If you are reading this, you have either gotten a new TV recently or you are looking for something to add to your entertainment or living room setup. There’s a lot to get on top of a simple TV and couch to bring out the most of your entertainment setup. Sure, you can get by with the remote that came with the TV and your cable plan, but there is so much more that can add more viewing options, ease-of-access, additional comfort, and an improved experience.
This is obviously not a comprehensive list (there are certainly more specialty products and options than we can count). We also decided not to recommend specific models or products mostly as there is always something newer and better around the corner. However, here are some of the most popular and useful accessories you can buy today to bring out the most from your TV and hopefully make your experience just that bit more enjoyable:
These are probably the best and most useful of all TV accessories in 2021 for the total value provided. A streaming stick or a streaming box of some sort can be a massive addition to your setup and be an enormous step to expanding your entertainment options. While we would not necessarily recommend cutting your cable just yet, they are an excellent supplement and can make things much easier when you want to stream content.
Some options for you include a Roku (one of the several models), Chromecast, Amazon’s TV Fire Stick, Apple TV, and more. There is no shortage of options and new models come out regularly, so we recommend you do careful research to figure out what is best for you and your household. Many services will be commonly available, but some shows or options might be exclusive.
You might need none of these if you already have an entertainment setup with something like a gaming system (more on those later.) These systems can already handle most of your streaming for you, unless you want the particular benefits of the above products. However, streaming sticks or boxes are much cheaper and more practical unless you like video games or are looking for a complete entertainment experience in one package. You can even use one of these as a test to see if you will use it before you invest.
After you get two or three different devices and a TV subscription of some sort, the remotes might start stacking up. Unless you want to play Jenga with cheap remotes, or worse yet lose track and unknowingly give your pet a new chew toy, it might be a wise investment to get a universal remote that allows you to control multiple devices from one handheld item and do so in style.
While the exact functionality can differ, with a universal remote you can press a simple button to change which device you are controlling. You can then use the remote to make whatever inputs are needed. Switching back and forth is easy, and sometimes the remote is programmable to allow for a true smart home experience.
As with any device or accessory, universal remotes vary wildly in quality. Only you can know what is best for you and your entertainment set up, but you likely do not want the top model unless you have a truly impressive entertainment system and cable plan that requires it.
Where are you putting your TV, and how are you managing its placement? Are you just placing your TV on a stand and hoping for the best, even if it is not ideal? Are you worried about how stable it is? If so, then investing in a quality wall mount bracket can be a good idea, especially if you are not happy with the one that might have come with your TV.
Wall mount brackets can be tricky to install and you may want some help, especially if you have a particularly heavy TV. Wall mounting can free up more space in your home compared to using a lot of furniture, and can allow you to focus strictly on the screen.
Why install a new wall mount bracket when you probably get something with the TV itself? Specialized brackets can provide more mobility and options for your new TV. If you can swivel the wall mount bracket, it can make things much easier if your living room is, for example, an unusual shape. Viewing angle is incredibly important when watching TV. A good bracket can ensure the best angle and also help with viewing distance.
Not all TVs are compatible with a bracket, and some might be too heavy or simply too big. Just make sure you take the right measurements ahead of time and do everything slowly and properly. This is not something you want to go wrong.
Cables are confusing, necessary, and generally ugly when out in the open in your living room. Just knowing the tangle of wires that is behind your TV cabinet can make you not want to handle adjustments behind the scenes when you need to plug something in. While you might have heard of cable management for your PC, it also matters and can help with your entertainment system. There are products to help you, whether your set up is simple or complex.
There are different varieties of cable organizer depending on your needs and they are not expensive, so one can be a great way to make sure that there are no mixups (and perhaps protect the wires from your beloved pets). It could appear like a small box you place behind or to the side of the entertainment center, a sleeve you place all the wires in, or some ties. There are of course other options, so be on the lookout for exactly what you have in mind and what would improve efficiency in your home.
Cable organizers also come in a variety of colors and sizes, so you can manage things whether you have a mass of wires and want to keep the organizer to stand out, or whether you want everything to blend into your aesthetic. They also can be very cheap, so there is no excuse not to get one.
How often do you have to search under the couch cushions or near the edge of the TV for the remote? How often does it get lost, only to show up a few hours or days later? If you had a dedicated place for it such as a remote control holder, this wouldn’t be a problem and you could also rest easier knowing that your remote control (which can be expensive to replace) won’t get damaged.
When getting one, we recommend you make sure you get one with the right number of slots (plus one or two extra in case you make a new purchase.) Consider a size that won’t be too ostentatious in your home, and a design that will fit naturally in your living room. There are harder case plastic ones meant to go on end tables, interesting ones that can hang off the side of your couch (with the help of an adhesive), and others.
Just make sure that when you get one, you actually use it. We hope that the investment here will spur you in the right direction. Maybe you can put your universal remote in it? If you get the right holder or space, you can also put gaming controllers and a few other options nearby to create a proper space for all those related gadgets and gizmos.
Many of us might not use discs anymore, but there is no substitution for them if you want the absolute best-resolution content and you don’t want to eat into your data limit (this is especially important if you have slow or satellite internet).
For these situations, you will want a blu-ray player, or perhaps a full-on entertainment center that can allow for easy streaming as well (if you are not a fan of the apps on your smart TV and do not want to deal with a streaming stick either). Just make sure your setup is 4K compatible, check the discs, and watch at your leisure. You might turn your movie collection itself into something of a hobby, or you can take advantage of rental or lending programs (many local libraries have blu-ray discs available for lending).
Alternatively, a gaming console, either a PS5 or Xbox Series X, can act as an excellent blu-ray player and general entertainment center if you also like gaming (if not, there are cheaper alternatives for you). If you are planning on using blu-ray discs, make sure you get a model with a disk drive, as there are all digital versions of both consoles. You might need to wait or get lucky to get one due to a combination of shortages and high demand, but they are well worth it if they interest you.
However great the sound coming from the TV is, it is simply not comparable to what a proper system can offer, or even a dedicated sound bar. This simple device can turn your living room into something more akin to a home theater, even more so if you can get a surround sound setup placed well in your living room. Setups are not as expensive as they used to be, and if you go with a quality brand and model, your audio system can easily last you a decade, perhaps through the lifespan of your TV and beyond.
Yet what should you get and what kind of setup is best for you? That is for you to determine based on your home system, space, and budget. Just be sure not just to get a brand with a lot of recognition but instead choose a brand with a reputation for high-quality products. Audio equipment is often a victim of this trend, and research here will go a long way. This is another situation where you get what you pay for, but the absolute top of the pyramid might not be necessary.
If you do not know what would be best at the moment, just invest in the basic speakers and add additional pieces of the surround setup as you feel best and as your budget permits. Make sure it is compatible and it will work together, but this remains an option for cautious buyers.
Speaking of sound, you might use wireless headphones or earbuds for your computer or phone. Why not use some for your TV? They can be comfortable, have a long battery life (most pairs at a full charge can easily last you an evening), and you can watch something without effectively taking up the entire living room with the sounds of what you are watching. You can even get a pair for your child if you do not want to hear cartoons all day.
The ability to keep the noise level down while you watch TV can be extremely helpful, removing all associated guilt you might have from turning up the volume late at night when your family or neighbors might be sleeping. Furthermore, you can easily cut out the noises of the outside world, leading to a better experience. Sound designers and audio professionals put in a lot of work, and it is great to appreciate it fully.
As far as which set to use, there are plenty of compatible models, especially as most TVs are smart TVs that can accept more peripherals. If your TV has Bluetooth compatibility, you are practically all set. Thew rest of your considerations should be price and quality-related. With these things, of course, the sky is the limit.
This might come as a surprise, but there are plenty of people who still keep their TV on the floor or on a makeshift table that really does not do a TV justice. You want the perfect height and surroundings for your TV, as well as a place where it will stay safe from accidental damage and falls. Proper furniture does just this will keep your living room looking classy.
TV cabinets and television stands are not as expensive as you might think or as they used to be. You can get a passable one for only a few hundred dollars, especially if you are willing to do some assembly yourself. When you get one, make sure that it will fit nicely in your living room, match the aesthetic, and can hold all the gear and equipment related to your TV well.
As more televisions start to act a bit like computers, complete with text entry and search functions, why not consider getting a keyboard? You likely won’t use it every minute of every day and you can get by scrolling if you just want something new to watch, but for long names or complex searches you will be glad you didn’t have to use your remote.
While you probably do not want to plug in a keyboard with the associated long wire for a simple search on Netflix, there are wireless keyboards you can use instead that you can store away when you are not using them. If your television has more smart functionality or you like to use it as a monitor for your computer or a second monitor for your laptop, a wireless keyboard can make those times much more comfortable as well. Just make sure that your TV will accept one and that everything will work properly before making a large investment.
One last note about this, the keyboard does not strictly need to be for your television, as long as you are willing to reinstall it as needed. If you have a desktop that can use the keyboard, by all means use it there most of the time. Alternatively, an older keyboard might find a second life as a peripheral for your TV when you get something new.
Most of your devices and extra items will use an HDMI connection, and with good reason. They provide an excellent connection, can quickly transmit a lot of information, and can be moved around easily without confusion.
Yet moving them around can still be a bother, especially if all the cords are behind your television, out of easy reach. While modern TVs usually have three or four ports on them, that sometimes is just not enough.
In such cases, invest in an HDMI switcher for your entertainment setup. This will allow you to connect several HDMI devices into a single box or small device and then switch channels on that specific box. You can pick which device you want to connect to in just a few seconds. This can save you a lot of time and reduce any resistance to using the devices you paid for.
A clean TV is a better-looking TV and a better looking picture. While you might not think of cleaning supplies as an accessory, having even a fleck of something on your TV can break your immersion as you try to figure out what it is. Like everything else in your home, your TV could use a good dusting and cleaning every once in a while.
While you should clean it regularly, soap and water is the last thing you want to expose your TV to. We recommend a duster for the top of the TV (television sets always seem to attract more dust) as well as some electronic wipes for the screen and anything sensitive on the TV. Do not treat your TV too roughly when cleaning, but make sure that no spot is left behind. With the right wipes, you will not have to worry about any marks left over from the process.
While some of the above accessories might overlap in terms of their use, we are certain that among what you see above you will find something that will make your life easier and your living room that bit nicer. Just remember that usage and convenience should come first, and you should not get something just to have it. This just leads to clutter in your home or living room. Whatever your budget and whatever your plans, we wish you the best for your living room and hope you enjoy your new TV and all that comes with it.
