HAMBURG: Not every household can have the newest technology, but now they can all have places to stow it stylishly.

For people who want to store their monitors, stereos and MP3 players practically and tastefully, there is an ever-growing range of modern furniture to choose from.

Many manufacturers offer whole lines of multimedia compatible containers, sideboards and shelves.

Furniture compatible with multimedia components is the industry's latest trend, according to Ursula Geismann, spokeswoman for the Union of the German Furniture Industry in Bad Honnef.

The new furniture is supposed to appeal first and foremost to men. "It's not just the flat screen TV that needs its place. It's also about the man, who wants to appreciate optimum sound from his Dolby surround sound speakers while sitting in a comfortable upholstered chair," said Geismann.

Another goal is making the TV screen presentable at all times. That can mean taking advantage of countless furniture systems to showcase the device and its accessories or investing in attractive sideboards and containers to hide it when not in use.