I share your worry about being too symmetrical or matchy-matchy at my house.

It would be great to get some height on that wall. I wonder if you can do a shelf above the tv to add height to your focal point, then something else on the wall next to it without directly competing with the TV?

I would recommend built-in bookcases. You need to anchor the entire wall, & this would be the ultimate answer. Buying quality bookcases is another option, but nice ones can cost as much as having them made. And while you're at it, ask the craftsman that you hired about installing crown moulding along the ceiling - it's not as expensive as you think.

Here's some we did...

I love any of the above . Just what I was going to say - But David came to the rescue with pictures .

Good ideas, everyone...thanks so much. David, I love the pics you posted. This is definitely the direction that we want to go, since we don't want to do built-ins. Thank you!

I love all the photos above. Another idea; you had a good start with the floating shelves but instead of one on each side put three. Instead of regular floating shelves choose rectangular floating shelves for added character. Plus you have stable storage and the complete rectangle fills the space on the wall. Replace your current console with a floating one but in a darker shade. You can accessorize your floating shelves with baskets, books, frames and figurines.

Photos via http://www.modernmom.com/article/decorating-ideas-for-a-wall-mounted-television

http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Cubes-Rectangle-Floating-Shelf/3452843/product.html

http://frankroop.com/projects.html#

I was just guessing that of course, shelving is very practical but if you want a more opened up feeling, you can always use mirrors on each side. See below.

Also, if you do not want to go so symmetrical, you can use a group of mirrors on one side that are similar, and then objects, or clock with mirrors on another side. I also included some other design for symmetrical mirrors

great ideas!

you can also try wall decals. i came across them the other day when I was trying to think of ways to decorate my blank wall over the TV too. they look like murals, but removable, and much easier to apply.

check out my post on wall decals: designcentswithsuz.blogspot.com

I really love the look of the canvas behind the tv. it gives it more of a grand look and seems to be a subtle focal point.

I have a wall and because of the size it doesn't have room for additional pieces other than the TV stand and TV without looking cluttered . I used a collection of mismatched mirrors and a short shelf which holds a small collection of crystal.

We have a similar situation. We finally decided to go with a long (111 inches L x 20 in. W x 35 in. H) console with the TV hung above. For viewing reasons, the TV is not centered above the console, but we added height on one end with a lamp and a few tall pieces of pottery. The end closer to the TV we stacked a few books and added a large bowl for interest. We love the result! Not only does the long console balance the wall space, but also gives ample storage space.

Years ago a neighbor of mine had a mural painted on her wall. It was a jungle scene with an opening in the foliage where the sunlight came streaming down.
Just something to think about......with applications to your style.

One thing that you need to keep in mind when thinking about some of the designs above are your doorways, which are arched. If you use a rectilinear motif it will most likely clash with the curve of the arches. I might be more inclined to put a lighted shelf the length of the wall between the doorway and the wall at the height of the bottom of the arch stopping short of the doorway. I would put puck lights shining upward and a few shining down to accent the wall and give backlighting to the TV. Might up on dimmer switch. I would use the space between the top of the shelf lights to put some 3D artwork on.

I think any artwork or shelves will look a bit skimpy there. I agree with the built-ins.
As an alternative, two matching armoires would be nice if it's in the budget. Inexpensive ones from ikea can me modified to look like expensive furniture. They can be painted, trim or molding added, and the standard handles changed.

Ektas80 raises such a great design issue so many of us face! I love all the ideas put forward, & also wonder if anyone has suggestions for the challenges of mounting things on apartment walls built using metal vs. wood studs?

We had to do a major renovation in our den. This was initiated by our desire to replace our old big screen with new audio/video equipment. We had created a custom wall unit (with dry wall) around our old big screen when we moved into our house 15 years ago. It never really looked "finished" to us. We decided to add wood paneling to our wall unit when we changed out our a/v equipment. It made a huge difference, our den looks so much warmer.

We needed to renovate the wall in our den that featured our off centered fireplace on it. The original surface was slump block which was so dated. We updated the wall by adding stone and cabinetry.

We have a similar wall in our house so I've been looking for options for months. I really loved this idea...

I used a display of black and white family pictures in black frames to make the television blend in as just another picture. I used various sizes on the side and across the top of the television, much as Martyn Lawrence Bullard did in Sharon Osbourne's Hollywood condo. http://www.aoltv.com/2011/06/01/sharon-osbourne-million-dollar-decorators-premiere-video/

This is how we dealt with our issue. We made these thick floating shelves, little over 100 bucks (and we are not hand).

This has bought us time before we invest more money. I really like the above pictures with stone and putting a firplace where the entertainment console is looks nice.

I have attached an example I did for a designer show house. The shelf was made custom at 66". The sconces we used emitted no light from the side that would create a glare on the tv.
If you like floating shelves try 3 on the left and 2 on the right; keeping the top shelf at the same height on both sides. Just allow the bottom one on the left to drop down lower to fill in that space a bit. This gives you asymmetry and balance.

We needed something to hide a sliding door that we no longer used, so we attached some wood panels and stained them a dark colour. We are happy with how it turned out, all our friends thought we had a carpenter come in to do it.

Hohan! This looks VERY very nice! I love how that looks and you have inspired me on what to do with the wall in my own living room. Thanks!

If you are watching the budget...I would suggest some artwork on either side of the tv. Another option is some simple free-standing book cases on either side of the tv and it's cabinet below to "flank" it and give some interest which will be quite nice and serve for storage of books and/or decorative items you might like to display.

Don't know how your wiring looks behind the credenza but if you have an outlet back there or can move it (should easy for an electrician to do) you might think about moving it left of the TV, placing art "under" the TV with black frames similar to your TV, placing some beautiful, interesting mirrors mixed with art above the credenza and then placing a beautiful silk tree of some type in an interesting ceramic container that goes with your decor in the corner closest to the window for some balance. You'd have to play around with it to get a good balance given what else is in your room but it would be a very different way of populating your wall.

Oh ... PS ... This photo is my family room and I didn't want a cabinet around. The TV is on a pivot so it pulls out from the wall and can be rotated when we have parties depending on where people are hanging out. We have a laundry room conveniently located so I had all the equipment put into one of the cabinets I don't use with fans that vent into the garage to keep things cool (drywall is cheap). Even my Wii is hooked up.

I would recommend floating horizontal shelves on each side of TV; to tie in the horizontal tv and the wood blinds; the shelves could be a "designed" layout of uneven distances and uneven placements so the edges are not lined up, stagger them and break up the stiffness; use for books or prop artwork on them, or collectibles; create a multi-interest space

@hohan LOVE what you did with your wall!

We found the instructions to make the floating shelves on www.younghouselove.com search floaring shelves. It has really made the room larger and fun to accesories and add color to the room.

We found the instructions to make the floating shelves on www.younghouselove.com search floating shelves. It has really made the room larger and fun to accesories and add color to the room. We painted them to match the console (i still contemplate if they should be white). I do love having all the candles lit : )

our floating shelves, made by my husband, are painted the wall color so they almost do literally float and are a neutral accent

Hohan, I went to that website and it is now one of my favorites. I will NEVER be able to read all the projects on there!

@tlsb, where did you buy that 111 inch console?

We bought it at Pagoda Red, a Chinese antique importer in Chicago. But as an alternative, you could always place a pair of shorter consoles side by side. I really like the look of a console much longer than the TV, as long as you have the space.

Good ideas, everyone...thanks so much. David, I love the pics you posted. This is definitely the direction that we want to go, since we don't want to do built-ins. Thank you!

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