Decorating Ideas for Wall TVs

A television mounted on a wall can be difficult to decorate around. They usually dominate the wall as an unattractive focal point of the room. Balance the TV, or make it become more of an architectural feature. Or buy a TV cabinet made especially for wall-mounted TVs. There are less expensive ways to decorate your wall TV as well. Does this Spark an idea?

Frame it

Frame the TV to create the impression of a work of art and add architectural interest to make it seem a part of the wall rather than an obtrusive addition. Attach crown molding in the shape of a frame to the wall around the TV use construction adhesive, and paint the inner portion of the framed area a shade slightly darker than the rest of the wall. Or you can add a beadboard panel behind the TV. Install the beadboard from the base of the wall up behind the television. This will anchor it to the floor and resemble furniture. Attach the beadboard with construction adhesive or with wire nails.

Surround it

Another way to decorate a wall TV is to surround it with tall bookshelves. This widens the visual effect of the television, making it seem more like a piece of custom furniture and less like a large electronic device hanging on the wall. Place one tall bookshelf on either side of the TV, and fill the shelves with items such as DVDs, candles, photos and green plants. Do not clutter the shelves. Keep the decorative items simple for a clean, elegant look.

Add art

You can add art to the wall around a TV, but don't hang pictures or photos that will be too similar to the images on the television, such as pictures of people or landscapes. Instead, hang abstract art, or metal sculptures. A long, colorful (or alternately, black and white) piece of abstract art hung horizontally above a wall TV can add a splash of color and sophistication. Choose a frame that matches the television, such as a black frame if your TV is black, to help tie the art to the TV. Do not hang mirrors next to the TV, as light can bounce off the mirrors, creating a glare. Or add a long, floating shelf to either side of the television, and place an interesting sculpture, vase, or a stack of DVDs on each shelf. Make sure that the shelves are equal visually. For example, do not put a row of short votive candles on one shelf and a few tall candles on the other.