How to Build a Media Wall

Media walls are becoming an increasingly popular way to turn the television and other entertainment equipment in your living room into a true focal point, while also incorporating storage, cable management and display space into one cohesive feature. These all-in-one solutions help keep living areas clutter-free and organised, and can be built in a wide variety of styles to suit your tastes and available space.

But how do you build a media wall, which considerations need to be made and what mistakes should be avoided? This comprehensive guide from Online Bedrooms will explain everything you need to know to build your own media wall.

WHAT IS A MEDIA WALL?

Media walls are purpose-built features that bring together your television, entertainment equipment and storage space into one decorative, cohesive installation. They are designed to create a focal point in living rooms, bedrooms and any other space where you relax and watch television. They help keep cables, consoles, streaming devices and other equipment neatly organised.

Media walls can be customised in many ways depending on your tastes and needs. Some deliver simple TV and storage combinations, while others can include shelving, integrated fireplaces and even floating storage designs for a more distinctive look. Want to see examples of different options? Have a look at our made-to-measure range of media wall entertainment units, which showcase a range of styles, layouts and configurations.

Their popularity is on the up because a well-designed media wall combines everything in one neat solution, helping create cleaner, more organised living spaces. For more guidance on choosing designs, features and other important considerations, take a look at our complete media wall guide.

HOW TO PREPARE FOR YOUR MEDIA WALL INSTALLATION

When you're researching how to build a media wall, thorough and thoughtful planning is possibly the most important stage. Taking the time to think about your ideal layout, storage needs, television size and position, cable management and any other features you’d like before you begin can help avoid expensive mistakes later in the process.

Take a look at our dedicated guide on how to plan a media wall for more details, and we’ll be covering some of the key considerations in detail below, too.

SELECTING THE RIGHT MATERIALS

Before starting your media wall project, it’s vital to ensure you have the right tools, fixings and materials to hand. Depending on your design, this could include timber, plasterboard, screws, wall plugs, TV brackets, cable management solutions and decorating supplies. It's also important to choose materials that are suitable for the weight of your television and any additional features you're planning to include. Where possible, it's often recommended to build your media wall against a masonry wall rather than a stud wall, as this can provide a stronger fixing point for the overall structure.

CHOOSING THE IDEAL LOCATION

When it comes to choosing the location for your media wall, the best position is usually where it can naturally become the focal point. In many cases, it will likely be the wall that your television is already positioned against. While they're ideal for living rooms, it's worth pointing out that media walls can also work well in bedrooms, home offices and just about any other entertainment space in your home. For more inspiration around installations in different areas of the home, explore our media wall ideas by room guide.

PLANNING YOUR LAYOUT

One of the biggest advantages of a media wall is flexibility, whether you build it yourself or choose a made-to-measure solution. You might like open shelving for displaying decorative items, closed storage for keeping clutter out of sight or a combination of both. At Online Bedrooms, we offer media walls with fireplaces alongside a range of floating media walls, giving you plenty of options when designing a layout that suits both your room and lifestyle.

DOWNLOAD OUR MEDIA WALL ASSEMBLY GUIDES

• Media Wall - Double Shelving & Fire
• Media Wall - Double Shelving
• Media Wall - Shelving One Side
• Media Wall - Base Only
• Media Wall - Base Only & Fire 

A GENERAL GUIDE TO BUILDING A MEDIA WALL

Once your planning is complete and you’re happy with your choices, it’s time to move to the practical build of your media wall. While every unit is different, most will follow the same core stages from constructing the frame through to decorating the unit and mounting the television.

BUILDING THE FRAME

The first step is to construct the frame that will support all the elements of your media wall. This is normally built from timber and creates the skeleton structure for your shelving, storage, fireplace and television recess. Making accurate measurements (‘measure twice, cut once’) and installing everything level is essential at this stage.

INSTALLING ELECTRICS

Before the frame is closed up, you'll need to plan and install any required electrics. This could include sockets, television aerial connections, power for lighting, connections for the integrated fireplace if you opt for one and considerations around cable management. If your sockets aren't already positioned where you need them, or you require any other electrical work, it should always be carried out by a qualified professional electrician. Look for the NICEIC certification.

ADDING EXTRA FEATURES

Once the frame is in place, additional features can be incorporated into your design. Popular options include integrated fireplaces, shelving, cupboards, display niches and even LED lighting, all of which help make your installation more personalised and functional. It’s all down to you and what you want your media wall to achieve.

PLASTERBOARDING

After the frame and other internal components have been installed and secured, it's time to ‘box in’ your unit with plasterboard, which will create the visible structure of your media wall. This will also need ‘skimming’ with plaster over the board to give your unit one cohesive, singular finish. Any joints, corners and openings should be carefully finished to provide a smooth surface for decorating.

SECURING THE STRUCTURE

Before moving on to finishing, check that every part of your media wall is secure and properly supported. This includes the frame, shelving, television mounting points and any integrated features.

PAINTING AND STYLING

Once the plasterwork has fully dried, your media wall can be painted and decorated. This is where the design really starts to come together, with colours, finishes, lighting and accessories helping create the final look and feel.

MOUNTING THE TV

Usually, the final stage of building a media wall is mounting the television and connecting up your entertainment equipment. Take care to ensure all brackets are securely fixed and positioned at a comfortable viewing height, with cables neatly concealed where possible. If mounting to a stud wall, make sure any load-bearing brackets and fixtures are secured into the studs, not the plasterboard. 

COMMON MISTAKES TO AVOID

Some of the best advice we can offer when you’re learning how to build a media wall is to share some of the mistakes that we and others have experienced in our own learning. Some of the most common mistakes are:

• Not Leaving Enough Space: Allow sufficient room around your television, fireplace and other equipment for ventilation, access and future upgrades.
• Overlooking Cable Management: Not thinking about cable routes and socket locations can leave visible wires that undermine the finished look.
• Underestimating Storage: Think carefully about what you want to store, from game consoles and streaming devices to books and decorative items.
• Ignoring Structural Support: Television brackets, shelving and fireplaces all need appropriate support and secure fixing points within the frame.
• Rushing Finishing: Rushing when plastering, sanding or decorating can affect the overall appearance of an otherwise well-built media wall.

The good news is, with careful planning, accurate measurements and good attention to detail, most of these issues can be avoided long before the construction of your media unit even begins.

MEDIA WALLS AT ONLINE BEDROOMS

Building your own media wall can be highly rewarding, but it requires careful planning and attention to detail at every stage. If you want a good-looking unit that’s still customisable but is delivered to you ready for installation, Online Bedrooms offers a range of genuinely made-to-measure media walls designed to help you achieve a professional-looking result with less hassle.

Manufactured at our Nottinghamshire facility and built using our patented assembly system for exceptional strength, our media walls are available in a wide variety of styles, sizes and configurations to suit your design and storage requirements. Every unit is backed by an up to 15-year warranty, and most of our tailored designs can be delivered to you in as little as 2 to 4 weeks.

If you’re ready to create your ideal entertainment space, explore our collection of media walls today, or get in touch to book a free appointment with one of our expert designers and receive your tailored quote.