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You have finally replaced the old shelves, cabinets and dressers in your living room with a new wall unit. Now when you get home, you turn on the stereo that has found its place on the sideboard. With music playing in the background, you reach for your favorite book that is waiting for you on one of the shelves. When it’s time for the news, you have a good view of the wall unit and the television from the sofa, which you were able to integrate well here. Here you can find out which variants of the cleverly designed and visually finely coordinated furniture sets you can use to upgrade your living room and what you should consider when buying a wall unit.

Living walls combine functionality and design

Living room walls, also known as wall units or extension walls, connect different elements of living room furniture. In some models, all parts are attached to one wall, which creates a nice focal point, especially in large rooms. Living room walls are also often a cheaper alternative to many small pieces of furniture.

Since the elements of the wall units have a uniform style, they visually calm the room and give it a uniform look. As XXL pieces of furniture, most wall units also offer an astonishing amount of storage space and you can also use them as a multimedia center. TVs, Blu-ray players and stereo systems can all be placed on and in the wall unit. Depending on the built-in wall, you can also put books in the shelving systems.

Living room display cabinets, which are also part of some living room walls, provide pleasant indirect light.

Floating, multi-part, continuous – wall units at a glance

For a long time, wall units were only available as continuous XXL furniture. Now you can choose from different models that suit your style and needs. To make your choice easier, we present you with an overview of the different wall units.

For large rooms: continuous wall construction

Continuous wall units are the classic variant of wall units and have been found in German living rooms for many decades. These wall units are screwed together without gaps and are often made up of shelves, display cabinets and cupboard elements. To ensure that the large pieces of furniture are as stable as possible, they are usually made of real wood or veneer. Because they are so solid, they are primarily suitable for large rooms over 20 m2, as they can otherwise quickly seem overwhelming. For smaller living rooms, it is better to go for one of the other variants.

Living room walls with continuous wall construction often also include a TV table, small side shelves and display cabinets. When attractively equipped, they give large living rooms an appealing focal point.

Multi-part living walls: made from a single piece and yet flexible

With this variant, you combine the uniform and functionally well-thought-out design of wall units with the advantages of individual pieces of furniture, such as flexible placement and selection options. Similar to wall units with continuous wall construction, multi-part models also consist of various coordinated elements. With this variant, however, you are completely free to decide how and where you set them up. For example, place high boards on one side of the room and chests of drawers on the other. Use low boards to frame the TV bench or use them to create an attractive bookcase – there are no limits to your creativity. Multi-part wall units are available in sets of different sizes. If you are just furnishing your home, you can start with a small set and expand it later. Depending on the set, multi-part wall units consist of display cabinets, sideboards, high boards, low boards, TV boards and separate shelves.

Tip: With a multi-part wall, you can also create a deliberate break in style. For example, by combining small individual pieces of furniture in different colors or styles with the wall unit.

Hanging living walls: modern and airy

If furniture appears to float above the floor, as is the case with hanging wall units, this loosens up the room. Because less floor space is used, the room appears larger. The floor under the wall units is also easier to vacuum. At the same time, the hanging versions under the built-in walls look very modern. The sets often consist of wall units and floating low boards.

Tip: With furniture lights you can put a wall cupboard in an even better light, provided the model does not already have suitable lighting.

Shelving unit: the special wall unit

Shelving units are also part of the wall units. These models consist – as the name suggests – of various shelves with differently arranged shelves. A good place for your books, DVD and CD collection. If you put a TV board between the shelves on which your television can be placed, you have created your own little multimedia corner.

Important purchase criteria in the checklist

In addition to the shape of the wall unit, other criteria may be of interest to you. Here are a few basic points that you can consider when making your selection.

• Size: Living room walls look nicer and less cramped if you leave enough space between the two side elements. There should be at least 20 cm on both sides. If there is less, it is good if the room as a whole appears large and airy.
• Material: Most wall units are made of various types of solid wood – oak is particularly robust, pine is durable and beech is resilient. Some versions are melamine-coated and have high-gloss surfaces. They look modern and fresh and are easy to wipe down. However, if you have small children at home, you should expect fingerprints on the shiny surface. 
• Lighting: With illuminated display cabinets or wall cabinets that are equipped with lighting elements, you can create atmospheric indirect lighting. You can influence the mood of the room with different light colors such as a cool blue or a warm red.
• Open or closed elements? Some wall units consist only of cupboards and, if necessary, display cabinets. Nothing can collect dust here and everything is safe from small children and pets. Open elements, on the other hand, appear airy and can be used to present your best pieces – for example, your favorite books in a beautiful slipcase, all the seasons of your favorite series or the model helicopter that your child has just put together.
• If you are using the wall as a multimedia station, take a close look at the dimensions. After all, the TV should fit where you planned for it.

Fits together: Living walls for your living style

Storage space requirements and floor space are two important criteria for choosing your wall unit. At the same time, your new XXL furniture should fit stylishly into your interior. Here are a few tips.

Living walls made of light wood in country house style

If country house furniture determines the look of your living room, light solid wood such as pine is certainly one of the predominant materials. You can also pick up the natural grain on these pieces of furniture in your new wall unit. Display cabinets also look good in a country house style living room. Decorate them with pretty dishes, for example with floral patterns. You can place table lamps on large chests of drawers as small light sources. Deeper low boards can be enlivened with candlesticks in white or antique white.

Maritime atmosphere in Scandinavian living style

A bright and open interior is characteristic of the Scandinavian style of living. The predominant color for wooden furniture is white, sometimes also antique white, often deliberately applied in a way that does not cover the original wood color. Beach finds from your last holiday in Denmark are suitable as decoration here. Shells or thunderbolts as well as beautiful stones can be used as scattered decorations on shelves or around the television . Alternatively, a table runner in shades of blue is a good choice, which you can place on the TV bench or on a sideboard. Matching figures such as lighthouses or seagulls complete the maritime feeling that suits the Scandinavian style.

Less is more in modern interior design

If you live in a more modern style, wall units with high-gloss fronts in light colors are a good choice. Clearly defined, rather angular shapes predominate in the modern style. Floating wall units, which appear reduced due to their structure, go well with this.

When decorating modern living room walls, light effects are a great way to show off your furniture. Many modern style living room walls are already equipped with indirect light sources. These frame the recess for the television, for example, or illuminate small, internal compartments for the DVD player. If such light sources are missing, you can, for example, attach LED light tubes in various atmospheric colors. A sofa with LED also goes well with this .

Classically familiar with living walls

Smooth wooden fronts are predominant in living room walls in a classic interior design style and can be in anthracite-colored wood look as well as in light beech or oak tones. Metal handles stand out from the wood. Most classic wall units are characterized by their display cabinets, which lighten up the otherwise rather massive look and are often decorated with beautiful glasses or small crystal figures. Lighting in the display cabinet presents your favorite pieces and can provide pleasant light in the evening.

Well planned: tips on assembly and maintenance

To ensure that your wall unit is stable, looks good for many years and offers you plenty of storage space, professional assembly and good care are essential. Here are a few tips:

Assembly: Securely attach extension walls

Since wall units are large and usually quite heavy pieces of furniture, professional and careful assembly is important.

When it comes to hanging living room walls, the type of wall you want to attach the piece of furniture to is crucial. While solid walls are usually not a problem, there are a few things to consider when it comes to interior walls in lightweight construction: First, clarify whether there is full formwork or just a formwork behind the lightweight panel. While lightweight walls with full formwork can be drilled and doweled as usual, for a wall with formwork you need special cavity dowels, the load-bearing capacity of which should correspond to the weight of a filled wall cupboard.

Once you have put the wall unit together, you should check the screws again after about two weeks and tighten them if necessary to make sure that everything is stable. You should also think about the power supply and cable routing for any lighting in the wall unit or devices installed there before you buy. This saves time and stress during assembly.

Simple matter: maintaining the wall unit

How you care for your furniture depends primarily on the material and the manufacturer’s instructions.

• High-gloss furniture can be kept radiant by regularly wiping the surfaces with a soft cotton cloth. If there are stains or fingerprints on the cabinet, you can moisten the cloth with a little water. Important: do not press too hard to avoid scratches. Occasionally you can also use a little baby oil to bring your furniture back to a high shine. However, be sure to test this on an inconspicuous area first.
• You can simply wipe painted fronts  clean with a microfiber cloth and a little water. Any remaining moisture should then be immediately wiped off with a dry cloth. Also, be sparing with the water so that the wood does not swell. A little mist of moisture, for example from a flower atomizer, is perfectly sufficient for solid wood.
• You can also use neutral soap to clean the surfaces of  oiled or waxed solid wood furniture . Again, test it on an inconspicuous area first.

Conclusion: Clever storage space in a coordinated design

Wall units give your living space a uniform look and provide plenty of storage space. They are an inexpensive alternative to many individual pieces of furniture and connect different elements such as TV boards, sideboards, high boards, shelves and display cabinets. This means they offer the right place for your music system and your TV as well as your books and your favorite decorations.

• In large rooms, solid wall units with continuous wall construction are a good choice. Make sure there is enough space on the sides. There should be around 20 cm on each side so that the room still appears airy.
• In small rooms, unconnected wall units where you can place the individual pieces of furniture separately are practical. This way, the wall unit doesn’t look so bulky and you still have a uniform style.
• Floating versions with bright high-gloss fronts and integrated lighting are suitable for modern living spaces.
• For classic rooms, we recommend wall units made of lacquered wood. The accompanying display cabinets can be decorated with small figurines or tableware.
• Solid wood furniture looks good in country-style rooms . Candles on the high board provide the finishing touch.