You need a TV stand for your new 65-inch TV. Seems easy enough, doesn’t it? Choose one that looks nice, check to see if it fits where you want it, and you’re all set, yeah? Too bad it isn’t that easy.

Most people make at least 3 mistakes when they get a new TV stand. Those mistakes cause your TV to wobble, your living room to be covered in wires and clutter, cause you to hurt your neck, and even result in broken electronics. Read this guide to avoid the 5 most common (and most expensive) mistakes.

Mistake 1: Getting the Size Wrong

The worst thing you can do is get a stand that’s too small. Your 65-inch TV is approximately 57 inches wide, so everyone thinks that a 60-inch stand will do the trick. It, quite frankly, will not, and here’s why.

You tv must have stable support across the entire width. When your TV extends past the edges of the stand, you are, in fact, not distributing the weight evenly. Therefore, it can and will tip. Especially if you have little ones or pets that might knock it at you.

To avoid this, ensure you select a purpose-built TV stand for 65-inch TVs that provides a stable and visually balanced base. Look for stands that are at least 65-70 inches wide. This gives you proper support plus extra space on the sides for speakers or decor.

Lastly, it affects how it looks. Making the TV extend off the edges makes it seem like you didn’t plan things. The structure is precarious. The right proportions make your entertainment area seem intentional.

Mistake 2: Ignoring Your Decor Style

Your TV stand is likely the biggest stand in your living room. If your TV stand butts against the rest of your furniture, your living room will butt against it.

Know the style of your room. What color is your furniture and walls? What about your accessories? Modern rooms are usually painted with neutral colors and have clean lines and simple ornamentation; the furniture is usually crafted of metal or glass. Traditional rooms have more wood, heavier ornamentation, and warmer colors. Industrial style combines metal and reclaimed wood.

If you have a contemporary living room, a generic stand butts against the rest of your living room furniture. Buying a specially designed modern TV stand creates an elegant ensemble for your living room. Modern stands are usually minimal with no ornamentation or very little ornamentation. They have clean profiles and matching finishes to other modern furniture.

Match materials, too. If your coffee table is glass and chrome, a matching TV stand ties the room together. Have mostly wood furniture? Choose a stand in a similar wood tone. Consistency in materials makes your room feel thoughtfully designed rather than randomly assembled.

Mistake 3: Forgetting About Storage

Before buying any TV stand, count up everything that needs to go on or inside it. Most people have more electronics than they initially think. Cable boxes, gaming consoles, streaming devices, soundbars, and DVD players all need homes. Then there are games, remotes, cables, and controllers.

Open shelving looks clean, but requires you to keep everything organized. Dust shows immediately, and messy cables are always visible. Closed storage hides clutter but can cause overheating if ventilation is poor. Many people find a combination works best—open shelves for frequently used items and closed storage for everything else.

Cable management makes a huge difference. Good TV stands include holes or channels for routing cables behind the unit. Some have built-in power strips or cord organizers. Without proper cable management, even the nicest stand looks messy once everything is connected.

Consider future needs, too. Planning to add a gaming console or upgrade your sound system? Make sure your stand has room to grow. It’s better to have extra space than to realize you need a new stand in six months.

Mistake 4: Wrong Viewing Height

The wrong TV height strains your neck and hurts to watch. Still, people buy stands based only on how they look, with no regard for comfort.

On your sofa, your eyes should rest naturally on the center of the TV screen. The TV should be 42-45 inches from the floor for most people. A 65-inch TV is about 32 inches tall, so you should be able to get a stand that is 26-29 inches tall.

Of course, you might be exactly or not so lucky. Sit in your favorite spot and see where your eyes rest when you watch TV. Subtract half the height of your TV from that number, and that’s how far from the floor your stand should be.

If you recline a lot or have a very low sofa, you might need to make exceptions. Most people watch TV from 8-12 feet away. Unless you sit far from the TV, don’t make exceptions for stand height. Your neck will thank me when you stay up all weekend marathoning your favorite show.

Mistake 5: Overlooking Material Quality

Cheap stuff equals cheap problems. That cheap particle board stand may save you money today, but could kill you tomorrow.

A 65″ TV could weigh 35-55 pounds. Add your other electronics, and you could be looking at 100 pounds. Your stand has to be able to hold that weight safely for as long as you own the TV. Look at the manufacturer’s weight rating and get a stand rated for at least 50% more than you’ll weigh.

Solid wood and metal frames. Good engineered wood with appropriate reinforcements can also work. Cheap stands that are entirely made of particle board or MDF with no other support mechanisms will sag over time. Particle board sags more noticeably if it’s exposed to humidity.

Inspect how the stand is put together. Strong stands have metal brackets at the stress points, not just glued and screwed together. Tempered glass shelves are better than regular glass. Adjustable shelves allow you to accommodate different-sized components. All of this costs more, but far less than a costly failure.

Conclusion

I’m amazed at how surprised most people are at how much people have to think about when they need the proper TV stand. But if you don’t give it enough attention, you’ll end up spending a lot of money, endanger your life, and have an eyesore living room that you are embarrassed about.

All you have to remember are these few facts: It’s wider than your TV, it matches the style of your room, you have adequate storage space, it’s at eye level, and it’s made of quality materials. Measure you’re space, write down your components, and don’t rush into a decision. Your TV stand makes your biggest ticket item safer, and your living room more useful.