This means if you have a 42 in (110 cm) TV, you want at least a 46 in (120 cm) stand, even if base for your TV is 15 in (38 cm). Check that your stand doesn’t look wobbly or narrow. If it is, the stand might look too small once your TV is in place.
Decorate the TV stand by adding some vases, lamps, or pillar candles to it. Open shelves are great for things like books and photos, while enclosed shelves and drawers conceal anything with small lights. You’ll need storage in your TV stand even if you plan to mount your television on the wall. At a minimum, make sure you have space for your cable box, DVD player, game system, and remotes, if you have them. It’s also a good idea to have space to store DVDs and other media items.
Make sure your bookcases are evenly spaced on either side of your TV to keep the area looking symmetrical. This helps distract from the TV itself. As another option, you might install floating shelves on either side of your TV to balance the look.
If you want to use this concealment method, make sure the bookcase is positioned directly across from your viewing area. Otherwise, you won’t be able to comfortably use your TV. Many bookcases have adjustable shelves. If your TV is just a little too tall for the shelves in their current setup, drop the TV shelf down one notch to create the perfect fit. Secretary desks and tall hutches also work great for this purpose.
Consider speaking with an electrician or a handyman about concealing your cables in your wall when you mount the TV. Hanging cables can be dangerous if left too close to your fireplace when it’s in use. Before you install your TV over the fireplace, make sure you can comfortably watch it at the height. If your fireplace is very high, it may be painful to crane your neck while watching it. Although this is a common option, it might not work for every home. [6] X Expert Source Peter SalernoInstallation Expert Expert Interview. 10 June 2019.
Look for frames that compliment your TV. Often, black matte frames work well with modern, flat screen TVs. If you have a frameless TV, though, clear acrylic frames, otherwise known as frameless picture frames, may work better. You can blend your TV into a gallery wall by choosing an eclectic mix of items, like art, prints, old maps, mirrors, or photos. This organization may end up stealing the spotlight from the TV, which isn’t always a good idea. [8] X Expert Source Peter SalernoInstallation Expert Expert Interview. 10 June 2019.
The dark color helps conceal your TV so that it blends into the background. However, you can also use bright colors to create contrast against the black of your TV. Bright colors won’t help your TV blend, but they will make it a statement piece. This gives you the effect of an accent wall without having to paint a full wall. If you have a mounted TV, make sure to center it so that there is an even amount of space on either side between the TV and the paint border. So if you left 6 in (15 cm) of extra space overall, you would want 3 in (7. 6 cm) on either side of the TV once it is mounted.
Pieces don’t need to be identical, but they should be the same general shape and dimensions to maintain symmetry. Make sure the items you place near your TV don’t block your view. If you use lamps, check that they don’t cause a glare on the screen. For example, if you have 2 pieces of wall art with quotes on them, each quote may be different. However, you will get the best look if they use the same font and color scheme, are the same size, and have the same frame.
You want the spread of your shelves to be wider than your TV because this draws attention upward and away from the TV when it’s not in use. A single, small shelf centered to your TV is less noticeable and looks more utilitarian than decorative. Floating shelves are available from most home goods stores and online retailers. Check to see if the shelves you want come with the correct mounting hardware for your walls before you purchase them. Decorate your shelves with items like small plants, photos, or knick knacks. However, make sure your decor doesn’t distract from what you’re watching on TV.
If your selected art piece is not wooden, you may need to add a wood backing to your art or use a strong epoxy to attach the mounts. Read the instructions on the epoxy carefully to make sure it will bond with your art materials. Make sure you love the item you use to disguise your TV, since switching it out will be difficult. Choose something that’s classic and easy to style around.
Hinges are readily available from most hardware and big box stores. Depending on the size of your art, you may need 2-4 hinges for your piece. Create a vertical line down either the left or the right side of your canvas stretcher. Drill your hinges along this center line. Then, have an assistant hold up the art piece while you drill the wall side of the hinges into your wall.
Installing retractable wall art will vary depending on the specific type of art you get. Be sure to read instructions carefully before mounting your retractable piece.
Curtain rods and curtains are available from most home goods and big box stores at a variety of price points. Many curtain rods only require a screwdriver and a couple of screws to install. Since you aren’t setting your curtains into a window frame, you can’t use a pressure rod. You will need to find a curtain rod that includes mounting brackets.
