Christmas entertainment center decor often turns into a cluttered mess that blocks the remote sensor or distracts from the screen. I put this list together because most holiday TV stand setups look great online but are impractical for real living rooms.
If you are tired of moving garlands just to change the channel, these arrangements focus on keeping things festive without getting in the way. Watch for low-profile pieces and smart placements as you scroll through these options.
1. Classic Pine Garland with Mini Wreaths 🌿
There is nothing worse than a thick pine branch obscuring the bottom of your screen. Keeping the greenery draped off to the sides gives you that traditional holiday feel without ruining movie night.
Materials needed
You will need a faux pine garland, a few command hooks, two mini wreaths, and some floral wire.
Styling tip
Hang the mini wreaths on the cabinet doors below your TV rather than placing them on the surface. This frees up valuable counter space while drawing the eye downward.
2. Simple Top-of-Cabinet Village 🏠
When you have tall ceilings but a low media console, the empty wall space above the TV can feel awkward. Adding a few ceramic houses right along the top shelf balances the room beautifully.
How to set it up
Group three to five small ceramic or wooden houses on the highest shelf of your unit. Tuck a few battery-operated tea lights inside them so they glow when the main lights go down.
Best for
This layout works best for entertainment centers with built-in upper shelving or floating shelves mounted right above the television.
3. Rustic Wood and Burlap Touches 🪵
Sometimes bright red and green decorations clash with a neutral room aesthetic. Bringing in natural textures helps the holiday pieces blend smoothly with your everyday furniture.
What to use
Grab some thick burlap ribbon, a few distressed wood signs, and a handful of oversized pinecones from the craft store.
Styling tip
Wrap the burlap ribbon loosely around the base of your television stand, tying it in a relaxed bow on one side. Scatter the pinecones near your media players for an earthy touch.
4. Minimalist Floor Lanterns 🕯️
If the surface of your console is already full of gaming consoles and soundbars, move the festivity to the floor. Tall glass lanterns sitting right next to the furniture frame the area perfectly.
Setup details
Place two tall metal and glass lanterns on one side of the TV stand and a single, slightly shorter lantern on the opposite side. Fill them with battery-operated pillar candles.
Why it works
Decorating an entertainment center for Christmas does not mean you have to put everything on the actual furniture. Utilizing the floor space keeps the screen area completely clear.
5. Low-Profile Bottle Brush Forest 🌲
Finding items that fit snugly under the screen without blocking the infrared receiver can be tricky. A tiny forest of bottle brush trees is usually the exact right height for that awkward gap.
Items needed
Pick up a set of six to eight bottle brush trees in varying heights, ranging from two inches to five inches tall.
Styling tip
Stick to a monochromatic color palette like all-white or deep forest green. Keeping the colors uniform ensures the trees do not distract your eyes while watching a show.
6. Asymmetrical Stocking Display 🧦
Not everyone has a fireplace mantel to hang their stockings on. The edge of a heavy media cabinet works just as well if you secure them properly.
How to hang them
Use weighted mantel clips on the far left or right side of your unit. Do not use adhesive hooks if your furniture has a delicate veneer finish that might peel off later.
Styling tip
Grouping all the stockings together on one side looks much more intentional than spacing them out evenly across the whole console.
7. Copper Wire Fairy Light Jars ✨
Adding huge strands of heavy lights around your electronics often looks messy and disorganized. Contain the glow by filling clear glass jars with delicate copper fairy lights instead.
Materials required
You will need three glass mason jars, battery-operated copper wire string lights, and a tiny bit of faux snow for the base.
Setup process
Sprinkle a layer of faux snow at the bottom of each jar, then coil the lights loosely inside. Hide the tiny battery packs directly behind the jars so they stay out of sight.
8. Vintage Holiday Book Stacks 📚
Stacking items is a designer secret for adding height without spending money on large decorative pieces. Grab a few old books with red or green spines from your local thrift store.
How to style it
Place two horizontal stacks of books on either side of your soundbar. Top each stack with a single brass reindeer or a small vintage glass ornament.
Why it works
It adds a subtle, intellectual holiday charm without flashing lights or distracting glitter that might reflect off the screen during the evening.
9. Cascading Silver Baubles ⚪
Rather than buying a brand-new garland, you can repurpose leftover ornaments from your main tree. A simple bowl or tray filled with ornaments brings a pop of color to the room.
Items needed
Find a long, shallow wooden dough bowl and gather about twenty shatterproof silver ornaments in various sizes.
Styling tip
Place the dough bowl directly in front of the TV base and let a few ornaments spill over the edges casually. Using shatterproof bulbs is a lifesaver if you have pets who like to explore the TV area.
10. Woven Basket Tree Skirts 🧺
Ugly cords running from the wall to your router are the enemy of a clean living space. Use festive baskets to hide the technical mess while adding holiday cheer.
Setup details
Slide a large woven basket next to your media cabinet to conceal any exposed power strips. Toss a red plaid blanket over the edge of the basket so it looks like a cozy storage spot.
Best for
This trick is highly recommended for open-shelving TV stands where all the cables are normally exposed to the room.
11. Subtle Poinsettia Flanking 🌺
Bringing live plants into the living room instantly breathes life into cold electronic setups. Two small poinsettias placed on opposite ends of your console create perfect symmetry.
Care instructions
Keep them in their plastic nursery pots but drop them into decorative brass planters. Make sure they are not positioned directly over an electronics cooling vent, or the heat will dry them out quickly.
Pet warning
Poinsettias can be mildly toxic to cats and dogs. You should definitely skip this idea if your furry friends like to chew on houseplants.
12. Framed Wrapping Paper Art 🖼️
Art prints can be expensive, but you likely already have beautiful holiday patterns sitting in your closet. Swapping out your everyday family photos for festive wrapping paper is a free upgrade.
How to do it
Open the picture frames sitting on your shelves and place a square of high-quality wrapping paper right over the glass. Snap the back on, and you instantly have custom holiday artwork.
Styling tip
Choose papers with metallic accents. The foil details will catch the ambient light from the television screen beautifully at night.
13. Scented Cinnamon Stick Bundles 🍂
Visuals are great, but the smell of the holidays really sets the mood. Adding small, aromatic elements around your media player makes the whole room feel much more festive.
Materials needed
You will need a pack of long cinnamon sticks, some rustic twine, and a few fresh dried orange slices.
Setup process
Tie three cinnamon sticks together with a piece of twine and tuck a dried orange slice under the knot. Rest a few of these bundles near your speakers or on open shelves.
14. Winter Village Silhouette Cutouts 🏙️
Thick wooden decorations can eat up all your surface depth, leaving no room for your soundbar. Flat metal or cardboard silhouettes give you the holiday look without taking up physical space.
How to style it
Line up a row of black metal winter village cutouts flat against the wall, right behind your electronics. They act as a subtle backdrop that does not push your TV too far forward.
Why it works
Because they are almost two-dimensional, they will not interfere with your viewing angles or block the remote control signals.
15. The Wrapped Boxes Floor Trick 🎁
When you have a wall-mounted screen and a floating shelf beneath it, the empty space underneath can look a bit stark. Filling that void with wrapped boxes anchors the entire setup.
Setup details
Wrap empty cardboard boxes in neutral kraft paper and tie them with velvet ribbons. Stack them casually on the floor directly beneath the floating media console.
Styling tip
Use empty boxes rather than real gifts. This prevents heat damage if you have floor vents or warm electronics nearby that could ruin actual presents.
FAQs
How do I decorate around my TV without blocking the screen?
Stick to low-profile items like small bottle brush trees or garlands draped off the front edges. Keep anything taller than three inches strictly to the far left or right sides of the console.
Is it safe to put Christmas lights near my television?
Yes, but battery-operated LED fairy lights are your best option. They do not generate heat and they keep your wall outlets free for your actual electronics.
What is the best way to hide messy cables during the holidays?
Placing festive woven baskets, tall floor lanterns, or wrapped faux presents in front of the wall outlets is an easy way to hide cords. You can also drape a thick faux pine garland gently over the cable bundles.
Which decorations are safe near electronics?
Heat management is highly important when styling your media console. Here is a quick reference guide on what works best:
| Decor Type | Safe near TV? | Placement Tip |
| LED Fairy Lights | Yes | Keep battery packs away from vents |
| Live Plants (Poinsettias) | Yes | Place on ends; avoid cooling fans |
| Real Candles | No | Risk of heat damage; use LED pillars |
| Tinsel | No | Can get sucked into electronic fans |
Decorating the living room for the holidays does not mean you have to sacrifice your movie-watching experience. By keeping things low-profile and utilizing the floor or wall space, you get the festive feel while keeping the screen completely clear.
If you found a setup that works perfectly for your living room layout, make sure to save this to your Pinterest Christmas decor boards. That way, you will have these entertainment center styling ideas ready to go when it is time to unpack the holiday boxes!