Sometimes a TV is a critical design component in a room, but large black screens can pose a significant design challenge, too. While kicking back and watching a movie is the easy part, determining at what height to mount a TV and which design features can help to visually play up or down the device isn’t always straightforward. Here, five designers share how they handled designing a living room around a TV.
Jane Henderson Interior Design
1. Minimise against a black background
Designers Jane Henderson and Stephanie Henderson of Jane Henderson Interior Design
Room size 336 sq ft (31 sq m); 16ft x 21ft
Homeowners’ request For this new-build home, the owners wanted “upscale, easy living with kid-friendly and dog-friendly finishes”, designer Jane Henderson says. “The clients are a 6ft 6in NFL football player and his wife, who is 6ft and a former Division 1 volleyball player, so the furniture had to fit large frames and be able to handle a 350lb athlete comfortably.”
Key features “We wanted the room to function for easy conversation in an [open-plan] layout,” Jane says. “If the couple are entertaining without the blare of a TV, the black substrate on the wall makes the black screen ‘fall away’ from the main focus of the space. The TV becomes less of a focal point with the heavy saturation of black.”
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ML Interior Designs
2. Soften amid cosy finishes
Designer Marisa Lafiosca of ML Interior Designs
Room size 698 sq ft (65 sq m); 18ft x 38ft 9in
Homeowners’ request “A comfortable, cosy room for a family of six to watch TV, sit by the fire and play games – cards, puzzles, etc,” designer Marisa Lafiosca says. “We were brought in to help with the interiors after construction was completed. We were able to edit their existing furniture, revise the layout and add the correct size and scale of furniture.”
Key features Oak ceiling beams. Built-in bookcases with window seats between them. French windows. Vintage leather chairs. Upholstered stools. Wide-plank oak flooring. “The TV is flush with the stone fireplace wall and is at a perfect height for viewing,” Marisa says.
Designer tip “Adding patterns and textures pulls together a neutral palette,” Marisa says.
Rooted By Design
3. Integrate as part of a media unit
Designer Johanna Adamiak of Rooted by Design
Room size 187 sq ft (17 sq m); 11ft x 17ft
Homeowners’ request “This young family of five really needed a functioning [ground] floor layout that met their storage needs and supported their daily life,” designer Johanna Adamiak says. “We demolished a wall that separated the former living and dining rooms, creating one large, inviting living space in this traditional [terraced] house.”
Key features Extensive built-in storage and display space. “Understanding this family’s storage needs is what ultimately determined where the TV would be set up for this room,” Johanna says. “After doing several plans, it worked best to pull the seating and TV area close to the front of the house where we had the most natural light. This client had a lot of great decorative accessories and art to display, so we wanted to mix in some open shelving around the TV to help personalise the space.
“We really considered how the space needed to function for the family throughout a typical day, but also on special occasions,” she continues. “There’s plenty of toy storage in the base cabinets that the kids can access at various times. It’s also easy to clean up at the end of the day, so the parents have a nice space to unwind in.
“We also provided multiple surfaces to work from, starting with the pullout desk from the built-in [unit],” Johanna adds. “Our contractor included a plug socket in the desktop here, so while the kids are in school or [nursery], our clients can plug in the laptop and work for longer periods of time.”
Designer tip “If you’re working with a long, narrow space, consider creating ‘zones’ to break it up,” Johanna says.
Photo by Kristina Kroot Photography
Henck Design LLC
4. Make it part of a luxurious scheme
Designer Christina Henck of Henck Design
Room size 324 sq ft (30 sq m)
Homeowners’ request “To warm up the blank slate of this newly constructed home, we introduced layers of natural colours and textures to create a comfortable balance between the minimal, modern architecture and the luxurious, custom finishes,” designer Christina Henck says.
Key features A 20ft-high ceiling with full-length curtains. Custom built-in furniture. Warm sand-coloured, textured wallpaper flanking a black marble fireplace. Bespoke upholstered seating. Modern brass tube chandelier. Double ivory-coloured upholstered ottomans with marble shelves. Smoke-grey velvet chaise longue. Bespoke black velvet armchairs with brass nailhead trim. Domed alabaster and brass table lamps, which act as jewellery for this dramatic, contrasting neutral palette.
“The large TV, mounted above the mantel, is camouflaged by the black marble fireplace, which stretches to the ceiling,” Christina says. “At this height, the TV can be enjoyed from any seat in the living room as well as the adjacent kitchen.”
Designer tip “Floor-to-ceiling [curtains] not only add a sense of grandeur and luxury, but also serve as noise dampening for echoey rooms and corridors,” Christina says.
Designs by Cheryl
5. Position low for relaxed viewing
Designer Cheryl Southworth of Designs by Cheryl Interiors
Room size 400 sq ft (37 sq m); 19ft 9in x 20ft 3in
Homeowners’ request “The [family’s] overall vision was for a relaxing, cosy yet functional and practical family room,” says designer Cheryl Southworth, who used Houzz ideabooks to learn what her clients like. “Their tastes somewhat differ from each other, so I made sure to find a happy compromise both would love. Equally important was the family room had to be kid-friendly and animal-friendly.”
Key features Large modular sofa. Wall-mounted TV above large console. Bespoke wool rug. Pale blue walls. Gold drum shade ceiling light and other gold details. “The ottoman not only serves for putting up your feet, it can be extra seating if needed or become a coffee table with the use of a tray,” Cheryl says. “The height of the TV was very important. I wanted to make sure that when [the family] were sitting and relaxing on their sofa, they were looking straight on versus holding their necks up, which adds tension and strain.”
Designer tip “Start with a furniture plan or layout first,” Cheryl says. “That way, you know everything will fit. I call the main furnishings in the room the ‘bones’ of the room – always start here. Keep in mind leaving space to manoeuvre and walk around in. And make sure there are tables reachable for placement of drinks and so on, as well as balanced lighting throughout. The next step would be colour scheme ideas, rugs or carpeting and wall art. The accessories are the last thing you do.”
Photo by Aaron Watson
Tell us…
Have you designed a room around a TV? Share your tips in the Comments.
