Media Manager

You need something to hold your stereo components or the TV and DVD player, but you don’t want or have space for an Entertainment Center Monolith. Solution: A hefty bench provides a solid base for heavy equipment without taking over a room. Keep cords out of sight by attaching them to the back. This handsome oak model has a surface roomy enough for stacking videos, books, or the CDs currently in rotation. And while a TV cart never allows enough room for DVDs, boxes placed under the bench can keep them orderly and easy to get at.
To Buy: Crate & Barrel Big Sur bench (48 by 14 1/2 by 18 inches), $699, www.crateandbarrel.com.