This is a perfect alternative if you cannot mount your tv on the wall or don't have a good place to put a table to set it on top of. The shelves are great small storage areas for gaming consoles and such. You can hide most cables by snaking them through the center beam that has holes. The only con is that the tv is a little too easy to swivel, I wish it required a little more force so that I wouldn't accidentally touch it and swing it all the way to one side, makes me nervous.