3 Ways to Work with Televisions in Your Interior Design

Whether it's a bedroom, a family room, or the living room, televisions are a prominent and valued part of many spaces. But interior design for a space that holds a television can be challenging. Many people feel like there are few choices when it comes to placing the TV and decorating around it.

In fact, you can make a number of intentional choices in order to achieve the effect you really want. Here are three ways to style your television to its best effect.

1. The Focal Point TV

Certainly, the most common way to decorate with a large size television is to make it the focal point of the room. This often happens accidentally because the placement of this object may be limited by its size, window placement, and lighting needs.

However, you can take control of this focal point by actually going further to embrace it. Consider pairing it with a mantel — real or faux — to make it the literal heart and warmth of the room. Add a favorite piece of artwork, or make it a compliment to a picture window to draw attention to both centerpiece items. 

2. The Hidden TV

Don't want the television to be the first and only thing people see? Why not hide it instead? If you have the budget, the best way to do this is to install a pull-out shelf that reveals the television either horizontally or on a lift hidden inside cabinetry.

Another clever way to hide things in a modern home is by opting for a projector rather than a physical television. Modern swivel mounts may further allow you to hide the unit by swiveling it into a more hidden position when not in use. Or you might paint the wall behind it a similar dark color to camouflage it. 

3. The Integrated TV

A compromise between focusing on the television and completely hiding it away is to integrate it into your decor. 

Create a gallery wall, for instance, with a variety of artwork of different sizes in basic frames. Placing the TV on this gallery wall makes it simply another part of the collage effect. Or use built-in cabinetry to surround the TV and minimize its visual impact. You might even consider placing it off-center so that the focus of the room is never organically drawn to it. 

Where to Learn More

No matter which of these techniques would fit your personal style best, the best place to begin is by consulting with an experienced interior decorator in your area. They'll work with you to find the best placement of any TV so that you can enjoy the room, no matter what activities you're doing. 

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