Decorate With Intention: Helping Your TV Blend In

Janet These are all great ideas. I've also seen suggestions to paint the wall behind the TV a dark color so there isn't as much contrast, or to "frame" the TV with decorative moulding.

jeann212 my favorite tv hiding i have seen so far is finding a frame to make it look like a picture that fits your decor and running either an aquarium scene or artist on a loop... a dvd tip; swap meets have mirrors with frames around ? the right size...measure yours and get one as a cheaper version than custom framing... measure before you go! or thrift stores...
frame it!!

Virgil Carter Fine Art The problem with all of these examples in this article is that none of them make the sight and, especially the sound, a primary concern. Rather, the "home theater"--visual and audio--are treated as secondary (if considered at all), while the TV is conceived of as a furnishing item and moved about as if it was a chair, lamp or mirror!

From a vision perspective (intentional pun!) different TVs have very different optimal viewing angles--horizontal and vertical. So TV placement and seating arrangements are critical.

And then what does one do with the 5-channel or 7-channel speakers? All of the examples show NO SPEAKERS. Apparently the recommendation is to use the 3-watt internal amplifier and the two humongeous 1" speakers inside the TV! Now that's a viewing and listening experience...

And what about the necessary gear (amp, tuner, cable box, Blueray, X-box, etc.) and the controller or repeater for all of the necessary home theater gear? Where does that go?

Other than that, this was a really helpful article and a great reference for the future.

Good luck!

Rough Linen I built a simple easel for my tv and draped it with linen scrim, but we rarely use it as we have a video projector and a screen which virtually disappears: in fact we might get rid of the tv altogether.

Lucianna Samu - Color and Design I absolutely HATE TV's over the fireplace, so it is very refreshing to see the TV on the swivel next to it. Nice work!

Phat L Virgil has valid points. But It's hard to marry between functions and aesthetic of TV and audio system without compromising one. I'd love to see more examples of those that rises to the challenge.

jeann212 We hid all our components under the staircase and have just a thin wire to the tv. Our speakers are all "hidden" in the drywall and painted the same color as the walls. I have seen framed speakers with a gauze like fabric with "art" painted on the gauze where the sound comes through it... hope that helps ?

Virgil Carter Fine Art The problem with building high quality speakers into the wall (or celing) is that that seriously impedes the acoustic design and performance of the speaker. There are many different types and technologies used in high quality speaker design, of course, but all of them are designed to incorporate whatever type and depth of enclosure is optimal. And having proper air space and speaker direction are key to high performance.

Taking such a speaker and simply putting inside the wall or inside a cabinet largely negates the design and performance of the speaker, unless the installation is by an experienced acoustical engineer who matches the designf and performance of the original speaker enclosure.

There are "in-wall" speakers designed for stud cavity or ceiling installation, but they are generally inferior to the acoustics possible with stand-alone speaker designs. As for those small speaker systems, the old saying in serious stereo and home theater circles applies, "friends don't let friends buy Bose"!

Folks who are really serious about their sound will have to find ways to use free-standing speakers. Or spend gazillions for true concealed theater systems! Good luck.

Christina Katos I created a wall of built ins with Ikea cabinetry, then added my television in between, with board and batten as a background. The wires were built into the wall and come out below in the television bench. An outlet was created within the television bench as well. I didn't want to see wires at all!

trasgorshek We didn't really hide ours but rather embraced it, I guess you would say. We added all of the wainscoting and ledger stone then ran the components to the other side of the room.

JAN MOYER mmmmmmm sorry, picture number five...... you are kidding right? That needs the electrician called back, and all the CORDS and power source dealt with and improved. No excuse for the tangle and dangle, when the tv has an outlet behind, and we have ir repeaters to handle necessary components. Adding more clutter above the tv only calls more attention to that which you want to disappear, and in this case....just a big mess. Booo.

Laura Gaskill Hi Jan - As far as I know, with photo #5 this was a homeowner DIY project; no electricians involved! I agree, there are things that can be done (even without an electrician) to hide/neaten up the dangling cords, and that would really help. Have to say, I still love the shelf over the TV though!

Fine Art & Portraits by Laurel None of the ideas really hide the brain-sucking monster, but I at least like the one which wasn't placed predictably above the fireplace.

Audio Video Guys Inc Virgil, - There are some in the Audio Video industry that WANT to work with Designers and Architects, not tell them what is wrong and why. Find a middle-ground to start. Audiophile clients will demand their own space and not expect the Living Area to be a proper sounding room. It's OK to listen to the internal TV speakers when the TV is not the main thing in the clients life. We always ask the client how important TV is to them and their lifestyle, not tell them what they want!

JAN MOYER No offense to the tech weenies of audio...but I doubt there is a designer on this planet who loves free standing speakers. I think there is a place for "perfect" sound. It is probably out of sight entirely, and in a soundproof padded room. For the rest of us plebes, the sound system is like a bottle of wine: most days, good enough is good enough! We don't need to sniff and swirl. We just need a nice crisp pinot, or a mellow merlot. Spare us the theatrics, and lets chat.
And drink!

Stevie I still choose to completely hide my TV. I much rather look at a piece of warm wood furniture than a shiny black panel. the only thing so far that I thought was clever was to frame it with a picture frame or the hiding it behind a movable piece of art on a slider.

sailnmuffin I'm surprised my favorite solution was not mentioned here: covering the TV with a 1-way framed mirror so that, when off, the TV becomes a mirror; and when turned on the mirror does not interfere with the TV picture. Check out Seura: http://www.seura.com/product/premier/

Of course it's not cheap. But this is one area in which I can justify the expense, because I despise with the heat of a thousand suns, the TV's giant black eye dominating the roomscape.

bubblyjock What about sitting the TV on a shelf that slides down at the back of a cabinet, same way an exhaust fan that hides behind a cooktop does? That way, you don't have to look at that "giant black eye" when it's not in use.

And as for speakers...surely there are cordless/wireless ones available now?

ltcroucher Thanks for this article. This is one issue that my husband and I are (or will) deal with in the very near future. The TV next to (not above) the fireplace is a very good idea, also because that may be the only place in our living room for a TV. We have water views through sliding doors on the other side of the wall, which will compete for attention during the day. But at night, a TV some of the time would be nice. Placing of furniture would then be the next challenge. Sigh!

vixvax @ Jan Moyer - When you start your comment by saying "no offense to the tech weenies of audio", it's kind of offensive. I'm not even one of the "weenies" you speak of, but your condescending opener really tainted a post that I generally agreed with.

Transforming Rooms There are great ideas for flat screen TV's from an Interior Designer in this blog:

http://www.interiordesigngreensboro.com

Type the words "flat screen TV" in the search box at the top left corner of the home page - several different articles will appear.

There are 10 to 15 unique ideas (such as a leather folding screen to hide the flat screen) - it's worth checking out!

JAN MOYER vivax,
The "weenie" can be ANYONE, and is not meant offensively in any way. I have negotiated these speaker and sound battles between husbands and wives. She couldn't care less and just wants it all to disappear, he regards it as a thing of beauty, and human sized speakers be damned. Seriously.....I don't take offense when the tech guy looks at the wife and the decorator like ill informed idiots... we just NEGOTIATE a solution to keep everyone happy most of the time, AND out of divorce court. No offense to either party intended, or taken.

Connected Living Virgil, PHT et al.

I agree, most of the time audio is not taken into consideration nor are TV's optimally placed. TV's - especially over fireplaces, are often placed way too high and speakers or audio are an afterthought. While I agree that "true" audiophiles would never use in-wall or in-ceiling speakers for their primary listening "cave", they do make some surprisingly high quality models that sound excellent. I am one of these "true" audiophiles yet in some rooms I have in-wall and in-ceiling speakers. Things need to be taken in perspective - the majority of my clients listen to MP3's or are using Apple TV for their video needs - both use compressed audio where using high end tower speakers is pointless.
You can have a visually appealing setup that sounds incredible. Take for instance the attached picture. I installed 3 Paradigm in-wall speakers around a 55" Samsung TV which was flush mounted in a niche. The speakers were sprayed to match the walls. In-ceilings were used for surrounds and the bottom end was solidified using a Paradigm Monitor 10 Sub tuned using Paradigm's Perfect Bass Kit. The overall sound and picture of this room significantly exceeded my clients expectations while maintaining visual appeal.

The important part is that these things need to be taken into consideration during the early stages of the project in order to execute them properly. The Client, Designer, Architect, electrician, Cabinetry Makers, Drywallers etc. all have to coordinate and work together towards the end result.

Mercy Me Great ideas and solutions. But, sorry, no big black holes on the wall for me. I use a gorgeous old armoire with hand-carved panelled doors, not those tower of power wall units. My TV is hidden, and I have a lovely focal point in my living room. I have noticed that when a TV is visible, it tends to stay on all day, whether or not anyone is actually watching it.

If I had a separate media room, sure I'd hide that monstrous black panel in plain sight, but I don't. I'm not crazy about opening the front door and seeing the TV, that's why it sleeps nicely in the armoire, which has been retrofitted to accommodate a theatre sound system. (The small black box sub woofer is outside the armoire, in an inconspicuous corner.)

And, please don't get me started about TVs over the fireplace. I get a crick in my neck just thinking about it,

jojosail2 Number 3 is the only one that comes close to being bearable to me. I do not find televisions to be something I want to look at any more than I want to look at trash cans in the kitchen or plumbing under the sink. Ours are behind doors and we don't actually watch tv any more - we cancelled our satellite service a year ago and haven't missed it at all. I have always disliked the look of a room with all seating arranged to focus on a television, sort of implies the residents have no imagination, conversation or life.

rileyspal Mercy Me: it would be lovely to see a photo of your armoire as I am wondering about the height and width and overall look. Personally I am perusing the options at the moment for tv placement and so is my daughter in her home. Timely article.

riconsd These all are some great jumping off points, thx.

As one who comes with the baggage of me, my dog, my pick-up, and my speakers, I do understand the concerns of Virgil. And I do wish there were some solution. High end sound bars are a start. Digital balance/fade, done well, works okay. The only way to get a fully integrated solution is to green-site it and bolt the furniture and AV equip down.

But what do I know I'm using Van der Stein 2c's for the front, Bose 901's for rear, and an old Mission book shelf speaker as center. Oh the 901's are hanging: by macrame.

Virgil Carter Fine Art Audio Video Guys and Connected Living, I couldn't agree more. Balanced, integrated solutions for good design and good video/audio do exist, but are often compromises between design and technology. I'm one of those folks that doesn't desire to see the black empty TV screen in my living room. In my basement, however, with my 5-channel speakers is just fine for me! When the major TV has to be located in a shared major living space is where the compromise may be needed.

I started this response thread because all of the illustrations were so "designey" and none of them recognized the important technical side of audio/video. The posted illustrations were highly aesthetic, but very lowly performance. This thread has provided much more diverse and useful ideas, IMO.

Many thanks to all.

PS: As to weenies and weenettes, you all know who your are...or would like to be, without the need for name calling!

lisa4life I find all the ideas to be creative and aesthetically appealing. Personally, I do not have an issue with displaying the "black box". In my household, we LIVE in our LIVING ROOM - we not only watch t.v., but we play games, listen to music, talk about our day, and entertain friends and family (and yes, my family room is well-maintain despite all the action it sees, lol). The t.v. is just as much a part of the decor as all the other elements in the room; and with ideas like the ones in this article and the sleek designs of today's televisions, I see no reason to try to hide something that's used on a regular basis. That's like trying to hide the refrigerator in your kitchen (yes, (smile)I know there are those who do this too). To each his own! :)

pbx2 So thankful there are so many here who DETEST the idea of TV over the fireplace.
Seriously, it's such an out of date interior design concept that I am amaze we still have to address it.

Physical pain, bad A/V ergonomics, & overall lack of design ideas are not my idea of a good time.

(see gardenweb forums for this running debate)

kaz2 I'm with Sailnmuffin about the mirror. With the house that we are building at the moment, I intend to have a mirror TV in the bathroom. It'll be in a position were it'll hopefully reflect the outside bush. I'll get the mirror TV in one and have it mounted in the wall above the bath. here's a website.
http://www.evervuetv.com/mv.html

scoobydubious #8 would be difficult to watch in the daytime with that window right above.
Whoever made that decision obviously never actually attempted to WATCH the TV.

kaz2 #8 may have a block out blind so you can watch it. I've seen some great automatic blinds that go in the skylights.

smoore I'm with the poster that says hiding a TV is like trying to hide the fridge. Ill admit it. I love my TV and don't want to fight with cabinet doors to see it or speakers too well hid to hear it. One call to an AV company and problem solved in an aesthetic way. Not cheap but realistic to my lifestyle.

littlemissk Here's what I've done. We've only one TV in the entire house as we don't watch allot of TV but listen to a ton of music. There was only one wall in our family room that would work due to light reflection. First we tested height (because of our necks) by cutting out butcher paper, taping it to the wall and sitting in various chairs around the room. We then installed it on a large pivot bolted to studs so that we can pull it out and tilt it any way we wish, along with mounting the speakers (there are also some in the ceiling). Woofer is behind the big chair. Because it was near the laundry room door and I did not want a piece of furniture under it and in the way, we busted through the wall, went up into the ceiling and dropped all the wiring down into the laundry room and are utilizing one of the many cabinets for all the equipment, including the Wii and Apple TV. Equipment is wired for heat and a fan vents into the garage. The TV has a sensor on top of it for the Wii so all we have to do is aim. I didn't want the TV hanging there all by itself so I put artwork under it that is framed in black. This works well for us and it works well for parties. There are no wires and nothing is in the way. I have a screensaver on all the time so that it doesn't look like a big black hole.

Kate Shotts I prefer not to see the TV , the components & the constant dust and clutter it attracts, so I use a cabinet with doors to hide it all. I find that by covering the TV when not in use really cuts down on the compulsion to watch TV. I have a 4 & 6 year old. If I forget to close the doors, the first thing they ask when we walk in the house is if they can watch TV, but as long as the doors are closed, they see their toys first and just start to play without ever asking about TV or may only ask if they are tired and just want to lay on the couch for a bit before dinner. I liked many of the ideas and discussions presented here. Some great ideas!

riess residential design associates TV's over the fireplace are not ergonomically correct- it's not good for your neck to be looking up at a screen but rather slightly down and relaxed. Why not put a Japanese folding screen in front on a shelf, that you can easily move when you want to view.

janehommel I tried to hide the tv behind a painting, but found, it looked unnatural ( like I was hiding something), so I chose to place it between 2 windows. Easy to draw the curtains over it, and all the ugly stuff is hidden in an old chest below.

ploefff @ Virgil Carter Fine Art: You asked what to do with the wires and extra equipment so I thought I'd share what I did.

I had a couple of bookcases like the ones in the first picture. I built a frame around them and put some legs on it but made the box 3 inches deeper than the bookcases to leave room at the back for all the wires. My HDrecorder was deeper than the bookcase so I cut a hole in the back to make it fit + room for the wires from the tech to feed through. On top I drilled 2 holes: a big one for wires going in and a small one for the wires that I need access to to connect my laptop to the printer and the tv.
There's some more pictures on my blog: http://ploefff.wordpress.com/2011/10/19/skaenk-en-forvandling-part-4/
My tv is mounted on the wall above the now sideboard looking bookcases and I'm making a gallery wall surrounding the screen. This is for the tv I just got. My old one has relocated to my craft room. That tv didn't come with speakers so I bought 2 Minipods from Scandyna (you could also buy the normal side or bottom mounted speakers but since they very extra I thought I'd splurge a little). They give great sound and I think they are the prettiest little speakers in all the world. You can see the new set up for this tv in the 3rd pic. I put the speakers on the shelf because it was there but before I moved them they were mounted on the wall in the most clever brackets: they can be angled up or down and swivel from side to side.

I hope it makes sense :)

morgana44 I'm one of those people who put the tv over the fireplace and here's why. We had a big old tv that forced us (years ago) to build out shelving, etc. for it in the library. Thankfully, that tv died and I wanted a fireplace in the library where we spend our evenings reading or watching tv. The room is not huge and made smaller with floor to ceiling bookshelves on all the walls plus the furniture (sofa, chairs, coffe table, lamp tables and small table for the bar acessories). So, only one place for the fireplace and the tv.

My handy husband (he built the original library shelves) tore out the shelving and tv cabinet, ordered the fireplace insert and built the fireplace surround. Above the fireplace he built a false wall for all the tv junk and a place for the tv to hang. And above that I still have more bookshelves. The TV (48in) was scaled for the room and hung tipped so there is no strain on our necks. We comfortably watch tv and this winter we'll have a lovely fire to enjoy and warm the room.

I'm happy with my choice but if I listened to others I would have had to give up one or the other and I wanted both but with only one spot where both could go.

pbx2 I think we all can understand when some1 is restricted in placement alternatives such as yourself.

But when there are clearly options other than placing it over a fireplace & people insist on it in the name of pure aesthetics - then there is no argument for taste.

Only a roll of the eyes for lack of intelligence & design ingenuity.

trasgorshek Morgana44 I'm with you. Sometimes there just isn't a choice. In our dining room (which the builder labeled as a hearth room) there is a fireplace with a built in open nook and shelf for the TV/components. If I didn't put a TV there then there would be this incredibly odd hole in the wall above the fireplace. I do plan on sheet rocking over it one of these days but when I do I will probably still wall mount the TV, it will just have better aesthetics. It has become Mom's room with the fireplace, settee/dining setup and kitchen. I often use the TV while cooking plus my kids will sit in there with me while I work and they watch and talk to mom. It works great for us.

orrn Morgana44, I would love to see pics of your husband's handiwork! I too want a gas fireplace in the family room with the TV mounted above it. How much space between fireplace & TV?

kristireedmd I also think that the TV should be totally hidden if possible. You can decorate the elephant in the room, but if you can see it, its still there. If you have a media room, it's ok for it to be in open view, but in a great room, spend the money on a great piece of furniture or a retracting art piece( expensive, but the painting retracts under a frame to expose the Tv when viewed)

Diamondflame How about putting the TV IN the fireplace? :)

Diamondflame How about having the tv INSIDE the fireplace? ;)

seadaddy Just to add to the comments regarding the TV placement, my house was built in the mid 1800's and I really wanted to maintain the old house character but modernize it as well as try to have the tv and the home theater speakers blend in as well. As someone previously posted obtaining the correct acoustics was a challenge in itself but it does sound amazing. Originally this wall was open to the mud room which was horrible looking so I built the wall unit as well as the vent free fireplace on the right hand side. Below the fireplace I enclosed a very large subwoofer so I could hide that as well. Behind the wall unit I custom built three a/v racks to accommodate all of the a/v gear.

uniceverse I agree with all y'all about the many great ideas (love the one about putting the TV inside the fireplace). Great site with lots of excellent commentary. Kudos!

Zelzer I'm happy to see that you didn't show any photos of TVs over fireplaces. Design-wise, they do not belong together. The 2 dark rectangles do not work together at all. They both tend to be focal points in a room and they compete when on the same wall. I'm surprised that I still see them on some design shows. Thanks for some other great ideas!

TVCoverups These are some great solutions to concealing your TV! Another way of hiding your TV, is by using TVCoverUps. Artwork, panel or both add to your room's decor, until it swings upward to reveal your hidden TV. It comes in automatic or manual lifts and also allows for TV tilting hardware. Units can also be built to hide AV equipment, speakers or other consoles as well. Each TVCoverUp is customized to the viewer and room, so it is always best to give us a call.

cbnancyg My husband and I have been discussing where to our tv for 2 years. The only place we can figure out where to put it is in the corner. there is a 3 ft. protruding 3 sided fireplace that separates the dining roo m from the living room where we want to put the tv. There is no wall space. He wants to hang it on the wall in the corner where the wall and the fireplace meet. I want to buy a cabinet , put it in the corner with the TV on top. This probably doesn't make any sense, but if anyone has an idea I would really appreciate it