In modern homes, a television is an essential part of a living space. Unfortunately, these fun and helpful devices can also be really ugly. If you don't want your room to be filled with unsightly cords, stacks of consoles, and huge black boxes, follow these design tips.
Get Your Wires and Devices Under Control
In many cases, the problem with the TV isn't your flat-screen itself. Instead, the TV looks so awful because it is surrounded by a snarl of cables, power cords, DVD players, gaming consoles, speakers, cable boxes, and more. Just getting all these items under control can make it a lot easier to hide your wall-mounted TV.
First, start by thinking of storage for your devices. Something like a vintage midcentury modern cabinet can help you corral all your tech into a hidden spot. Next, you need to find a way to hide the cords running from the TV to your devices and outlets. The ultimate option is running your cords through the wall. With a drill and a little patience, you can ensure all wires are completely out of sight.
If you rent or just aren't very handy with power tools, you have some other choices. You can get cord clips that stick on the back of your furniture. These let you hook the cord in place, hiding it behind a furniture leg or table edge. Another option is cord covers. Using a cable wrap or cover, you can turn a big nest of cords into a single, compact line. To make it even more minimal, select a cover that lets you paint the cover the same shade as your wall.
Create a Built-In Door to Hide Your Wall-Mounted TV
Big, bulky media console cabinets that take up a whole wall are no longer in style. However, there's still something really appealing about the idea of just being able to close a door over your TV when it's not in use. To get the easy coverage without all the bulk, you need to turn to built-ins.
Built-ins are one of the hottest things in interior design right now, and they make it easy to have a TV hidden in the wall. They provide you with plenty of storage while having a sleek, minimalistic look. The right door for your television will depend on where you want to put it and what your home looks like. Some potential ideas include the following:
- Hang sliding barn doors that cover the TV when not in use.
- Create a built-in cabinet over your fireplace.
- Build a bookshelf cabinet with space for the TV on the shelves.
- Make a small nook in the wall that is covered by a sliding pocket door.
- Hang your TV inside a shallow storage cabinet.
- Use a large mirror as the "door" for your hidden TV.
- Make a large sliding panel to function as a fake wall over the entire TV space.
When thinking about built-in options for your television, keep in mind the idea of using a swinging arm to mount your TV. This can be a great way to hide a wall-mounted TV because it lets you turn the TV sideways and slot it into a narrow space when not in use. This also makes it easier to store your TV out of sight in a closet or cabinet in the corner.
Hide Your TV With Art
Don't have the carpentry skills to start building your own cabinet doors? No worries! A simpler method that accomplishes the same thing is using art. A big piece of art over your television is often simpler to install, and it has the bonus of providing some nice wall décor. There are a few ways to go about this task.
The easiest, from a design perspective, is using a large pull-down map. Select a flexible map that was designed to roll up out of the way when not in use. Mount the roller over the TV, and you have a cute piece of vintage art that can easily be rolled out of the way when you want to watch your favorite show. The same concept can also work with vintage tapestries or unmounted canvas art.
If your piece of art isn't something that can be rolled out of the way, you just need to add some sliders. Attach a row of sliders over and below the TV. Then, you can mount the art on the sliders and move it back and forth as needed. Depending on your TV's position, you can mount the sliders near a wall or fireplace mantel, or you can hide them behind a decorative wooden railing.
Camouflage Your TV With Clever Interior Design
Sometimes, hiding your TV isn't necessarily about concealing it entirely from view. Instead, it might be enough to just keep it from being such an eyesore. There are all sorts of design tips that keep the eye from being immediately drawn to your massive flat-screen television.
The main thing is simply to ensure your TV is not the only design element on the living room wall. Things like wall art, plants, and textures can create a more balanced room. Here are some ideas for ways to better incorporate your television into your home.
- Hang several pieces of artwork above and around the TV to make a gallery wall.
- Put large potted plants on either side of the television.
- Paint the wall a dark color to make the TV blend in better.
- Use a vintage tripod or other quirky stand as a creative way of how to hide a TV.
- Use large pieces of canvas artwork that extend behind the television.
- Add dark tiling, bricks, or stone to the wall behind the television.
- Select a new TV with a white or colored frame that matches your décor.
Whether you want to shop for a sleeker TV or start some home improvement projects to hide your TV, Synchrony can help. The Synchrony HOME Credit Card is accepted at thousands of retailers nationwide. Learn more about promotional financing¹ or 2% cash back² paid as a statement credit on qualifying purchases with the Synchrony HOME Credit Card.