Where to Place the Flat-Screen TV
TV placement: How to get the focus off your technology and back on design
One Houzz reader recently wrote in with this design dilemma: “I have a small flat-screen TV in my living room, but have no idea how to display it in a tasteful way. I don’t want to make the TV a centrepiece of the room, I’m not into cabinets much and I don’t like TVs hung on a wall. Any ideas?” Rather than say “Get an iPad instead,” I dug up some awesome ideas from Houzz members, almost all involving custom carpentry to take the focus off the technology and back on to the decor.
My first recommendation for flat panel installation? Recess those puppies into your walls. This requires hiring a carpenter and ain’t exactly cheap. But it totally saves a space from becoming “that TV room.”
If you decide to go with the recessed look above a mantle, keep in mind you must allow the proper depth to allow for tilting the TV downward so it’s geared toward the proper eye level. Watching “Sacred Games” with major glare totally kills the effect.
See these wall-mounted TV ideas
See these wall-mounted TV ideas
If your objective is for the TV not to become the centrepiece of the room, install it low on a wall directly at eye level. This allows for the actual wall to remain the star, especially if the wall is covered with an interesting material or texture.
Then there's sneaky, functional, task-oriented placement. I'm a huge fan of small-to-medium size flat panels worked into kitchens. Keeping them off the countertop is key; either mount them to the bottom of your cabinets or have a custom space cut out for them within upper cabinetry.
You can stay entertained while prepping food, then relax with company to enjoy your meal. Guess who watches TV with pretty much every meal he enjoys? Me.
You can stay entertained while prepping food, then relax with company to enjoy your meal. Guess who watches TV with pretty much every meal he enjoys? Me.
While armoires and media cabinets can actually contribute to media taking over your space, fitting your flat panel into an architectural element is a great way to minimise the techno-presence. It works well here recessed into a column; it’s just as effective on a partition wall.
Want to hide the TV?
Want to hide the TV?
Something else that's becoming more and more popular is the sliding flat panel cover. When the TV is off, the sliding doors come together to totally conceal it. Take this one step further by adding art or patterned wallpaper to the front.
In smaller rooms, every inch counts. One of the biggest advantages to custom flat panel carpentry is space-saving. In this situation, the homeowner can use one space for media storage, display and TV viewing. The panel slides sideways, then back into the built-in when not in use.
Take a look at this media unit that hides the TV in plain sight
Take a look at this media unit that hides the TV in plain sight
You can also take the attention off your flat panel by placing it on a wall with dark paint or stain. By keeping the tone of the wall in check with that of the TV, it’s less obvious.
Read more:
Where to Place the TV in the Living Room?
Tell us:
Do you have some innovative solutions for this design dilemma? Share them with us in the Comments below.
Read more:
Where to Place the TV in the Living Room?
Tell us:
Do you have some innovative solutions for this design dilemma? Share them with us in the Comments below.