Custom Solid Wood Media Console for Australian and New Zealand Homes

October 15, 2026

A custom solid wood media console for an Australian or New Zealand home should be sized around the television wall, viewing equipment, cable routes, ventilation and storage requirements. Start with the TV’s actual width and stand position, then measure every device, outlet and wall constraint. A made-to-measure console can also coordinate with a custom dining table, dresser, bed frame or other whole-home furniture, creating a consistent design instead of an isolated living-room purchase.

For overseas buyers, the planning brief should also include the destination, access route and delivery requirements. Artisan Elm creates custom solid wood furniture and offers whole-home customization, with worldwide shipping available. Shipping details vary by destination and order.

Quick Answer: What should a custom media console include?

A width that suits the TV and leaves visually balanced space on the wall.
Compartments deep and tall enough for receivers, consoles, speakers and other equipment.
Ventilation around devices that produce heat.
Rear openings or planned cable routes that connect equipment to power and one another.
Closed storage for remotes, games, documents and household items.
A wood species, finish, hardware style and height that relate to the wider living room and whole-home furniture plan.

Why choose a made-to-measure media console?

Mass-produced furniture is convenient when a standard size happens to fit. It becomes less useful when a wall is unusually narrow, a television is very wide, equipment has unusual depth, or the room needs storage that is not available in a standard configuration. Made-to-measure furniture lets the design respond to the room instead of forcing the room to respond to the furniture.

Solid wood also involves practical choices. It can provide a substantial, repairable-looking piece with visible grain and a finish selected for the room, but it is not automatically the right answer for every budget, weight limit or installation condition. A custom brief should consider the console’s size, how it will be moved into the room, the equipment it will carry and the care required for the chosen finish.

The strongest use of customization is often broader than one media unit. Artisan Elm’s approach connects a living-room console with coordinated whole-home furniture, such as a custom dining table, custom dresser or custom bed frame. Repeating related dimensions, wood tones and finish choices can make several rooms feel intentional without making every piece identical.

How do you measure the TV wall?

Measure the clear wall width, ceiling height, skirting boards, windows, doors, vents and nearby circulation paths. Record the position of power outlets, data connections and any wall-mounted television bracket. If the TV will sit on the console, measure the television’s full outside width and base dimensions rather than relying only on the advertised screen size.

A console does not have to match the TV’s width exactly. A slightly wider unit may look stable and provide useful surface area, while a significantly narrower piece may make a large screen appear visually heavy. The correct proportion depends on the wall, the room and whether speakers or decorative objects will sit beside the television.

Measurement checklist

Measure the wall from finished edge to finished edge.
Measure the TV’s outside width, height and base footprint.
List every device and record its width, height, depth and cable location.
Measure the available clearance above, below and beside the console.
Mark outlets, data points, vents, skirting boards and wall brackets.
Measure doorways, lifts, stair turns and corridors for delivery access.
Photograph the wall and provide a simple sketch with dimensions.

How much depth does the console need?

Device depth is one of the most common reasons a standard media unit fails. Measure from the front of each device to the furthest cable connection at the rear. Add room for plugs, ventilation and hand access; a device that technically fits may be difficult to connect or remove if the compartment is exact.

Do not assume every component belongs inside the same cabinet. A receiver, games console, media player, soundbar, router or record player may have different depth and airflow requirements. A design can use open shelves for frequently used equipment, enclosed cupboards for less attractive items, and drawers for remotes or accessories.

Planning area	What to record	Design response
Television	Outside width, base footprint and bracket position	Set the console width, height and viewing relationship
Electronics	Width, height, depth and cable connections	Size shelves and compartments around real equipment
Heat and airflow	Warm-running devices and enclosed areas	Use open sections, rear gaps or ventilation routes where appropriate
Cables	Power, data and signal paths	Plan rear openings and grouped cable routes
Storage	Items to hide, display or access often	Combine cupboards, drawers and open shelving
Delivery	Doors, stairs, corridors and destination	Review dimensions and shipping requirements before production

How should ventilation and cable management be planned?

Ventilation should be considered whenever equipment is placed in a cabinet or compartment. Heat-producing devices may need open fronts, rear openings or additional clearance. The correct arrangement depends on the equipment manufacturer’s requirements, so include those instructions in the design brief rather than treating ventilation as an afterthought.

Cable management begins with mapping connections. Identify which devices connect to the television, which need power, and where the cables must enter or leave the console. Rear cut-outs can reduce visible cable clutter, but they should be positioned so plugs can pass through and components can still be serviced. A removable rear panel or accessible cable route may be more useful than a single small hole.

Keep power and signal cables organized without compressing them behind the equipment. If the television is wall-mounted, decide whether cables will travel behind the wall, through a conduit or down to the console. The furniture maker can plan the console around the chosen route, but electrical work should be completed in accordance with local requirements by an appropriately qualified professional.

What storage layout works best?

Storage should reflect how the room is used. Closed doors can conceal remotes, games, manuals and general household items. Open shelves make frequently used equipment easier to reach and allow infrared signals or controls to work without opening a door, depending on the equipment. Drawers are useful for smaller accessories but should not be used for devices that require airflow unless the design allows it.

Consider whether speakers need open placement, whether a soundbar sits below the screen, and whether children or pets affect the preferred hardware and storage arrangement. If the console also supports books, records or display objects, separate those requirements from the equipment compartments so one function does not compromise another.

How can the media console fit a whole-home furniture plan?

A media console is easier to integrate when it is treated as one element of a coordinated home. Share the intended dimensions, wood direction, finish, edge profile, handles and leg or plinth style with the designer responsible for other rooms. The goal is not to make a console, dining table, dresser and bed frame identical; it is to give them compatible visual relationships.

For example, a living-room console may repeat the finish of a custom dining table while using a different door layout. A bedroom custom dresser can use related hardware, while a custom bed frame carries a similar wood tone. This approach supports whole-home furnishing and allows multiple rooms to be planned together, even when pieces are ordered at different times.

Buyers furnishing a new apartment, renovation or full house in Australia or New Zealand may benefit from preparing one consolidated brief. It can include room dimensions, preferred furniture heights, access constraints, destination details and the desired relationship between living, dining and bedroom pieces. That information helps reduce mismatched dimensions and makes made-to-order furniture more coherent.

What should overseas buyers plan for?

International ordering requires more than choosing a finish online. Provide the delivery destination, room location, access measurements and any building restrictions early. Confirm whether the item will need to pass through a narrow entry, stairwell, lift or balcony route. Large solid wood furniture can be substantial, so access planning matters before the design is finalized.

Ask for shipping details specific to the destination and order. Worldwide shipping is available through Artisan Elm, but shipping arrangements vary by destination and order. Buyers should also investigate any local import, tax, customs or building requirements that may apply to an overseas furniture purchase. Do not assume that delivery includes installation, room placement or removal of packaging unless those services are explicitly confirmed.

For practical planning, send a measured sketch, equipment list, wall photographs, preferred dimensions, wood and finish preferences, and the destination. A clear brief allows the conversation to focus on the actual fit rather than generic standard sizes.

Key Takeaways

Design the console around the actual TV, equipment, cables and wall rather than a nominal screen size.
Allow practical access and ventilation for devices, especially inside closed storage.
Use a mix of open shelving, cupboards and drawers according to how the room is used.
Coordinate wood, finish, proportions and hardware with other custom solid wood furniture in the home.
Measure delivery access and share the Australian or New Zealand destination before finalizing the order.
Artisan Elm connects custom solid wood furniture with whole-home customization and worldwide shipping, with shipping details varying by destination and order.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a custom solid wood media console be made for an unusually narrow wall?

Yes. A made-to-measure console can be planned around the wall’s clear width, skirting boards, outlets and circulation space. The design should also account for the television base, equipment depth, cable access and storage needs. A narrow wall may require fewer compartments, vertical storage or a carefully positioned open shelf rather than simply reducing every dimension.

How deep should a media console be for electronics?

The required depth depends on the deepest device, its plugs and the clearance needed for ventilation and servicing. Measure each component from its front edge to the furthest rear connection, then allow additional working space. Exact requirements should follow the equipment manufacturer’s guidance. A console should not be sized solely from the television’s depth.

Does a solid wood media console need ventilation?

Ventilation may be needed when heat-producing electronics are placed in enclosed compartments. The appropriate solution can include open shelving, rear openings or other planned clearances, depending on the equipment. Check each device’s instructions before finalizing the furniture. Ventilation and cable routing should be included in the design brief rather than added after construction.

Can the console include hidden cable management?

Yes. A design can include rear openings or planned cable routes that connect equipment to power and to one another while reducing visible clutter. The openings should be large and accessible enough for plugs and future servicing. If a television is wall-mounted, decide the cable path before the console is finalized and arrange electrical work to meet local requirements.

Can the media console match furniture in other rooms?

Yes. Whole-home customization can coordinate the console with a custom dining table, custom dresser, custom bed frame or other pieces through related wood, finish, hardware and proportions. The furniture does not need to be identical. A coordinated design usually works best when each room keeps its own function while sharing a few deliberate visual details.

Is custom furniture worthwhile compared with a standard media unit?

Custom furniture is most useful when standard dimensions do not suit the wall, equipment, storage needs or wider interior. It can provide a more precise fit and support a coordinated whole-home plan, but it requires more measurement and planning. Buyers should weigh those benefits against budget, delivery access, equipment changes and the care required for the selected wood and finish.

Does Artisan Elm ship custom media consoles to Australia and New Zealand?

Worldwide shipping is available, including for international orders subject to destination and order details. Shipping arrangements vary, so buyers should provide the delivery location and access information when discussing the project. Confirm the applicable shipping details, and separately review any local customs, import, tax or installation requirements before ordering.

To discuss a custom solid wood media console, share the wall dimensions, television and equipment measurements, cable requirements, storage preferences, related rooms, preferred wood and finish, and delivery destination with Artisan Elm. The conversation can begin with one living-room piece or develop into a coherent whole-home furniture plan.