10 Clever Ways to Disguise a TV
As much as we all enjoy our TVs as entertainment devices … as decorative elements, they're not so great. But there are a lot of creative ideas as to how to make them a much more subtle - even welcome - part of your room's decor. Many friends who have televisions on their mantels have asked me for advice on how to decorate around televisions or ways to disguise their flatscreen TVs. Check out these 10 clever ways to disguise your TV.
1. Hide it behind beadboard and barn doors
You don't have to keep your TV, even a flat-panel model, in view even if it's over the mantel. Here, they used beadboard and barn doors to integrate the TV into this room's decor.
2. Pop it down out of a hatch
This is so gadgetastic I can barely stand it. If you're up for a project, this will definitely be a unique one that will keep your TV from breaking up a room's feel. Here, the architects designed a unique pop-down device.
Related: 20 awesome decorating tricks to make your home POP!
3. Create a gallery wall around it
Camouflage your TV by mixing it among other wall-mounted items! Note how the homeowner chose similar color palettes for the surrounding art in order to help camouflage the flatscreen when it's not in use.
4. Frame it
Add a decorative touch to your TV - even with a nice wall mount - with a colorful, custom frame. This homeowner used the very "now" shade of aqua/turquoise.
5. Build a cabinet around it
For the serious DIYer, this project adds an architectural feature to the house, disguising the TV and adding a great element to your mantel as a bonus. If it's a new construction or remodel, you could build this from scratch, but with modern gas fireplaces, often the space above is hollow - no chimney - so you might be able to adapt this idea for your own use.
Related: Everyday household items that double as organizers
6. Swivel it out of a cabinet
I love this one! It's like a special secret-agent gadget that swivels to hide the flatscreen when it's not being used. It'll take a special kind of hinge and some good engineering, but it's a unique way to approach this. This homeowner built it into an attractive bookcase.
7. Mount it inside a mirror
Companies like Hidden Television mount an ultra-thin LCD TV inside of a mirror. When it's not in use, the light reflects so that the TV looks like a regular mirror.
8. Hide it in a bookcase
Here's another great way to disguise your TV - add a false front and hide it in a bookcase. This homeowner added a hinged, framed picture, making it one of the easiest projects on this list.
Related: 25 totally clever storage tips and tricks on a budget
9. Paint the wall behind it a dark color
You don't have to take the TV completely out of view to make it less of a dominant element in the room. You don't even have to try some tricky engineering. Instead, try this great trick: Paint the surrounding area a color that makes the TV less of a contrast!
10. Integrate it into a paneled wall
You can hide your TV with a large architectural feature, too: Try this trick to integrate it into a paneled wall. This homeowner created a large sliding panel, using canvas to make it lightweight and strong to disguise the flatscreen.
- By Jennifer Hadfield
For 5 more ways to disguise your TV, visit Babble!
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