19 Stylish Ideas for Decorating Around a TV Set

Today I’m dropping all of my designer-approved ideas for decorating around a TV set. Because, let’s live in our truth now: TVs are pretty ugly. OK, so not all of them are an ‘overt your eyes’ situation, but they’re not exactly gifts from the design gods, are they?

Most of them are these gigantic black boxes taking up a large chunk of real estate in your living room. And because most partners (I’m looking at you, gentlemen) convince their other half to get the biggest size possible, it just makes the challenge of concealing them even greater.

Sidenote: guys, if you get the massive TV, your partner gets to have the bed PILED UP with cushions. It’s only fair. We all know a bed without at least 10 pillows and cushions is a crime against design.

But back to the matter at hand: ideas for decorating around a TV set. Specifically, we want TV wall ideas so stylish that the tele becomes a supporting player in your living room, as opposed to the main attraction. If you have any other ideas on how to hide a TV (or conceal it at the very least) I’d love to hear about them in the comments below this post.

1. First Things First: Wall-Mounted TVs Are a Must

Before I even drop my fave ideas about TV decorating with you, we must first address the mounting debate. I’m sure you’ve already guessed, based on the heading above, which side of the fence I’m sitting on. But I would like to explain why.

A mounted TV looks a thousand times better than one sitting on a unit. It makes the TV less of a focal point in the space already because you’re not seeing the legs of the TV stand. You’re not seeing cords hanging out the back of the TV. And lastly, having it on the wall makes the room and the TV zone in particular look larger. It’s a win win on all fronts.

And here’s the thing: the arms you use to mount the TVs these days are so varied. You can fix the TV so it doesn’t move. You can fix the TV so it can move up and down (if the TV is mounted high on the wall, for example). Or you can mount it on an arm that allows you to move it up and down, left and right. This allows you to see it from all angles in the room.

Here is a more in-depth article about mounting your TV and the common mistakes to avoid.

2. Hang a Gallery Wall of Artwork Around the TV

I’ve given you 10 amazing gallery wall ideas on the blog before (see them here). But you might not have thought to set one up around your TV set.

I’m pretty obsessed with this idea because it looks incredibly chic, especially if you choose to have the picture frames and art in a curated black-and-white theme. The divine Homey Oh My has showcased this idea perfectly above.

The TV screen pretty much blends into the background. And yes, I know the TV itself is an art TV (more on that further down), but it would look just as divine if it were a regular TV sitting on the wall. It makes the entire wall a work of art, if you’ll excuse the pun!

It wouldn’t look as successful if all the frames and images inside were different colours, or if the frames were small and there were too many of them. Less is more. As long as it feels like a curated collection you can make this TV decorating idea work wonders!

3. Mount a Floating Unit Underneath the TV

This is a good place to start if you’re fearful of really doing something major around your TV set. It’s also a really nice idea if the living room in question is a little small. Larger spaces can go for more complex joinery (we’ll get to that) but small spaces can benefit from keeping it simple: a long floating until under the TV where all the consoles can live peacefully inside.

Now this one is a bit of a choose your own adventure. You can opt to have the TV directly centred above the unit below it, or you can have it sit to one side and then install a smaller floating shelf to the left or right. The image above from BoConcept is a nice example of this idea playing out.

Of course, whether you go for the floating shelf beside the TV all depends on whether the wall in question is big enough to take it. But this is a really well-resolved wall now.

4. Install VJ Panelling Behind the TV

This is the first of a few feature wall ideas I’m going to show you, and boy is it a delicious one. Not only because of the paint colour used, which is so on-trend right now, but also because of the tongue and groove wall panels.

Sure, there’s no mistaking that there’s a black TV set on the wall, but painting it a colour like green makes it feel less stark. A black box on a white wall is so visually jarring. A black box on a green wall feels a lot more soothing.

And then, you can take those two colours and ensure they feature in other moments around the room, like in sofas or decorative elements on a coffee table. Taking this approach will have the TV make more sense in the space; cohesion will be achieved.

The above image is via Temple & Webster and you’ll notice some additional ideas for decorating around a TV set here. Mounting it above the entertainment unit allows you to style up the top too. And who doesn’t love a few gorgeous vignettes on a TV unit?

5. Paint the Wall Behind the TV Black

I’m a bit obsessed with dark walls (as showcased in this post), so I love the concept of a dark panel behind the TV. What this does is completely camouflage the TV set and allows the eye to appreciate other elements of the room first.

This will work with a few darker colours that aren’t black (try Dulux Domino or Ticking), but I love the look of the TV disappearing altogether when you use a super-dark paint (like Porter’s Paints Aniseed). And don’t go thinking this is a modern TV wall look. Dark walls in traditional homes are stunners as well. It’s an all-ages-home TV solution.

The photo above via Emily Henderson does double duty: it showcases the black wall idea but also incorporates the tongue and groove panels I’ve already mentioned above. Pop some lighter colours timber furniture and rugs in the space for contrast and you’re good to go!

6. Install the TV Above the Fireplace

Concealing a TV is done best by bringing in another focal point. If you have a fireplace as part of your living room design, you’re already halfway there.

Placing a TV set above a fireplace makes the entire section of the wall a wow moment. And if the fire is crackling, all eyes will be on it. Don’t be afraid to try a TV on the wall near a fireplace either. A lot of family rooms are set up like this, with the TV to one side of the fire, and it looks just as nice.

As you can see above in the image from Samsung, it makes for a fabulous design moment when you style up the mantle too.

7. Use a Sideboard as a TV Unit

If you’re on a budget and things like a fireplace or shelving are out of the question, fear not. Concealing a TV can be done simply by upping your TV unit game.

Choosing to have a sideboard as a TV unit (like in the image above from Amber Interiors) will have the eye focus on it rather than the TV set that sits above it. Simply style a stack of books on top with a vase of flowers nearby and you’re on your way.

Forgoing a traditional TV unit in favour of something like a sideboard brings a whole new dimension to your living room, and it can be super affordable. And here’s the even better news:

I have a whole roundup of 45 sensational sideboard and buffets here for you to check out if you need help.

8. Conceal the TV with Plants

Now let me just admit something to you right here, right now: I am terrible at keeping plants alive. That’s why I’ve showcased realistic fake-looking plants on the blog before, as well as this nifty Kmart hack which showed you how to create an eye-catching plant wall using artificial greenery.

Whether you’re like me, or consider yourself a green thumb, either real or fake plants will work when it comes to decorating around a tv set. They won’t conceal the TV completely, of course, but you can see above in the image from Reddit just how sublime all that lush plant life looks.

If nothing else it provides a nice sense of contrast to have that living stuff next to the electronic item.

9. Use Wall Mouldings Around the TV

I love the idea of using crown moulding and similar design features to conceal the TV, or at the very least detract from it. This idea above via Emily Kennedy Photography also used the dark wall approach as well, so you get two decorative moments for the price of one.

I not only love the colour of the wall behind the TV set, but I adore how the squares of the timber on that wall take your eye away from the big black tv box.

There are other black elements used throughout the room as well (like in that divine pendant light) so the whole room feels incredibly well-resolved and the TV doesn’t stand out as an eyesore.

10. Install a Timber Panel Feature Wall

Doesn’t the image above from Entire Home Furniture showcase the beauty of timber panels perfectly? I love this idea for decorating around a TV because it feels so wonderfully organic.

There’s been a lot of talk lately about homes moving in this direction. Because there is such an influx of tech entering our homes, we’re naturally looking to bring in some earthy materials to make us feel more at one with nature.

This is a great way to do it, no doubt about it. And honestly, if you’re a little bit crafty and don’t mind some DIY you could do this yourself. I’m in no way DIY-savvy so I wouldn’t even attempt it.

11. Install Wallpaper Behind the TV

Don’t go running for the hills! I promise you that wallpaper has come such a long way. I use it in almost all of my interior design projects nowadays. It’s not the scary stuff from your grandparents house anymore.

Installing wallpaper behind a TV gives depth and dimension to the wall. And if you choose a subtle pattern (nothing too intense) it’ll reduce the severe appearance of your mounted TV.

There are many brands like this one who do peel-on-peel-off wallpapers, so you can easily remove them if and when you wish. Give it a try! They’re a great idea for renters too.

12. Install Built-In Shelving Either Side of the TV

Now, there’s nothing wrong with freestanding bookshelves, but for a more resolved look, try installing shelves on the wall either side of the TV. Built-ins not only provide storage space for things like your media consoles, but they can also bring a modern look to the room.

You just want to ensure the layout is successful; less is more when it comes to the amount of shelves. A few thick floating shelves either side of the black box makes for a nicer tv feature wall then having loads of thinner-profile shelves that look busy.

They also allow you to style with black decor, as seen above, which make the TV feel more at-home in the room.

13. Build a Wall of Custom Joinery

I’m finding myself using custom joinery more and more on design projects lately. I even used custom joinery as part of my home office makeover and it looked so amazing. It’s not something most home decorators can do on their own, but there are plenty of experts out there to assist you.

Custom joinery gives you exactly what the name suggests: a custom solution in your living room. It not only conceals the TV within it, but it makes the zone more of an entertainment center or media wall, with all the cords hidden so movie nights can be enjoyed without looking at messy cables. The image above, in all its rustic glory, captures this idea perfectly.

If you don’t want a lamp in the room, or you need more lighting, your joiner/carpenter can install LD strip lighting or downlights as part of the design, so mood lighting is sorted. They can run the cabinetry all the way to the ceiling so the wall design looks like it was their when your home was built.

14. Try a Paint Effect / Accent Wall

I’m so obsessed over the concrete texture feature wall above. Why: because it’s from my Camberwell interior design project and it turned out so beautifully (if I do say so myself).

It was a tough one convincing the client to let me paint a concrete feature wall in her home, but she finally trusted me to go ahead with it and I am so glad she did. In the end, she was just as elated with it as I was (and still am now).

A paint effect can be a great way to take the harshness of a flat screen TV set away. And because there’s a lot of darker browns, greys and black in the space, the TV set looks right at home.

15. Install Feature Lights Near the TV

Installing wall lights or pendant lights around the TV is a great way to bring mood to the space, providing a nice glow at night. But they also detract from the TV set itself. The added bonus is that, if your living room is small, you can forgo floor lamps altogether and save on space.

TV wall designs have gone beyond just shelving and a floating TV unit. Lighting is an often-included part of the TV wall decor now, and it can make the room feel ore luxurious.

The only thing you need to be careful of is the bulb. Frosted versions are best here. You don’t want something like an Edison bulb, otherwise you won’t even be able to see your entertainment wall at all.

16. Install Stone Behind the TV

Now this is going to cost a little more, and it’s not as easy as paint or VJ panelling, but it is a luxury look you might want to consider when talking out TV wall decor ideas with your builder. If it’s something they’re able to pull off during your build, it’ll be well worth it.

Installing marble or travertine behind your TV set is not only a great way to inject elegance to the room, but in an open-plan area where the kitchen is nearby the stone can often speak to the material of your countertops, connecting both spaces together.

17. Lean a Large Artwork Beside the TV

This concept works well only if you have space beside the TV. So, if you’ve mounted the tele to one side and there’s some TV unit left below it on the other.

In this case, lean a large piece of artwork to detract the eye from the TV set. This is a great idea for renters because you don’t fix the TV to the wall. But word of warning: this looks best when the large artwork is portrait in orientation, not square or landscape.

You’d also be wise to choose an artwork that’s not too graphic in nature, otherwise it’ll distract you too much when you’re watching TV.

18. Try a Samsung Frame TV

Here’s an idea: why not invest in one of Samsung’s QLED TV’s, which helps to reduce the ‘big black box’ effect a regular set brings with it?

This TV looks like a framed artwork when it’s turned off, and you can update up the art is displays whenever you like. It’s like having an ever-changing wall mural moving across your living room wall. Talk about an entertainment space that’s fun to be in!

19. Combine a Few of These Ideas Around Your TV

When it comes to decorating around a TV set, feel free to combine a few of the ideas in this post on the one wall.

Case in point: the genius look above via IKEA. That’s their storage system pieces mounted on the wall around the TV set with wallpaper installed behind.

Because you purchase all of the pieces separately, you really can customise your own look depending on the size of your TV set and the amount of storage you need. I love it!

Concealing a TV: How do you do it?

Which of these ideas for decorating around a TV set have you implemented at home? Or is there a nifty trick you’ve used that I’ve not listed here?

You know I’d love to hear from you below. Drop me a comment and share all of your TV decorating ideas and inspiration with me and other TLC blog readers.

Image above via Ideal Home.