You might have many beautiful spaces in your living room or family room, but few sections are looked at as much as the wall that holds your TV. Try as you might to direct focus elsewhere, your television is always the main attraction in your living space. From Sunday football sessions to movie nights with the kids, your entertainment room is centered around the screen.
This isn’t a negative fact — it just means that the wall that holds your TV is noticed more than you might think. With that being said, that particular part of your room might be the last place you consider decorating. Why bother when the television already draws everyone’s attention?
Continue reading to learn why your TV wall is important, and discover how to spruce it up in time for your next Netflix viewing.
Why Your TV Wall Matters
As previously mentioned, your television is most likely the main show in your living room or family room. That makes it an important aspect of your home’s overall design. The problem is, your TV can be distracting if the wall around it isn’t designed well.
You might have experienced frustration with figuring out how to lay out your room, and deciding which wall your television will call home is a big part of that.
TV Placement
The first thing to take into consideration when designing your living room or family room is where the TV will go. This might not seem important in the overall scheme of things, but it can make or break your living space. You have a couple of options (namely a wall-mount TV or TV stand), and both can work well in many home styles.
Here are some tips to find the right place for your television:
- Pay attention to where the windows and doors are. Ideally, you’ll want to place your TV away from high-traffic areas and avoid sunlight that can cause a glare on your TV screen.
- Choose a wall that’s big enough to host your TV. Modern televisions are big and can take up a lot of space. It’s best to choose a feature wall that won’t seem crowded or too small to fit the screen.
- It might seem obvious, but make sure to pick a wall that has ample power supply for the TV and any other extra systems that might need to be plugged in.
When it’s time to actually place your television in a designated spot, you can either wall mount it or set it on an entertainment center or large piece of furniture.
TV Wall Mount
With a TV that’s mounted to the wall, height is everything. Since you’ll be watching the TV while sitting on the sectional, you don’t want to strain your neck by looking too far up or down. The common rule is that a 42″ TV should be mounted about 56 inches from the floor to the center of the screen, a 55″ TV should be 61 inches, a 65″ and a 70″ should be about 67 inches and so on. Basically, the larger the screen, the higher the television needs to be placed on the wall.
TV Stand
If you don’t want to mount your television, then a TV stand is the solution for you. The entertainment center you choose should be based on the furniture you already have and should hold the television at a comfortable height for viewing. Avoid trendy furniture that will lose its charm after a few years. Also, opt for a smaller TV unit if you don’t have a ton of floor space.
Once your TV is placed or mounted, the aesthetic appeal becomes the top priority, but how can you decorate a wall that’s already dominated by a screen? Continue reading for TV wall ideas.
Decorating Your TV Wall
When decorating your TV wall, you have many design options. You can choose to have the television be the main attraction or you can blend it into the room or minimize its presence. Use the following ideas as inspiration for your space:
Paint an Accent Wall
Whether you want the TV to stand out or assimilate in, painting your TV wall is a great place to start. Pay attention to the color(s) of the existing walls and choose a hue that will complement them and the overall space. To lessen the impact of the screen’s size and give your room a modern, chic feel, coat the wall with a dark neutral color like charcoal or navy blue. This can make the giant black screen seem less jarring.
Create a TV Gallery Wall
Arranging wall decor or artwork around your television to make a TV gallery wall can give the appearance that your flat screen is part of the display. Pick out multiple prints or paintings to give an eclectic look, or choose simple, neutral pieces that harmonize the wall design. If you want to take this concept a step further, get a framed TV so it looks like just another piece of wall art.
Use Your Fireplace
If your home has a fireplace in your room, it can be a great spot to hang your television above. Then, use the mantle to adorn candles, books, pictures or any other home decor that can bring new life to your living room or family room.
Put Your Shelves to Good Use
For rooms that have built-in shelves, set up your TV in the middle of them to naturally add to and accentuate the beautiful interior design your home already has. If your TV wall has no shelves, try mounting some on either side of the television, and then set various items of interest that boast fun textures and prints. This can be a great way to include color on a wall that might not currently have any.
The possibilities are endless when it comes to decorating your media wall, but there are still design mistakes that you should steer clear of.
Common TV Wall Design Mistakes
A beautiful wall design can incorporate your TV unit perfectly and make the whole entertainment space cohesive. But, one bad decision can make your room look cluttered or uncomfortable. Avoid these common TV wall design mistakes to ensure the space is ready for your next movie night.
Too Much Wall Art
Putting artwork on the wall that holds your television is a great way to add color and interest to your room, but having too many pieces can make your space look overly busy. When hanging up paintings or pictures, it’s best to evenly space out each item and avoid mixing too many hues or patterns. Keep in mind that the TV should also have a few inches or more of space around the perimeter of its screen to avoid a design that looks cramped.
Tilted Wall Mount
As helpful as a wall-mounted TV is for viewing purposes, having a tilted screen can be very jarring. Using a swivel or a tilt mount is much better suited for a sports bar, not your beautiful home. If you’re having trouble seeing your screen properly, try changing the height of the mount to be more suitable for your family.
Cornering Your TV
Unless your living room or family room was blessed with a perfect uncramped space, putting your TV in the corner of the room is generally not a great idea. As previously mentioned, your television is probably pretty big, and it needs adequate space so it doesn’t look like an afterthought. Try placing the screen toward the center of a wall or above a fireplace to avoid messing with your room’s flow. On top of that, avoid putting your entertainment center in front of windows.
If you get stressed while looking through this list of design mistakes, maybe it’s time to reach out to an interior designer. Contact us today to get started setting up the TV-viewing space of your dreams!
