This Media Console from West Elm Is a Game-Changer for My Living Room

If there’s one thing I learned living in cramped New York City apartments for most of my adult life, it’s that small spaces require a little bit of creativity. So when my husband and I moved to Los Angeles and bought a charming 800-square-foot bungalow, I was ready to take on the challenge. 

To my surprise, furnishing the majority of the house was easy, but there was one piece that felt impossible to find: a small, shallow media stand. The only place to put our television was along the front wall or in the corner. However, if we put it on the front wall, it would cover half of our front window, which is an eyesore from the outside and blocks a ton of light inside. Into the corner it needed to go. 

There were plenty of media stands available online, but they were all too deep, too big, not my style, or just plain hideous. That is until I found the media stand of my dreams: West Elm’s Slatted Shallow Media Console.

Here’s why it was just right for our home. For starters, its slatted front, sleek design, and metal legs make for the perfect combination of modern and retro style. Plus, it has two sliding doors that allow me to display some of my favorite puzzles, vases, and candles when I want to — or hide them away when I don’t. A hole in the back and a second hole in the corner of the shelf make it easy to run cords and cables, and the cabinets are surprisingly roomy.

But most importantly, the media console fits perfectly into my awkward living room corner. I can push it back far enough that it doesn’t feel like it’s taking over the already tiny space. And even though it’s one the small side, it offers a significant amount of storage — a must for small-space living. 

On a deeper level, I love that West Elm made this console from sustainably sourced materials, including a water-based finish and FSC-certified wood. The quality is exceptional, and I know it will last for years to come if I take good care of it.

Is my television perhaps a little bit too big for the stand? Sure. Does it bother me? Not a bit. Living rooms are meant for living and and for me, that means watching my favorite shows on a big screen, perched atop a gorgeous media stand. 

Buy: West Elm Slatted Shallow Media Console, $999