Most every living room has a wall unit of some sort. Wall units are practically a necessity. Functionally, they unify a room and act as an all-in-one storage unit. Comprised of several multi-sectional and discrete components, traditionally, wall units have been fixed to the living room wall. They may be purchased premade and ready to go, or they may be customized per installation. There's a vast range of styles, from classic contemporary to chic minimalistic. Traditionally, wall units have been composed of oak, maple and cedar, however, more and more designers are opting for more modern materials such as metal, chrome, plastic and even glass. Today, the wall unit often comprises the media center. It is here where the surround sound stereo, the flat screen TV, the DVR recorder, DVD player, cable box, PlayStation Xbox or Wii, records, CDs and books are stored. With a wall unit, everything is possible.

Customized solutions seek to expand your space and organize the materials within it. Wall units today can be extensions of book shelves, TV stands and they can even function as room dividers. Modern designs are usually modular in nature, and you can add and remove parts as you wish. This sort of flexibility is key when selecting your own wall unit.

A typical design consists of a wide expanse of shelving, which may or may not incorporate cubbies or nooks. Below these shelves there are usually drawers. The shelves can be used to store any number of things, but many opt to use them as a display case of sorts, placing their various knickknacks and collectibles there. Often, the TV will be placed on one of the shelves as well. The peripherals, such as the DVD player or cable box often have a spot for themselves, located under the TV, usually in an alcove. The unit may be constructed using anodized aluminum columns and a metal frame to support the structure. This particular type of wall unit usually stands on its own against the wall.

Then you do have wall units which are attached to the wall, and function more like shelves. These are usually composed of a combination of metal, lacquered wood, glass, melamine, fabric panels, aluminum, and polished boards. This type of wall unit integrates well within a room, as there is no break in the lines; the unit is itself part of the wall, thus there is a seamless flow.

Wall units are extremely practical. When considering one for your home, choose something that fits with your lifestyle. Consider how much functionality you want to get out of it. It may be best to consult a design outfit or storage solution company that specializes in wall units to get the best results. Of course, you can just as easily buy a prefab wall unit, however, do make sure that the components are modular, so that you will be able to add and take away parts as needed. To get ideas for styles, surf online and consult furniture catalogs.