It doesn’t matter if you have a streaming service or cable box or if you binge-watch the latest shows the second they air or only tune in for big things like the Super Bowl, practically everyone has a television set somewhere in your home. And, more likely than not, your television is the focal point of whatever room it’s in.
Do those lounge chairs in your living room face your television set instead of each other? Does your mammoth, 70-inch screen take up the bulk of your cool accent wall? It’s okay, you’re not alone.
While using your television as the focal point of your room seems like the obvious decision, the truth is there are other ways to integrate your set into your stellar design. Here’s proof:
1. Wonderful Wall
Contrary to popular belief, the television doesn’t have to be the only thing mounted on your wall.
If you plan to place a TV on top of a dresser or buffet, then create an art gallery wall all around it,” says Brooke McGuyer Hutson of Brooke McGuyer Interiors. “The TV will then ‘blend’ with the wall behind it.”
Pssst… not sure how to create your own gallery wall? Check out our tips here .
2. Shut It
You use cabinets to mask your dinnerware, clothes, and clutter, so why should your television be any different?
“Installing a cabinet on the wall to conceal your television when it’s not in use is the most sensible way to keep it from taking over your design,” says Abbe Fenimore, interior designer and founder of Studio Ten 25 . “There are great options in every price point, and they are quite easy to install. We use them in commercial spaces a lot, and in rooms where the TV is not used often but the client wants it to still be accessible.”
The best part about this design trick is that you can introduce a piece that works nicely with the rest of your room. While floor-to-ceiling cabinets and floating shelving units may work for some spaces, you can also channel your inner bookworm with a good ‘ol bookshelf.
“The key is to have adjustable shelves made so you can work around your television,” McGuyer Huston adds.”If at any point you decide to remove the TV from your space, you have shelves to then put back into your space.”
3. The Dark Side
It’s no secret that your choice of paint color can make or break your room, but did you know it can also help your television set blend into the rest of your room?
“Paint the wall in question a super dark color (or just black!) and fill it with a collection of art on all sides of the screen so that the TV virtually disappears when not in use,” says Caitlin Murray, interior designer and founder at Black Lacquer Design . “This is an easy trick for both adding depth to a room and creating an eclectic, artful vignette that distracts from anything electronic.”
Choosing a dark hue for your space can feel very hit or miss. One shade too dark and your room can feel seriously claustrophobic. Check out our tips for adding a dark wall that feels anything but gloomy.
4. Defy Gravity
Whether you have a teeny, tiny television or a mammoth-sized screen, we’ve all seen those living rooms where the television is randomly mounted on the wall. And if we’re being totally honest, an ill-placed television can be a complete eyesore. The trick, however, is to be strategic with how you mount your television set.
“Hanging a television over a mantel is similar to hanging it over a cabinet,” Fenimore says. “You want to allow at least 10 inches from the top of the mantel or cabinet to the bottom of the screen.”
While the distance can be adjusted based on the size of the television, it’s important to make sure there’s plenty of room to accessorize under and around your set.