From furniture to fireplace: How a flatscreen fractured the American home and furthered divisions

In the 1980s, families gathered in rooms built around their television sets, which were massive, boxy consoles often encased in wood.

These units were not mounted or hidden. They sat flush to the floor, surrounded by matching cabinetry and shelves packed with VHS tapes, game cartridges, or encyclopedias. The television was heavy, visible, and central. It anchored a room designed for shared attention.

Couches and chairs were arranged to face it. Lamps were placed to avoid screen glare. The family room was physically and socially constructed around the unit. This structure was consistent across the country.

Whether in Milwaukee’s Bay View or a farmhouse outside West Bend, families organized their daily lives around a television that was positioned at eye level while sitting. Architectural