenger 

One of the most popular chairs among interior decorators when dealing with compact floor space is a wishbone chair. As the back support is made from a single piece of bent wood and has an open design, it practically has no weight at all. The chair is absolutely transparent, which does not overcrowd the dining area. It comes in two colors – pure white and natural wood.

Ark-Wishbone-2pc-Set-Dining-Chair-Replica-Hans-Wenger

3. The Linaria Crossback Dining Chair 

The Linaria Crossback chair would be great if you want something a bit more classic or even rustic. This chair comes with a wooden cross on its back, much like the Wishbone chair, that lets light pass through. The chair is small enough to slide under normal-sized tables easily and still provide the same great look.

Linaria-Dining-Chair-Set-of-2-Crossback-Solid-Rubber-Wood-Fabric-Seat

6. How to Coordinate Your Living and Dining Zones 

When your TV unit and your dining chairs sit in the exact same room, they need to communicate with each other visually. If the styles do not match too strongly, the room will feel chaotic and even smaller than it actually is. 

Timber Tones Match

There is no requirement for you to purchase a complete set of matching furniture, although it would be wise to make sure there is consistency in the timber tones used. If you have chosen to include the luxurious walnut Milo 160cm TV Unit, then consider complementing its appearance with dining chairs boasting wooden legs in the same shade.

Contrast Play

When the entertainment unit is a massive, dense piece of furniture, counterbalance the weight of the unit in the room by using very light and airy dining chairs. Or, if your choice of entertainment unit consists of a delicate floating white console, like the Marmalade Hampton, then feel free to inject some colour into the dining chair design.

Use Rugs for Creating Zones in the Interior

If you have a small open space, it would be a good idea to define the zones by using floor covering materials. You will need to place a large and textural rug under your couch and TV set to indicate the zone where you relax. As for the area in which there is your dining table, keep it bare. The brain perceives it as two separate rooms.

7. Common Measuring Mistakes to Avoid

Online shopping of furniture is highly convenient, although you have to be prepared for some potential issues. The following are the most common mistakes that people make while furnishing small apartments and ways to prevent them:

Not Considering the Baseboards and Skirting Boards

When estimating the distance along the wall where you want to place your TV stand, people often do it from wall to wall. Nevertheless, the presence of baseboards or skirting boards can take up a few centimeters from your measurements. Make sure that you always estimate the distances from inside the skirting boards to guarantee that your future cabinet will fit inside the hollow.

Not Taking into Account the "Pull Out" Area

While planning the area that will accommodate your dining set, it is not sufficient to measure the table itself, along with the chairs when they are placed close to each other. In addition, the space that will accommodate a person sitting at the table should also be taken into account. Therefore, it is important to consider an additional 60 centimeters behind any dining chair in order not to inconvenience your visitors.

Painter’s Tape Method

Before you proceed to check out, pick up some painter’s tape. Measure the precise dimensions of the TV stand that you want to buy and mark the spots on the floor in your living room. Likewise, measure the precise dimensions of the dining table and the chairs you plan to get. Go around the marked-out spaces with the painter’s tape for a couple of days.

8. Bringing It All Together with Divano 

It is possible to decorate the living room and dining area in your small space while making sure that you don't compromise your own style, nor do you have to go for bulky furniture which makes your place look crowded and claustrophobic. The secret lies in having knowledge of the usual size requirements of these rooms, and opting for designs that have a low profile and weigh lightly.

Your aim should be to acquire a television unit that measures about 160 cm and choose slim dining chairs without arms that can easily disappear under the table.

Here at Divano, we have an undying love for crafting top-of-the-line, stylish furniture that can complement any contemporary Australian home. Our furniture selection includes items that make you feel like you're buying expensive designer pieces, but with less bulkiness.

Are you looking for ways to transform your small space? Then check out our numerous catalogues today! You can find the ideal media cabinet from our Modern TV Units Collection and the best seating furniture from our Dining Chairs Collection. 

We provide extremely fast shipping across Australia, along with helpful assistants who will be glad to assist you with measuring your items. Create your dream home today – Come Visit Us and see our newest additions!

FAQs

1. How big should the TV cabinet be for a 55-inch TV in a tiny room?
   A standard 55-inch TV measures around 123 cm across, so a media console that measures anywhere from 140 cm to 160 cm would be perfect. The reason for this is that this size gives the TV sufficient clearance from the edges of the console without making it appear too heavy on the top but small enough in terms of the floor space it takes up.

    

2. Should I choose dining armchairs for my small apartment?
   Using armchairs for dining is discouraged for any room that is small or open-plan in nature. Armchairs tend to take up more space compared to traditional chairs without armrests and cannot be stored underneath the dining table. You can save a lot of precious space by selecting the latter option.

    

3. What is the ideal depth for a space-saving media console?
   Although many media consoles have an average depth of 45cm to 50cm, such dimensions could interfere with movement within the limited space of a small living room. You need to seek a sleek design whose depth should fall squarely within the range of 35cm and 40cm. Such a slightly smaller depth would conveniently accommodate your flat screen television and other audio devices without limiting your movement around the media console.

    

4. Does the color of the furniture impact the size of the room?
   Definitely, it does. Heavy furniture, particularly in dark colors, can create the impression that the room is very cramped due to lack of enough space. To get a spacious effect within your living area, choose furniture in lighter tones like the classic white Marmalade Hampton and the oak finish. The light colors reflect the natural light in the room, creating a roomy illusion.