living roomContemporary Living Room

Here are the three essential elements to float your TV away from the wall.1. Hide the back of the TV with cabinetry.2. Place all your components inside the cabinet.3. Use a power strip inside the cabinet so all cables and cords are contained inside the cabinet. You will then only need to deal with a single power cord emerging from the cabinet.The cabinet in this photo fits the bill. Beautiful on all sides and plenty of room for components, cables, a power strip and cords. By keeping it no taller than is necessary it defines the TV and dining areas without dividing the room.Tip: Floor-mounted electrical outlets are your friend. If you are installing a new outlet, place it right under the cabinet, and allow space under the cabinet for the plugs because they will stick up from the outlet a couple inches. Create an access panel in the bottom of the cabinet so you can reach the plug.

Dividers are also great spots to stick a flat-screen TV. It’s nice that the TV is unseen from the kitchen and dining area; it also keeps those sitting in the living room faced toward the middle of the space and involved in any activity.

These large, somewhat clunky chairs atop such small perches seem like a juxtaposition, but that's what makes them so interesting.