I have a bit of a love-hate relationship with my TV. Sure, I spend most evenings sitting in front of it but I don't love having it as part of my room scheme, you know?
So while I'm in the middle of renovating a family room slash sunroom at the back of my house, I've been trying to come up with some unique and aesthetically pleasing ways to elevate, conceal, and decorate around my TV.
The obvious answer you might think is to create a media wall. But unfortunately, they give me the ick. So I've asked the experts to help me debate some clever media wall alternatives to assist me in my TV wall ideas search – with the aim that it also helps you too, if you suffer from the same media-wall-hating affliction. Here's what I've uncovered.
Media Wall Alternatives That Saved Me From Getting The Ick
Of course, media rooms, walls, and units have their merits. Especially if your home is big enough to have a room dedicated to entertainment, they create an enormous amount of storage and work to make the most of your TV, consoles, and gadgets.
But I want my space to feel warm and inviting, much like this living room above designed by The Misfit House – not like I’ve stepped into a showroom.
I think there are two main pain points for me. They feel just too modern for my Victorian-era home, with overly glossy finishes and bulky shelves. And they also very prominently display and celebrate the TV, which when it is switched off, just feels like a big black box that dominates the space instead of complementing it.
The goal is to design with intention, so the TV feels integrated rather than an afterthought. So, when I finally reached the point of my slow renovating journey that I could start thinking about my own TV setup, I turned to the experts to ask them: 'How do I stylishly hide my TV?'
Designer Kathy Kuo suggests if you don't want the TV to be the centerpiece of a space, simply don't put it in there. 'In my own home, we have a small 'bonus' room that is designated as our TV room,' Kathy explains. 'There's a super-comfy oversized sofa, a media cabinet, and a TV, and that's about it.'
'This makes for a cozy space to curl up for a show or movie while my living room remains sophisticated and a space for conversation and personal connection.'
Alternatively, a framed TV, like the one in the living room above designed by Carley Summers can give your television a slightly more elevated appearance that works particularly well when hung on a chimney breast or above a mantel.
You can snap up these snap-on frames from Samsung to frame your TV. Just choose from White, Teak, Brown, Beige or Brick Red.
Marie Flanigan, suggests a clever, custom approach that thinks totally outside the box.
'Disguising a TV is all about seamlessly blending function with beauty,' says Marie. 'Consider using a specially designed two-way mirror [see above] that can be placed in front of the TV, transforming it into a reflective surface when not in use,' she explains.
'Then, surround the area with thoughtful decor, such as artwork, built-in shelving, or a gallery wall, to shift the focus away from the screen,' she continues.
One of the simplest yet most elegant (and potentially expensive) ways I've found to improve the look of a TV is by incorporating it into custom cabinetry.
'Alternatively, choose a media cabinet with sliding panels or doors that can conceal the TV entirely when it’s not in use,' continues Marie. 'These solutions allow your living room to remain both stylish and versatile, with the technology hidden but still easily accessible.'
Alice Gaskell of Alice Grace Interiors has created many different media cabinets and hidden TVs in her home, including this faux chimney breast living room TV idea with bi-fold doors [seen above] that opens up to reveal her television.
In the video, above, Alice shows how she has created a secret door in her shelving unit to conceal a TV thanks to a very handy television bracket that can be pulled out, swiveled, and put away again so you can always get the perfect angle.
Personally, I think this is genius because it not only hides your TV but also gives you the opportunity to introduce a design statement into your room with custom shelving. I love the alternative placement too, adding the bookcase design around a doorway as opposed to a flat wall.
Cabinetry also offers the benefit of additional storage. You can use the surrounding shelves for books, boxes, trinkets, picture frames, or media components like consoles to keep everything organized and design-led.
Open shelving makes it hard to hide things away so decorative storage boxes are your best friend. The little faux-leather tab makes them feel extra luxurious.
Elevate a row of books with these red levanto marble bookends from McGee & Co. Rich in color, they bring a lovely pop of burgundy red.
This antique-inspired shelf clock from Magnolia is crafted in imperfect brass and perfectly sized to bring character to your shelves or mantel.
Finally, designer Benji Lewis, who created this savvy system above, tells me: 'I have a huge aversion to seeing a telly when I go into someone’s reception room, even more so if it’s a huge focal point.'
'TVs are so thin nowadays that they can easily be concealed within built-in cabinetry that you can tuck into the return of a chimney breast,' like the above. 'You need to comfortably be able to watch it while you’re seated, so there are clever brackets available that you can pivot and angle to bring your telly to a face-on position even if it’s concealed in a cabinet that you’re not directly facing,' Benji advises.
One of the best tips that I found when searching Pinterest for inspo was to paint the surrounding area – be that a wall, cabinet, or shelving system – in a darker color so that the TV doesn't seem quite so stand-out. Benji is also a fan of this approach.
'If you really must have your telly on view then paint the wall it’s on (or ideally, color drench your whole room) black or finish your wall in contemporary sleek dark walnut so that the TV doesn’t appear as a rectangular void on your wall.'
The full motion TV wall mount is designed to fit most 42”-90” TVs and features 90-degree swivel left and right, allowing you to direct the screen toward your viewing position.
Your TV should work with your room, not against it. There are countless ways to make your screen feel less intrusive and more integrated into your decor.
If you are also looking to step away from the traditional media wall, these ideas are certainly giving me some food for thought. So, if media walls give you the ick like they do me, the good news is that there are so many creative and stylish solutions to try.
Personally I'm reaching for my notepad to sketch out some clever custom shelving ideas with secret hidden compartments. Because there's nothing more fun than a secret door.
