25 Ways To Hide The TV – The Ultimate Guide

September 25, 2022
7 Comments
Posted in: interior design

Hi Everyone,

In years past, there were three posts about how to hide the TV and one that focused more on the TV technology. So, the three posts are now two posts. Please enjoy the technology post here, which is very funny, especially if you watch the video near the top of the post.

Since television became widespread in the 1950s, hiding the TV has been a common decorating issue.

Via Wikipedia – First mass-produced TV set, sold 1946-1947

Before I go on, there is a related post that covers much of the history of TV and its innovations – through 2022. And it also has some ideas about how to hide the TV. It’s a sister post.

However, this post focuses on how to hide the TV and sometimes decorate around the TV.

Often the best and easiest way to hide the TV is to hide it in plain sight.

My mother said it so well…

It’s like a marshmallow in the snow.

Or, in this case, a piece of licorice in a tar pit. ;]

In other words, the wall gets painted a dark color to make the TV less obtrusive.

The idea is to make the TV blend into the surroundings. So, let’s begin with that idea.

From a job I did in Chappaqua, NY, in 2008! The Wall color is Benjamin Moore – Gentleman’s Gray, one of the Laurel Home Paint Collection colors.

@VanessaDeighton – Instagram – hidden TV in plain view

It wasn’t that long ago that decorating around the TV was not only a problem but sometimes a huge problem. The TV was big and boxy, and the only solution was to stick it in an armoire or have it sitting out on something. Remember?

I remember in the early days of my career (the mid-90s), I found myself in many a home that seemed to be made entirely out of windows.

And where there weren’t windows, there were doors or stairs– or it was open. No walls.

One time, during an initial meeting in such a home, I suggested to the prospective client that she consider covering up the windows and flanking the fireplace. After all, there were about 30 other windows. We could then install two matching cabinets, and one could house the TV.

She looked at me like I had three heads, and then I never heard from her again. Haha. I believe I mentioned another prospective client around the same time, who looked at me with just as many heads.

However, in other projects, occasionally, we covered up a window to put in a built-in. Nobody missed the window, but the payoff was huge!

Now, of course, we have our beautiful sleek flat screens.

There’s even a new TV that rolls up. Again, please go to the post (The living room TV as we know it is over) to check out the rolling TV and read what I think about it.

We no longer need the bulky equipment; if we do, it can go to another room. Still, we’re not completely satisfied because now we have the option of putting the big black thing on top of the fireplace.

Focal point?

Maybe. Maybe not.

Let’s get to the good stuff and look at various ways to hide the TV.

Giannetti Home

Fabulous living room with a built-in TV over the fireplace. They could do a Samsung Frame TV in the niche. They could also’ve done bi-fold or sliding doors. But, this is fine too.

See what the Giannettis did in their own home. It’s astonishing!

Below is another TV that is hidden in plain sight.

Mark D. Sikes

I love how unobtrusive the TV is in this traditional library.

Let’s explore other options for hiding or decorating around the TV.

Here are some of my favorite ideas for hiding the TV over the fireplace

Blue Egg Brown Nest

I love these folding panels using the art prints. When closed, it looks like pretty prints over the fireplace.

Shelterness

Another screen with art prints

And one more with the same idea.

McKinley Residence, designer, Suzanne Kasler, Atlanta, GA – via Southern Living

And another view when the screen is shut.

I have long admired the work of Raymond (RL) Goins.

Raymond [RL] Goins These are hand-painted scenes that he turns into a flat-screen TV cover.

@NivenBreen on instagram hide the TV @RLgoins

Another view of the same gorgeous room.

Raymond Goins Design – via Facebook – gorgeous TV screen

This screen is like the one above with two additional panels.

RL Goins Red Coromandel Chinoiserie Screen

And the last one, I adore more than I can say.

RL Goins – exquisite Verre eglomise mirror

Interior @landygardnerinteriors

Let’s look at some other ways to hide the TV.

Amy Howard

This is a more unusual treatment but perfect for this rustic home.

Platt Builders

Traditional pocket doors in a built-in fireplace surround house a flat-screen TV. One word of caution regarding pocket doors. Sometimes they break or get stuck or are just hard to work. So, what happens is that they are always in their pocket.

Hence, what is the point? It is much better to use either a bi-fold or sliding door. Or if a small TV, just two doors might be fine.

Looks like a William and Mary-style highboy, right?

Nope. Not really.

By Maitland Smith (but discontinued, I believe)

Pretty cool, huh?

Phoebe Howard

An antique Swedish or French Secretary could be used to house a TV.

A free-standing cabinet perfect to house a wide-screen TV. And it can even be a bookcase because we no longer have to deal with the big box. That’s a big help! Of course, you can use any cabinet you wish.

via Attic Mag

One of the best-known ways to hide the TV is in a case where it comes up when summoned. For another image of this cool room, please check out this post about radiators and hiding them.

via Dwell.com – James Wagman – Architect – hide the TV – behind a sliding panel

This is beautiful for a contemporary setting, but it could be adapted for a traditional room, as you’ll see in a bit.

via Dwell.com – James Wagman – Architect – Panel over fireplace – conceals the TV

However, it looks kind of plain. You could do some large-scale art on the flat panel.

UrbanartCN on Etsy – large scale art

Clever design by Tom Stringer – Via Traditional Home

This is reminding of the post about hidden doors.

Photo – Gordon Beall – Traditional Home – Meredith Vieira home.

I’d love to see this closed. I bet that the panels are very pretty. Lovely fireplace mantel. It looks very similar to some of these we were looking at.

Studio McGee

If the TV were integrated into the wall, one could lean a lightweight piece of art over it. Or, anchor it down like we were discussing if it’s heavier art. OR, create a sliding system with the art, as we saw in the other post.