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TV Design Solutions

by on Jan 27, 2012

Two children sitting closely together.
Southern Living

With one of the biggest TV days around the corner, I thought it was a good time to write about TVs and how to decorate with them.   After searching through my inspirational picture files to find photos for this post  I actually came up with very few to share.  Turns out interior design magazines rarely include TVs in their photos.  Let’s face it, they aren’t very attractive so why would they include them.  But the reality is most of us have TVs and sometimes they are in very prominent places in our home.  Some people want them on display and others prefer to hide it.  What’s your preference?

 Here are a few solutions for both preferences…

 The Built In Solution

Putting TVs in built in cabinets is a nice way to have the TV in a good spot for viewing but not be the focal point of the room.

 

Green apples are in the plate.

Southern Living

This TV is hidden by panels when not in use.  I’ve seen old barn doors used this way too that slide on metal track.

Living room with designer T.V. unit and sofa chairs with table at center.

Southern Living

An image of a living room showing the back of a couch and a tv in an entertainment center.

Mahoney Architects

I like how this TV is somewhat disguised in the bookcase.

A TV in the middle of a wall full of books and two chairs beneath it.

Apartment Therapy

The Over the Mantel Solution

 When the TV is placed above the mantel, keep the accessories on the mantel simple so it doesn’t get too cluttered.  Make sure your TV size works with your mantel size.

A television sitting above a fireplace in a white room with black and yellow decorations.

Canadian House and Home 

This is one of my favorite pictures with the TV over the mantel.

T.V. unit with fireplace in down and racks on both sides.

House Beautiful

The Hide-With-Art Solution

The TV is actually hidden by the artwork which rolls up when you want to watch TV.  A company that offers this product is Art Screen Systems.

A living room contains seating, a large coffee table, and a fireplace.

Southern Living

The Furniture Solution 

It’s hard not to have your TV front and center when using furniture, unless it’s an armoire.  Here are a few pictures where the designer/stylist did a nice job accessorizing around the TV. 

A living room with framed pics over a television.

House Beautiful

I like how the TV is off center and works with the artwork.

TV unit DIY design ideas.

Room and Board
Here the TV becomes part of a vignette.

"TV Unit with Book Shelf"

Pottery Barn

I especially like how West Elm accessorized around this TV (sorry for the poor quality picture, it’s the only one I could find)

Several black and white paintings hanging over a TV.

West Elm

Another bookcase solution that disguises the TV a bit.  The use of real books would actually hide it more.

 A wooden library with books in it, and a tv in the center of the library.

Restoration Hardware

Put it on an easel and move it out of the way when you need too.

 Excellent interior design for TV units.

Restoration Hardware

And of course there is the armoire…

 Flower vase kept on the glass table.

Ballard Designs

 

The Small Cabinet Solution

I really like this small mirrored cabinet for the TV…

 

A window that shows several framed paintings outside of it.

The Simple Solution 

 Design Within Reach offers a product called Muro Media Storage that allows you to build out a wall-like section to hide cords.  It comes unfinished so you can either wallpaper it…

Television is fixing in the wall of the living room.

Design Within Reach

 or paint it.  Pretty cool.

TV units decorative ideas to try.

Design Within Reach

 The High Tech Solution

Here’s a high tech solution that incorporates your fireplace and your TV.  Great for the more contemporary home.  MCZ sells this product.

"TV is fixed on the Wall with the help of wooden Platform"

MCZ

I’m sure one day soon we won’t need any storage for our media, DVRs, cable boxes.  Won’t that be nice!

 

 

 

 

 

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