Most of us agree that televisions are an eyesore in home design. The easiest thing to do is eliminate them from social spaces. While this is fine for some people, I have to get my Bachelorette fix every week!
There are many tasteful ways to incorporate televisions into living rooms, it just takes a little extra planning and foresight. The ultimate solution is to hide it away when not in use, or flush mount it inside the wall or built-in cabinet. Not everyone has the budget for custom solutions, so read on for a mix of good ideas that will have you watching in style.
I have concealed our tv in out traditional style family room , above the fireplace , this has proven to be a great set up , it takes no floor space , little ones can' t touch and we can hide it away with the addition of the custom shutters I built .
Chris
I have always been a big fan of keeping the TV behind closed doors when not in use. I was able to use plantation shutters to conceal our TV over the fireplace. Not only did it hide the TV, but I love the architectural interest it added!
Last night on "My Life on the D-List," Levi Johnston had this HILARIOUS hideous HUGE TV with a fake fireplace on the bottom. I don't even know how to describe it. Anyway, these are a whole lot more tasteful than that!
I like the ones that aren't part of the focal point in the room, such as the one encased in black over the fireplace or the one that slides into the wall. The one Michelnow posted behind the plantation shutters is good too. The best option, if available, is to just have a media (or family) room and leave the living room to socializing.
The problem with the arrangement in the first photo, is having to crane your neck to the side the entire time you actually watch tv. Looks good, impractical if you enjoy watching movies.
I put my flat screen on top of a dining room buffet and hid the components inside. Wallpapering the wall behind the TV in a graphic pattern makes the whole wall the focus, not just the TV.
Older, historic homes with a fireplace as the focal point in a small living room creates a huge challenge if you have a large flat screen tv. An above-the fireplace mount position can actually be too high for comfortable viewing if the room isn't deep enough. Where the windows are will also impact where glare will be, so solutions must be very clever. Maybe a projector and a roll-up screen is the best solution.
In addition to the challenges ashindler notes, there is a rumour that having your TV above a working (hot) fireplace will shorten the TV's life. This may be a concern if you have a pricey TV.
