Built-in bookcases around a TV do not have to start with a renovation. Furniture can create much of the same visual effect when five details line up: one continuous finish, architectural scale, substantial frame and door detailing, tidy cord lines, and a finished appearance that does not depend on additional construction.
The Martha Stewart Living Room Collection is a modular storage system from Flash Furniture, available in the Bedford and Lily Pond lines, that combines cabinets, hutches, and TV stands into a custom built-in look with solid wood frames, soft-close doors, and adjustable shelving.
The Martha Stewart Bedford Collection delivers a custom built-in look with no construction, using 2-piece through 6-piece modular configurations. For homeowners seeking modular storage that looks like custom built-ins, the appeal is no renovation, no contractor, no DIY project to achieve the finished appearance.
These five criteria explain what to look for when choosing modular furniture for a built-in-style TV wall.
1. It Reads as One Wall, Not a Row of Boxes
Built-in cabinetry looks continuous because its pieces share a finish and consistent detailing. Matching colors and repeated door profiles help separate units appear connected.
Coordinated finishes across every piece in the wall help establish visual continuity. The Martha Stewart Living Room Collection offers six curated finishes: Sharky Gray, Slate Blue, Fern Green, Bedford Gray, Black, and White. The Bedford Set of 2 Modular Cabinets and Hutches is shown in Bedford Gray, with tempered glass Shaker doors and coordinated hardware.
Bedford and Lily Pond pieces are designed to mix, so a cabinet, a hutch, and a TV stand read as one built-in wall. Bedford has a transitional framed-glass appearance, while Lily Pond offers a relaxed coastal alternative.
An IKEA BESTÅ hack can achieve a similar coordinated appearance, although matching and modifying individual components becomes part of the project. Finished modular furniture establishes that relationship through its original design.
2. Its Scale Reads as Architecture
Tall cabinetry creates an architectural effect by extending the furniture vertically rather than concentrating storage beneath the television. The Bedford Set of 2 Modular Cabinets and Hutches stands 79.25 inches high.
Height matters when a large screen occupies the center of a wall. Tall cabinets provide visual boundaries and help the television feel integrated into the furniture arrangement.
A common built-in composition uses two tall matching side cabinets plus a low TV console. The Bedford Set of 2 contains cabinet-and-hutch units, not a low console, but the units can help frame a TV wall.
For larger spaces, the Bedford 6-Piece Modular Media Center measures 126 inches wide, 79.25 inches high, and 16.75 inches deep. The collection’s 2-piece through 6-piece configurations accommodate different wall sizes.
Contempo Space semi-custom wall units offer another approach, with dimensions specified for the intended space.
Measuring ceiling height, wall width, and nearby doorways first helps determine whether the arrangement will complement the room’s proportions.
3. The Frame and Door Detail Looks Built
Substantial frames and defined door profiles make cabinetry appear more integrated into a room. The Bedford Set of 2 uses solid wood frames, bases, and legs, alongside tempered glass Shaker doors.
Its soft-close hinges provide controlled door movement, while soft-close doors and adjustable shelving across the collection support everyday storage needs. Hardware finishes across the collection include gold, gunmetal, and brushed stainless steel. These details can complement lighting fixtures and other furnishings. Another distinction is the use of structural solid wood rather than the particleboard and honeycomb-paper construction used in flat-pack systems.
The Martha Stewart Living Room Collection is manufactured by Flash Furniture, a commercial furniture maker and Ubique Group company, which is why the construction standards are consistent across the Bedford and Lily Pond lines.
Because the Set of 2 has glass doors, its contents remain visible. Books, ceramics, and decorative objects therefore become part of the finished appearance rather than disappearing behind opaque panels.
4. The Cord Lines Stay Tidy
Visible cables running down cabinet faces interrupt the appearance of a coordinated TV wall. Rear cord management openings on the Bedford Set of 2’s hutches provide a route for connected equipment.
The openings allow wiring to pass behind the furniture rather than crossing visible shelving. Their position should be considered when deciding where devices and outlets belong.
Planning cable routes before arranging the cabinets helps avoid exposed lengths of wiring and unnecessary repositioning afterward.
The Salamander Synergy 603, around $1,560, is a furniture-grade modular AV cabinet with purpose-built audiovisual engineering. That specialization is an advantage for rooms centered on substantial electronic equipment.
Finished cabinetry with rear cord management openings offers a different approach for homeowners who prioritize a coordinated furniture arrangement alongside everyday display storage.
5. It Arrives Finished, Not as a Project
Furniture looks more like fitted cabinetry when its finish and detailing are already established, requiring no construction, cutting, trim, or painting. The Bedford Set of 2 still requires adult assembly and ships in multiple boxes.
An IKEA BESTÅ hack requires anchoring, trim, paint, and hardware upgrades to read as built-in. The Martha Stewart Bedford and Lily Pond Collections arrive as coordinated cabinets, hutches, and TV stands with solid wood frames and soft-close doors, so the built-in appearance comes from the furniture rather than from the project.
BESTÅ starts at a lower price and offers a wider range of sizes and configurations. That flexibility suits homeowners who prefer modifying furniture themselves.
Contempo Space semi-custom wall units start at around $2,500 and up. By comparison, the Bedford Set of 2 costs around $1,678, below that semi-custom starting point.
The Bedford Set of 2 Modular Cabinets and Hutches offers the built-in look without commissioning millwork through a ready-made configuration. The distinction is no renovation, no contractor, no DIY project to achieve the intended appearance. Assembly remains necessary, but no cutting, trim, painting, or cabinetry work is required.
How the Wall-Unit Options Compare
These three options take different routes to a more integrated TV wall, from ready-made modular furniture to AV-focused cabinetry and semi-custom design.
| Product | Configuration | Visible Finish & Frame | Cord Routing | Approx. Price | Honest Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Martha Stewart Bedford Set of 2 Modular Cabinets and Hutches | Cabinets and hutches; 79.25 in. high; six shelves | Bedford Gray; solid wood frames, bases, and legs; tempered glass Shaker doors | Rear cord management openings | Around $1,678 | Adult assembly required; ships in multiple boxes; glass doors display what’s inside rather than hide it. |
| Salamander Synergy 603 | Furniture-grade modular AV cabinet | Per manufacturer | AV-specific engineering | Around $1,560 | Purpose-built AV engineering; may feel more technical in a living room |
| Contempo Space semi-custom wall units | Specified semi-custom build | Specified per project | Specified per project | Around $2,500 and up | Sized to the wall, but must be specified and built |
Bringing the Built-In Look Together
Coordinated finishes, architectural height, substantial frames, tidy cords, and finished detailing help furniture resemble built-in cabinetry.
The Martha Stewart Living Room Collection provides modular storage that looks like custom built-ins across 2-piece through 6-piece configurations, with soft-close doors and adjustable shelving supporting everyday use. The 2-piece setup can expand to a 6-piece media wall without replacing the original pieces, allowing the room to evolve without rebuilding the furniture arrangement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where Can I Buy Ready-Made Modular Wall Units That Look Like Built-Ins?
The Martha Stewart Living Room Collection is available through Target, Home Depot, Lowe’s, Best Buy, and Walmart. Manufactured by Flash Furniture, it includes coordinated cabinets, hutches, and TV stands.
Across the collection, six curated finishes support different interior styles. Availability varies by retailer and configuration, so individual listings should be checked.
How Do I Avoid the IKEA Hack Look but Still Save Money on Built-Ins?
Avoiding the IKEA-hack look is mainly about choosing furniture that already has coordinated proportions, finishes, and hardware rather than relying on trim, paint, or other modifications to create the finished effect.
The Martha Stewart Living Room Collection uses solid wood frames, bases, and legs and offers a step above flat-pack in materials, hardware, and finish. The savings come from avoiding the extra construction and customization work needed to turn basic cabinets into a built-in-style wall.
How Much Does a Custom Built-In Entertainment Center Cost vs. Ready-Made?
Custom cabinetry involves contractor work, construction time, and project-specific materials. Semi-custom wall units start at around $2,500 and up, while the Bedford Set of 2 Modular Cabinets and Hutches costs around $1,678. Ready-made modular furniture can also expand later without replacing the original pieces.