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10 Ways to Hide That Air Conditioner

Feeling boxed in designing around your mini-split air conditioner? Try one of these clever disguises and distractions

Mariana Pickering
Mariana PickeringJuly 16, 2014
Houzz Contributor; Owner/CEO of Emu Building Science; LEED AP BD+C. After spending many years as an architectural designer in the high-efficiency residential Italian market, I now run a company that specializes in advanced construction science and Passive House design. We are located in Denver, Colorado, and Northern Italy, and we work internationally with builders, designers, and manufacturers of high-performance projects and products.
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Ductless mini-split air conditioners are popping up all over the place as an energy-efficient alternative to central air conditioning systems. Why? Because you can individually control zones of your house, so you don’t waste energy cooling a room you’re not in.

From an interior design point of view, they present a different set of challenges than a ducted system. That’s because unlike built-in ducts and vents that are often integrated into the architectural design of a house, mini-splits are often added as an afterthought.

How to cool off without an air conditioner
William Britten
Individual mini-split air handling units extend about 7 inches (18 centimeters) from the wall and are about 3 feet (90 centimeters) wide, depending on the model. They are controlled with a remote control and have vents that open out from the casing when the unit is in use. To work efficiently they need to be unobstructed and placed high in the room so that the cool air will have the greatest effect as it drops to the floor.

To keep the unit from sticking out like a sore thumb, you’ll want to integrate it with your room’s decor and design. Here are some good places for the unit, along with design tips.

Learn more about the cost to install air conditioning
First Lamp
1. Recessed into a wall or false beam. If you have the luxury of being able to make adjustments to the architectural space (this tip may not work for renters), try siting your mini-split in a recessed hole in a wall or in a false beam to minimize the distance it juts from the wall.
As in this example, it could even be a good opportunity to use that same false beam to add some architectural recessed lighting or built-in furniture.
Clifton Leung Design Workshop - CLDW.com.hk
2. Above a window. Especially in tight spaces with limited wall space, that no man’s land between the window and the ceiling may be one of the only locations for your ductless unit. Just keep in mind that the window is usually the weakest point for energy loss, so you may get better performance out of your mini-split if you place it far away from the windows, where the cold air can’t escape so easily.
nicole helene designs
3. Above a doorway. Another spot that is difficult to use for traditional storage space, but could work as a location for a mini-split, is above a doorway. This example, as well as the previous window example, allow more of your wall space to be available for full-height furniture.
Built by Humber Ltd.
4. Over your bed. For you polar bears out there who need cool air blowing over your body while you sleep, consider placing the unit above your headboard. If arctic chill is not your preferred sleeping climate, try the wall opposite your bed, so that your blanket will block you from any draft.

Heat wave coming your way? Hire an HVAC professional to install or repair an AC unit in your home
S.I.D.Ltd.
5. Above an armoire. Another difficult-to-reach spot (that would otherwise just collect dust) is above an armoire or cabinet system. In fact, from below, this can have the same minimal visual effect as recessing it into a false beam or wall.
优优
6. Above a bookcase. In this example the unit is placed above an open shelf system of more or less the same width. Just as we saw in the window or door example, it helps to try to match the dimension of the unit with what’s below it. This will help it appear as one vertical element instead of as a box hanging in the middle of a blank wall.
Rill Architects
7. Inside an open bookcase or entertainment unit. Taking things a step further, why not build the bookcase around the mini-split unit? The unit here has been integrated into a built-in entertainment center, with the TV below and an open shelf dedicated to housing the appliance.

Transform your living room with a custom home entertainment center
Hood River reDesign
8. Create a custom cover that’s integrated with your furniture. With a bit of custom design, you could even add a cover (making sure the unit is still well ventilated) to disguise it even more.
Hood River reDesign
The cover in this example has a wooden lattice that allows the air to pass through. The dark vertical pieces disappear, while the lighter horizontal slats match the rest of the entertainment unit.
SVOYA studio
9. Paint your wall to match your mini-split. Sometimes just a simple paint job to match your walls to the color of your mini-split unit can make it almost disappear at first glance. I wouldn’t recommend painting the mini-split itself; instead find a model with a color that you like and get the paint to match.
Narofsky Architecture + ways2design
10. Disguise it among other wall decorations. In this example, instead of hiding the unit, the occupants have given it a shelf along with several other decorations. The unit is less noticeable, as it blends in with the composition of the wall decor.
Scott Homes, Inc
Remember that the individual room air handlers are just one part of the system. The outdoor unit (or units, depending on your setup) may also be eyesores in your garden area.

See 5 ways to hide that air conditioner unit in your yard

Your turn: How do you design around your mini-split?
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Comments (165)
See 162 more comments
  • Bill Lundy
    2 years ago
    Most of these are incredibly intuitive - I’d have to agree with the access concerns for maintenance, etc...

    Please do not put your air conditioner over your bed! The strategic placement is not worth the hazard it creates.

    Recessing the air con in my opinion seems like a great idea. Glad to see this article, it’s about time we figured out how to hide those hideous units!
  • homesewndecor
    2 years ago

    Does anyone who has painted their mini split to match their walls have any pictures of it painted? We had one installed in our home in June. We live in a 1960's ranch home but I have a very traditional decor style. It was determined much to my dismay that the best place to put it was in our dining room and the only wall it could go on was the main focal wall of the room. It is the wall seen when sitting in the living room. My walls are a medium brown (called oatmeal) color with white wainscoting and white trim (windows/crown molding). I reluctantly agreed to have this installed in the hopes that it would "blend in" and not be noticeable. That has not been the case. I am not as stressed about it as I was when I first saw it, but I still think it is an eyesore to what was once my favorite room. I am considering painting the unit but I would like to see what a painted unit looks like before I go that way. I would also love to see some ideas for concealing the unit in houses where there are not high ceilings. I think if my ceiling were higher, this would go unnoticed but I only have a 7-8" above my doorways and windows so even though this unit is almost to the ceiling, it is still very much in view.

  • kd089
    last year

    A tad misleading since most of these installations would be voiding your warranty.

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