A TV is a comforting addition to your home. It’s there for you when you’re binging on Netflix and it doesn’t judge when you fake a sick day. But while we don’t want to live without our TVs, it’s also quite the challenge to decorate around it. Even if you have the slimmest screen possible, it’s still just a giant black box in the middle of your living room, and in a small space, it starts looking more and more like a black hole. Don’t worry, we’re not going to tell you to get rid of your screen — no matter how small your place is. Here are 14 tricks to help hide, camouflage and disguise your TV so that it blends smoothly into the rest of your decor.
1. Add It to Your Gallery Wall: If your TV is small enough and you are able to mount it on the wall, blending it into your gallery wall is a sneaky option to draw attention away from the the empty frame. (via Desert Domicile)
2. Unique Furniture: Hiding the TV inside a cabinet isn’t a new idea, but you don’t have to settle for a bulky, ugly TV cabinet. Thanks to smaller and thinner screens, you can tuck your TV into a pretty desk or wardrobe and no one will ever know. Plus it’s cheaper to use a piece of furniture you already have than buy a piece dedicated just to the TV. (via My Domaine)
3. On a Swing Arm: A media center wasn’t an option in this studio apartment. So instead, the TV was put on a swinging arm, allowing it to be positioned wherever — whether you’re sitting in the living room or on the bed. (via House Beautiful)
4. On a Dark Wall: The ultimate trick is camouflage, and a black TV won’t stand out as much if it’s against a dark wall. If you have your TV in a bookshelf, try painting the back of the shelf black or navy to literally hide the screen. (via Apartment Therapy)
5. Hide Behind Shelves: Tiered shelves that are wider than your TV draw the eye to the collectibles and away from the TV itself. The wall-mounted shelves essentially act as a giant media cabinet, but are more elegant and definitely more trendy. (via Better Homes and Gardens)
6. Accessorize Around It: If you’re tired of your TV overpowering your room decor, just start to cover it up with hanging frames, a strong piece of furniture, bold patterns, lamps and any other accessories you want. Instead of looking like a shrine, the end result will look more like a decorated vignette that just happens to include a TV. (via Amber Interiors)
7. Unexpected Location: Sometimes when you’re living small, you’ve just got to take advantage of any available wall space, even if that means mounting the TV in the kitchen. (via Apartment Therapy)
8. Hide It With Wallpaper: Nothing distracts the eye like a really good patterned wallpaper. The darker the color, the more your TV will just blend into the background. (via Style at Home)
9. Under a Table: If mounting the TV on the wall isn’t an option, and you really don’t want it to be the focal point of the room, try tucking it under a console table or even your desk. When you’re laying on your couch, you won’t even notice that the TV is set lower than usual. (via House Beautiful)
10. Add It to the Books: Depending on the size of your TV, you could tuck it right into your bookshelf and essentially “lose” it among the books. (via Style at Home)
11. Tuck It in the Corner: Take advantage of extra space in the corners of the room to set up the TV. The best thing about this little living room? When you’re entertaining, the couch actually faces away from the TV, so you really don’t end up noticing that it’s there at all (until you actually want to use it, of course). (via Apartment Therapy)
12. Keep It Organized: A little tray right by the TV is perfect for keeping remotes in one easy-to-find spot. Plus you can add other pretty things to help hide the TV when it’s not in use. (via Camille Styles)
13. Play With Bold Colors: Nothing will draw the eye away from the TV faster than a bright yellow dresser. Way more fun than a traditional media center, a thrift store dresser like this one is a great distraction piece and adds much more personality to the room. (via Lolly Jane)
14. Use Really Big Art: Keeping the TV low and hanging really big artwork is a great way to dwarf the screen and not make it the focus of room anymore. (via Cup of Jo)
How do you decorate around your TV? Share your ideas in the comments below!
