Floating vs Floor-Standing TV Stands

Floating or floor-standing: which TV stand is right for you?

It comes down to three things: the look you want, how much storage you need and what your wall can support.

This guide compares Wallroom's three TV stand types, floating TV stands, plasma stands and floating TV shelves, so you can choose the right one for your space.

Wooden TV stand with decorative items in a living room setting

 Quick Answer 

  • Floating TV stand: for a modern, built-in look with the floor kept clear. It needs a solid brick or concrete wall.
  • Plasma stand: for more storage and a grounded, floor-standing look. Base-only models need no wall fixing.
  • Floating Shelf under TV: for a TV that's already wall-mounted, when you only need a minimal surface for devices and décor.
Feature Floating TV Stand Plasma Stand Floating Shelf Under TV
Best for Modern lounges, apartments, feature walls Family living spaces, extra storage Wall-mounted TVs, small spaces
Wall needs Solid brick or concrete None for base-only models Solid brick or concrete
Where the TV goes On the unit's backboard On top, or on the backboard On the wall, above the shelf
Storage Some: drawers, flaps, open shelves Most Least: devices and décor
Floor space Clear Uses floor space Clear
Style Built-in, architectural Grounded, classic Minimal, light
Width guide Wide enough to frame the TV About 20cm wider than the TV About the TV's width or slightly wider

The Three Types

Floating TV Stands 

A floating TV stand is a wall-mounted unit, with a backboard that your TV mounts onto directly and keeps the floor clear beneath it. It gives the room a built-in, architectural look.

Why choose one

  • Clear floor, which makes rooms feel bigger and easier to clean
  • A tidy, cable-free finish with our Cable Concealing Solution, a matching panel that hides cables, plugs and multiplugs
  • Custom-made for TVs from 55" to 100"


Things to consider: it needs a solid brick or concrete wall, and the unit is installed in place rather than moved around. Storage options include drawers, push-to-open flaps and open shelves.

Best for: modern lounges, apartments, open-plan living areas and TV feature walls.

Popular ranges: Arniston and Agulhas. 

Browse Floating TV Stands

Plasma Stands 

A plasma stand is a floor-standing TV unit. The TV sits on top, with storage below. On models with a backboard, the TV mounts onto the backboard instead.

Why choose one

  • The most storage of the three types
  • Base-only models stand on the floor with no wall fixing needed
  • Models with a backboard create a seamless TV wall look
  • A grounded, substantial presence in larger rooms


Things to consider: it uses floor space, and it should be about 20cm wider than your TV for stability and balance. Models with a backboard are fixed to the wall.

Best for: family living spaces and rooms that need plenty of storage. Choose a base-only model if your wall is drywall or wall-mounting isn't an option.


Popular ranges: Hermanus and Ushaka. 

View Plasma Stand Range
A modern living room scene with a black wall-mounted TV displaying the white text logo 'WALLROOM'. Below the TV is a floating white media console with dark wood shelving and decor, set against a textured beige plaster wall.

Floating TV Shelves: The Shelf Under Your TV 

A floating TV shelf is a slim floating shelf under your TV, fixed to the wall below a wall-mounted screen. It holds devices and décor without adding visual weight.

Why choose one

  • The lightest, most minimal option
  • Ideal if your TV is already mounted on the wall
  • Works well in small spaces and layered media walls

Things to consider: it offers the least storage, and the TV must be wall-mounted separately.

Best for: apartments, bedrooms and minimal living spaces.

Popular range: Clifton. 

Find Your Perfect TV Shelf

Design Insight:

“Start with how you use the room, then choose the unit. A floating stand opens up space, a plasma stand gives you storage, and a shelf keeps it minmal. Get that right and the TV wall feels designed, not added”

– Hadey Motani, Co-Founder & Director of Design

How to choose, walls and installation

How to Choose the Right TV Stand Type

Ask yourself four questions:

1

Is your wall solid brick or concrete?

Floating units need one. If not, choose a plasma stand without a backboard.

2

How much storage do you need?

Plenty: a plasma stand. Some: a floating TV stand. Very little: a floating TV shelf.

3

Is your TV already wall-mounted?

A floating TV shelf adds a surface without changing your setup.

4

How big is the room?

Smaller rooms feel bigger with the floor kept clear. Larger, open-plan rooms can carry a wider floating unit or a substantial plasma stand.

Walls and Installation 

Floating TV stands and shelves are fixed to the wall, so they need a solid brick or concrete wall. We don’t install floating units on drywall or partition walls. If that’s your wall, a base-only plasma stand is the better choice.

In Johannesburg and Pretoria, the Wallroom team installs your TV stand for a standard installation fee. In Durban, Cape Town and the Garden Route, we can refer you to recommended installers. Delivery is available to Johannesburg and Pretoria, and to all major centres nationally on request.

Plasma stands stand on the floor and are delivered fully assembled. Base-only models need no wall fixing. On models with a backboard, the backboard is fixed to the wall and your TV mounts onto it.

Not Sure Which Is Right for Your Space?

Our design team can help you choose the right TV stand for your room, wall and TV. You can also find the right width in our TV Stand Guide and the ideal viewing height with our TV Height Calculator.

FAQs

Which is better: a floating TV stand or a floor-standing one?

Neither is better overall. Floating TV stands suit modern, minimal spaces and keep the floor clear. Plasma stands offer more storage, and base-only models suit walls that can't take a wall-mounted unit.

Does a floating TV shelf hold my TV?

No. With a floating TV shelf, your TV is mounted on the wall above it with a TV wall bracket. The shelf holds devices and décor. We can supply a TV bracket, and our team can fit it and mount your TV when installing your shelf. If you'd like the TV mounted onto the unit itself, choose a floating TV stand: the TV mounts directly onto its backboard.

What is the difference between a floating TV stand and a plasma stand?

A floating TV stand is fixed to the wall, and the TV mounts directly onto its backboard. A plasma stand stands on the floor with the TV on top. Some plasma stands also have a backboard fixed to the wall, and the TV mounts onto it.

What is the difference between a floating TV stand and a floating TV shelf?

A floating TV stand is a full wall unit with a backboard for the TV and built-in storage. A floating TV shelf is a slim shelf below a wall-mounted TV, for devices and décor.

Are floating TV stands safe?

Yes. Floating TV stands are made for solid brick or concrete walls and installed by our team in Johannesburg and Pretoria.

Can a floating TV stand go on drywall?

No. Floating units need a solid brick or concrete wall, so we don’t install them on drywall. For drywall or partition walls, choose a base-only plasma stand.

Which TV stand gives the most storage?

A plasma stand, followed by a floating TV stand. A floating TV shelf offers the least.

Which TV stand is best for a small living room?

A floating TV stand or shelf. Keeping the floor clear makes a small room feel larger.

Which TV stand works if I can't mount it to my wall?

A base-only plasma stand. It stands on the floor and needs no wall fixing.

Materials & Finishes

A considered palette of finishes ensures consistency across the Wallroom range.

  • Real wood veneers in Okoume, White Oak and American Walnut
  • Architectural laminates in unicolours, wood grains and textured finishes
  • Slatted backboards in solid timber or laminate finishes

Each finish is selected for durability, tone consistency, and ease of integration across different furniture pieces.

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TV Stands by Wallroom

  • Modern living room wall featuring a sleek flat-screen tv pinned to a slatted wooden panel with pendant lights, with a floating TV stand below holding decorative items and books.

    Floating TV Stand

    Our floating TV stands support large screen s from 55” to 100”, blending strength and style, modern look. Delivered fully assembled across South Africa.

    Browse TV Stands 
  • A modern living room setup with a sleek wall-mounted TV shelf featuring a minimalist design, a two-drawer console, decorative items, and a potted plant, with a parquet floor.

    Floating TV Shelves

    Light weight wall-mounted shelving solutions for a more minimal setup or layered media wall styling adding a sleek, modern touch to your home.

    Find Your Perfect TV Shelf 
  • A modern minimalist living room featuring a flat-screen tv on a modern tv stand, flanked by a white decorative vase and a potted plant, against a plain background

    Plasma Stands

    Structured floor-based unites offering more storage and presence in the room. Designed for practicality without compromising on design.

    View Plasma Stand Range 

Modern Living for Contemporary South African Homes

Insights, Trends & Ideas

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