They’re all too often the focal points of our living rooms, but how can you make your television complement your interior scheme, rather than letting it take over? From clever disguises to bespoke hideaway solutions, click or scroll through these genius ways to seamlessly integrate your screen into your home…
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Conceal with a false wall
If you’re building from scratch or remodelling, consider incorporating a clever design solution into your plans to hide your TV, as seen in this Tribeca loft, designed by Ben Herzog Architect. The screen here has been placed behind a retractable panel within the wood-clad wall, so it can be hidden from view when not in use.
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Go to the dark side
Your TV doesn’t necessarily have to be hidden behind a screen or a door for it to blend in with your scheme. Painting the wall behind your unit black will help it blur seamlessly into your room. If you’re not sure about painting your whole living room dark, you could experiment with a wow-factor feature wall.
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Blend modern with rustic
Offering the option to tuck your screen away completely, this example by Lisa Schmitz Interior Design uses a sliding screen set within a rustic unit that can be used to reveal or conceal your screen from view. In fact, this whole setup is an expert lesson in the art of disguise – to the right of the TV there’s even a flip-down Murphy bed!
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Disguise as artwork
Handily, many of today’s popular TV models come with the option of disguising themselves as artwork. A part of the makeover of a 120-year-old barn, bloggers Emily Henderson and Louise Roe used Samsung’s ‘The Frame’ TV to create a seamless gallery wall. The screen is almost undetectable in this stunning feature!
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Think lights, camera, action
If your tastes veer towards the eclectic, consider using something besides a traditional unit to house your TV. What about this ingenious tripod solution? Not only does it add plenty of character, but it also looks pretty minimalist thanks to the clean lines. This could be a great option for a movie buff seeking a cinematic-inspired space (though not one for those with young children or boisterous pets.)
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Swivel in style
Got a hefty media kit? This cool convertible setup could be just the ticket! In this idea by Lifestyle by Caroline, the screen is cleverly mounted on a swivelling bracket which can be spun to reveal an impressive collection of DVDs. It can also be used to keep any unsightly wires or TV boxes hidden from view.
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Make it monochrome
For a more minimalist approach, stick to a sleek monochrome colour scheme like Amy of Homey Oh My. From the glossy white TV console to the industrial-style black shelving, this pared-back colour scheme works brilliantly to seamlessly incorporate the black screen. You can soften the look with metallic details and a hint of greenery.
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Bring in barn doors
If your TV zone lacks wow-factor, why not frame it with some custom doors? In this stylish scheme, rustic barn-style doors have been cleverly mounted to conceal this screen. The best bit? When closed, they look like a decorative wall feature, yet they can easily slide open to reveal the perfect TV setup when needed.
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Offset with big bold prints
For a solution you could implement in a weekend, you can’t beat the gallery wall trick. It works by distracting the eye with bold pieces of art, minimising the impact of the screen. We particularly love this scheme, where designer Emily Henderson has arranged an array of large photographic prints, watercolours and architectural blueprints above the TV, drawing the gaze upwards.
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Camouflage with moody tiling
In this stylish design by Amber Interiors, sleek black metro tiles surround the fireplace and TV, incorporating them into the moody scheme. The slight sheen of the tiling helps to camouflage the screen, and once that electric fire is lit, no one will even notice it at all!
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Invest in an aesthetic design
In the market for a new TV? Pick a design you won’t want to hide in the first place. There are plenty of tempting choices in today’s marketplace that don’t resemble the bog-standard black box. Take ‘The Serif’ by Samsung; described as beauty and brains, it’s an elegant-looking piece of kit that would look at home in any design fan’s home.
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Frame in a bespoke unit
For an all-in-one solution that offers plenty of storage, custom cabinetry could be the way to go. Bespoke-made for this crisp, minimalist space, we love the open shelving that surrounds the TV in this scheme by Amber Interiors. Hidden storage below is a great way to hide unsightly wires and TV boxes while ensuring they’re still accessible.
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Pop a panel up
Slightly less work than rearranging your entire wall, a sliding panel can create a modern, sleek covering to keep your TV out of sight. In this stylish space, design firm Pappas Miron used a Venetian-plastered, steel-trimmed panel to elegantly conceal the screen, but you could experiment with other textured materials for a similarly sophisticated effect.
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Grow your gallery wall
For an even more integrated look, mount the TV within a gorgeous gallery wall. By hanging the screen among the artwork, rather than in front of it, you’ll end up with an even more seamless look. We particularly love the eclectic mix of prints that surround this screen, while the vibrant green hue of the unit below balances the finished look beautifully.
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Repurpose a vintage unit
If you don’t have the space for a built-in unit or simply don’t want something so permanent, this fabulous repurposed vintage unit is a great alternative. Here the designer used an extra-long TV wall mount to ensure the TV can be easily repositioned for viewing. Plus, the cabinet is large enough to hide any wires and cords too. Genius!
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Keep it behind closed doors
Sometimes it’s nice to be able to shut the door on your screen when it’s not in use. This solution by Kelly of The Lily Pad Cottage tucks the television away in a storage cabinet. To make sure it’s still easily accessible, an extra-long mounting arm was fitted so that it can be viewed from the sofa come movie night.
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Hide in plain sight
If you like the idea of a wall-mounted TV but not the visual distraction, consider mounting it inside a cabinet like this one designed by Amber Interiors. Here, the all-white unit blends seamlessly into the neutral scheme. You’d barely notice it, yet it’s perfect for kicking back on the sofa with a movie and big bowl of popcorn.
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Mount a masterpiece
Of course, you don’t have to use doors to hide your screen – artwork can work just as well. In this achingly cool New York City loft designed by Clodagh, an art-centric couple used their love of paintings to conceal their TV. This framed masterpiece sits in front of the screen and can be easily slid away when they fancy curling up for a film night.
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Conceal in a coffee table
Blogger Laine took a slightly unique approach to upcycling when she scored this red coffee table for $10 (£7) at a yard sale. Affixed to the underside of the lift-up lid, the screen is simply popped up when needed and the TV cord plugged into an extension cord underneath the couch.
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Create a double feature wall
Who says your TV has to be the focal point of your living space? This clever idea uses dark paint across two alcoves to create a smart dual feature wall. Not only does the choice of colour help the screen blend in with the wall, but the symmetry stops the TV from taking centre stage in your space.
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Flank with artwork
An alternative way for art lovers to conceal their TV is with two canvases affixed to a rail that can slide apart when required, like this scheme by Gelling & Judd Construction. You could either (carefully) divide a framed print into two or opt for a pair of complementary paintings instead.
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Plump for a pull-down map
Whether you’ve got a case of wanderlust or a penchant for vintage-inspired décor, an old-school pull-down map can be used to effectively hide an unsightly TV screen. Karen of Home Love Stories painted a length of wood in graphite chalk paint and affixed it to the wall, before attaching their 1958 Denoyer-Geppert pull-down cloth map. This clever mounted solution means the map juts far enough away from the wall to cover the TV with ease.
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Pick a pop-up
Popular in bedrooms, kitchens and bathrooms, the pop-up TV model could work equally as well in a living room. This nifty solution will free up valuable wall space for artwork, plus it’s easy enough to conceal in a variety of different cabinets and units.
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Channel smoke and mirrors
If glitz and glamour sum up your interior aesthetic, then this opulent mirrored solution should be top of your list. Designer Nina Farmer has managed to artfully conceal her TV in a custom mirrored cabinet and the result is completely mesmerising. With its elegantly concealed hinges, we’d never know a screen was hiding behind that shiny façade!
