How to Install a Floating Media Console

A Floating media console is the cleanest way to manage your living room electronics. By lifting your storage off the floor, you create a sense of openness and simplify vacuuming, all while hiding the clutter of tangled cables and gaming hardware. When done well, the console looks like a seamless extension of the wall rather than a box tacked onto the drywall. The secret lies in the mount. Because drywall alone cannot hold the weight of a console filled with game consoles and heavy sound equipment, you must anchor your support structure directly into the wooden studs. Precision in your layout—specifically in height and level—is what separates a professional-looking installation from one that looks like an afterthought.

  1. Find Every Stud First. Use a deep-scanning stud finder to locate the center of the studs along your wall. Mark these locations clearly with painter's tape so you can see where to drill regardless of the furniture's position.
  2. Mark Your Level Line. Determine the ideal height for your unit, typically leaving 8 to 12 inches of clearance between the top of the console and the bottom of your TV. Draw a level horizontal line across the wall at the exact height where the top of the console will sit.
  3. Secure the Ledger Board. If your unit requires a ledger board or French cleat, align it with your level line. Use 3-inch construction screws to drive the mount into the center of every stud you marked earlier.
  4. Hide Cables Behind Wall. Cut a hole in the drywall behind the console to feed your HDMI and power cables down through the wall using a cable management kit. This ensures no cords are visible between the TV and the console.
  5. Lock It Down Level. Lift the console onto the cleat or attach it to the wall brackets. Double-check that it is perfectly level before tightening all connection screws completely.
  6. Test Before Loading Gear. Apply downward pressure on the console to test for any movement or flexing. If it shifts, add additional mounting screws through the back panel into nearby studs.