For a quick solution, I would go to your local hardware store, buy a piece of plywood the exact measurements of the TV stand back. Paint the ply the same color as your walls and nail to the back of TV stand.

Or get a panel screen and stick it back there. I don't think you will lessen the value of the home if you lose the iron railing in favor of something more current and livable.

Let us see the whole room and see if we can't come up with an alternate solution for your TV placement. Are you aware there are lots of unique methods to hang TVs?

So here is the view from couch facing to fireplac

Previous owner had TV on movable cart in dining area‍♀️

Your tree is very pretty and perfect as it is.

that console is too huge for that spot. just, no. But, the panel idea is a good one.

lets see a pic from the stairs. shoot toward the sofa. and then stand in the kitchen and shoot from that angle. there has to be some other place for a tv.

And if you want to keep it there, I'd close off that entire opening and make it a solid wall. (but I'd still do a smaller console and hang the tv on the wall). I assume you're going to be living there awhile? then make the house how you want it, not how future buyers want it.

I agree with Oly. Your tree is lovely.

Before you put something in back of it, Make sure it doesn't need ventilation.

That’s a fireplace? If so, very bad location. Just screams “phones”.

Sorry still have a lot mess!! But hope you can see the floorplan.

Sorry still have a lot mess!! But hope you can see the floorplan.

can you move sofa and put tv on wall (where sofa is now) or tv in the corner of the window wall? play around w/the sofa and change the layout. see if anything else works

We thought that first Beth H, but then stairs become too close to the back of the couch. I didn’t like to see behind the couch when I come in the house... but thanks

Could you show more photos of your floor plan? Maybe a decorator here on the site would give you some ideas you have not come up with

Find a temporary solution that works for you, then close in the area with the railing when the budget allows. I think you'll be very happy with the results.

Here are some great ideas/results posted on Pinterest:

split level updates

olychick posted a picture of what would work, (first shot) but, in order to hang the tv, you'd have to come all the way up w/partition and make it part of the wall. (or else the tv could fall down the stairs)

If the area was enclosed, perhaps the tv wouldn't have to be in that spot. Some of the pinterest updates show full walls as well as the half walls.

You can close the wall off completely in future. Not all split levels are as open as yours.

To hide the back of the unit, staple a piece of wall-colored fabric across the back of the unit. If you want to leave it open for wires etc, attach the top with staples but use thumb tacks for the bottom and sides. But then you will still be able to see some of the back of the TV.

Or hang a drape as you suggested, as a sort of fabric wall. Use a ceiling-mounted drapery rod and choose a drape that is about the same color as your walls.

Or buy or build something like this free standing screen. Or this one You could paint the frame to match your walls.

I would close the wall all the way up (behind the tv) and on the side where the railings are, I would do half a wall instead of metal railings.

And on the first level area where the Christmas tree is, I would turn that into a nice mudroom with hook racks on walls and cubbies (or storage bench) for shoes and backpacks. By the way, I agree with the posters above, your Xmas tree is very pretty.

Beverlyfladeziner, thank you so much for making the images!!!

We had idea of that placement, but then we realized that width between couch and stair railing was 2 1/2 feet.. we thought it was a little tight.

I wish we could place them like that...!

You could angle the couch so it fits better....it doesn't have to be completely parallel with the wall facing the tv

HU, have you thought about doing a projector TV? I think in your case, that could be the best solution if you really do want to keep the open split level entrance. You can place an electric motorized projector screen on the wall by the stairs (the wall above the fireplace unit you have there) and just with the push of a button you can roll the screen down for TV viewing. You might want to look into that. Nowadays projectors have images as clear as a regular flat screen TV. Hope that helps.

Just be careful with covering the back of the tv console...often electronics need to breathe so anything solid attached to the back could be a bad thing.

So this is what we have done! We are very happy about it. Thanks for all idea and advisers!!!

Trying to put molding on the half wall....

Wow! Came out very nice!

I know Beth H lol!!! Old door bell and security system are next project!!! Lol

Great solution!

It makes so much more sense now. Well done!

Now I’m looking for a high back bench/chair for other side of the wall.. anything???

https://startmysong.com/awesome-mud-room-coat-rack/

can you remove that railing piece on that wall? it does absolutely nothing and looks odd against the one to the left w/nothing on it.

what do you need in that spot? a drop off station? bench? table? Do you have any artwork to hang there?

Railing piece is actually part of upper floor... I don’t think I would remove it...

I have been looking for a high back bench almost wide dining chair looking piece.. I see a lot of entrance with farm house style furnishing.. I like it but not sure since entrance is next to family room which my husband wants more like modern looking..

He wants to add some floating shelf under TV...