ARCAYA / LIVING ROOM JOINERY
A place for the screen.
A better home for everything around it.
01 / START WITH THE ROOM
Choose the screen and seating position before locking the opening. A balanced elevation still has to work when you sit down, open a drawer or replace the TV.
Mark the screen outline on the wall and view it from the seats you use. Check the screen, soundbar and cabinet together before choosing the cabinet height; one standard TV height will not suit every room.
Record the current screen’s full width and height, mounting details and connector positions. Discuss any planned upgrade before framing the niche, including how the screen can be removed.
Show the room with doors and drawers fully open. Include the cabinet depth, handles and main walking route, especially in narrow rooms and cabinetry beside an entrance.
02 / DESIGN WHAT YOU DO NOT SEE
Custom media wall cabinets need more than a neat front. Plan the equipment, cable route and access method on the same drawing.
Draw the route from each device to the TV, then decide how the connectors will be reached. A concealed cable route still needs an accessible entry, exit and replacement path.
Measure each device with its plugs, accessories and operating position. Use its own ventilation instructions to set the usable compartment size and decide whether a closed door is appropriate.
Check the selected soundbar’s placement guide before drawing a shelf around it. Speaker output, upward-firing drivers and the TV’s sensor may need a clear path.
The diagram explains the planning questions. Actual ventilation, fixing and cable requirements depend on your equipment and site.
MAKE THE EQUIPMENT WORK INSIDE THE DESIGN
Give each item a working position before deciding which doors can conceal it.
Use the selected console’s instructions to define the compartment and operating orientation. An opening for a cable does not establish that the unit is sufficiently ventilated.
Do not assume a soundbar can be enclosed or recessed. Follow its placement guide and keep the relevant drivers and TV sensors clear. Confirm the arrangement with your AV installer.
List how each device is controlled before selecting the cabinet front. Confirm remote operation and network reception in the proposed location instead of assuming a closed door will work.
03 / STORE THE EVERYDAY. DISPLAY THE PERSONAL.
Plan built-in living room cabinets around the items you own: books, games, children’s projects and the small things that otherwise collect beside the TV.
DISPLAY WITHOUT THE DAILY RESET
Choose the pieces you actually want to show and size those openings first. Put everyday clutter behind doors. If a collection needs protection while remaining visible, discuss glass-fronted display separately from equipment storage.
MAKE THE STORAGE FIT THE CONTENTS
Check the usable opening, shelf spacing and depth against your largest items. Group controllers, spare leads and games where they are used; reserve less accessible cupboards for occasional storage.
04 / RESOLVE THE FINISHING DETAILS
A clear material and detail schedule helps the finished cabinetry sit comfortably with the rest of the room.
Record the core, finish code, sheen and grain direction for visible pieces. Check a physical sample beside the floor and wall finish in your own lighting. A wood appearance alone does not define the construction.
Review the proposed shelf lighting with the TV position and reflective finishes. List the channels, strips, controls and drivers, and agree who supplies and connects each part.
Show the service position and the panel or cupboard used to access it. Keep the route practical for future replacement and coordinate the electrical details with your local electrician.
Have your installer review the actual wall, cabinet construction and intended loads before approving a wall-hung design. A decorative backing panel is not a mounting specification. Where a fireplace is included, resolve its own installation and heat requirements with the specialist before cabinet details are finalised.
05 / CHOOSE THE RIGHT CABINET LAYOUT
A media wall does not have to fill every available surface. Start with what your living room is missing, then choose where the cabinetry will help most.
Start with a low TV cabinet and leave the wall above largely open. Fit its depth to the actual equipment, then check the remaining walkway and doors at full opening. Store occasional items elsewhere if adding more cabinetry would squeeze the seating area.
Pair a low media cabinet with a tall unit at one side, or use existing alcoves. Put bulky items behind doors and keep only a few display shelves. Draw the arrangement beside windows and doorways so the extra storage does not obstruct them.
Consider a full-height built-in with a clear screen opening, selected display bays and closed storage below. Size shelves around the collection before dividing the wall into equal grids. Keep the TV removable and leave a planned route to the equipment.
TEST THE LAYOUT BEFORE COMMITTING
Mark the cabinet footprintOpen every doorCheck the seating viewFit your largest itemsQUESTIONS BEFORE YOU ORDER
Start with the seating, screen and walking route. A low run with selected shelving may suit the room better than surrounding the screen with tall cabinets. Check usable storage depth and open doors against the room plan.
There is no single depth for every setup. Measure the intended equipment, connectors, required ventilation and access method, then compare the resulting cabinet footprint with your available room space.
Only if the selected device’s operating and placement requirements permit the arrangement. A soundbar and a games console have different needs; their own manuals should guide the cabinetry review.
Discuss the future screen size before approving the surround. Record how the TV will be removed and check the mounting, access and equipment requirements again when a replacement is selected.
Send a wall elevation or dimensioned sketch, room photos, your destination and a list of items to store. Add TV, bracket, audio and console models where known, plus a few references for the look you want.
YOUR WALL / YOUR EQUIPMENT / YOUR EVERYDAY
Start a custom built-in cabinetry enquiry with a sketch, room photos and your destination. Tell us what is difficult about your current setup, so the design can address it.
support@arcayaliving.com