TV mounting guide · Devices and storage
Where to Put Streaming Boxes and Game Consoles
Mounting the television clears a surface. It does not automatically give the streaming box, game console, power supplies, and cables somewhere suitable to live.
Plan those locations before the screen goes up. The best arrangement keeps equipment supported, ventilated, connected, and accessible without making every restart or new game an exercise in moving furniture.
List the equipment before choosing storage
Identify the devices you use now and any additions already planned. Include streaming boxes, game consoles, cable receivers, network equipment, charging accessories, and external TV connection boxes.
Record the exact models and dimensions. Include power supplies, connected plugs, and the space needed to use buttons, media slots, or removable storage where applicable.
Review TV port access alongside the device list. Knowing which connections are needed helps determine where equipment can reasonably sit.
Choose ventilation before concealment
Read each device’s placement instructions. Identify its ventilation openings, permitted orientation, required clearances, and environmental limits.
A compartment that fits the device may still obstruct airflow. Nearby equipment, cabinet doors, and crowded cables can change the arrangement. Do not assume one clearance measurement applies to every console or streaming box.
Review ventilation planning and built-in cabinet planning. Adding a fan does not automatically make an otherwise unsuitable enclosure acceptable.
Compare an open shelf with an enclosed cabinet
An open shelf can offer straightforward access, but it still needs suitable support, clearance, and a safe cable route. Keep equipment positioned according to its instructions.
An enclosed cabinet adds questions about ventilation, controls, connections, and routine access. Assess how the equipment will operate in the configuration you actually intend to use.
Do not plan to close equipment into a space that fails its operating requirements. Likewise, do not stack devices unless their manufacturers permit that arrangement.
Check behind-TV storage carefully
A small streaming device may appear easy to hide behind the screen, but check the complete installation first. Confirm support, device ventilation, plug clearance, and access.
Use only a suitable mounting accessory with an approved attachment arrangement. Do not hang equipment from its cables or rely on improvised adhesive attachments.
Review space behind the TV. If the accessory attaches to the TV mount or screen interface, verify compatibility with the complete assembly rather than assuming unused holes are available attachment points.
Keep controls and everyday features usable
Identify how each device is controlled. Remote-control methods vary, and some functions may depend on a receiver that needs an unobstructed path. Check the exact equipment documentation.
Test controls from the normal seats before finalizing concealed placement. Include power, volume, input selection, and other functions you regularly use.
For game consoles, preserve access to the controls, connectors, and media features you need. A hidden console is less convenient if changing a disc requires taking the television down.
Plan the complete connection route
Map the path between each device, the television, and any audio equipment. Measure the actual route around furniture and through permitted cable-management areas.
Review cable concealment and connection access. Confirm cables support the intended devices and features before concealing them.
If the screen moves while equipment remains fixed, use cable planning for moving mounts. The cable must accommodate intended travel without pulling on the device or TV socket.
Give power supplies a suitable location
Include power adapters and plugs in the space calculation. Do not wedge them into an unventilated gap or place equipment against them to force a tighter fit.
Review power planning. Keep required connections accessible and follow the instructions for the devices and any power-distribution equipment.
Do not route ordinary power cords or extension cords inside walls. Have a qualified electrician assess permanent wiring changes, including new outlets or concealed power arrangements.
Check network and wireless operation in the chosen spot
Concealed placement can change the surroundings of equipment that communicates wirelessly. Test the actual location with the cabinet and TV arranged as intended.
Check streaming, controller use, and other regularly used features. If a wired network connection is planned, include its cable and port access in the layout.
Do not promise reliable operation simply because the device worked on a temporary table elsewhere in the room. Use the manufacturer’s troubleshooting guidance if performance changes after relocation.
Coordinate soundbars and external connection boxes
A soundbar may affect both device placement and the connection path. Decide which equipment connects to the TV and which, if applicable, connects through the audio system.
Review soundbar placement and follow the specific connection instructions. Do not assume every input or passthrough arrangement supports the features you intend to use.
For a frame-style television, use connection-box placement and frame-style planning. That box deserves its own suitable location rather than being added to the remaining space at the end.
Your device-placement checklist
Physical fit
Check device dimensions, orientation, support, plugs, and everyday controls.
Operation
Confirm ventilation, power, network performance, remote use, and connections.
Future access
Plan cleaning, inspection, restarts, replacement, and equipment changes.
Share the device list and preferred locations when you find a TV mounting professional. In a compact room, also review small-room layout.
Common streaming-box and console questions
Can I hide a streaming box behind a wall-mounted TV?
Assess the exact device, approved support, ventilation, connections, control method, and access. Small size alone does not establish suitability.
Can a game console go inside a closed cabinet?
Check the model’s placement and operating instructions. A closed compartment is unsuitable if it cannot meet the required ventilation and clearances.
Can devices be stacked to save shelf space?
Do not assume so. Follow each manufacturer’s instructions concerning support, ventilation, heat, and permitted placement.
Make the hidden equipment part of the finished plan
Test the intended devices and use the final installation checklist. Keep a connection record and explore regional planning tips for additional context.
For entertainment with a few more unexpected accessories, visit the Handy Brothers cartoons and meet Mimo, Tank, and Junior. Their equipment list tends to grow with the story.