Flat screen art

One of today's modern technological wonders is the flat screen television.  But it's one the great challenges interior designers face.  How do you make a black rectangle look good?  There are ways to hide them if you do not want to have it out in the open.  Personally, we have ours in an entertainment armoire.  We were limited by the width of the cabinet, but that was fine with us.  There are console units where the TV rises up, and there are ways to hide the screen behind a movable piece of art.  And some people are fine with the TV being front and center on the wall.  So that's what I'd like to talk about, how to make your flat screen TV part of your decor.

In this example, I created a home theater; something that might be done in a finished basement. I faced all the furniture towards the TV, and raised the back chairs up a few steps. The TV was placed on a "built in" cabinet surrounded by red drapes.  We added uplights behind the TV and behind the flanking plants.  This adds some extra drama to the space.  It would be easy to take this up a  notch by adding some gold fringe to the curtains and even making them open and close with a remote control.  And this would look even more dramatic with a larger flat screen or projection screen.

How about adding some bookselves around your TV?  In this example the TV is mounted to the wall surrounded by books and collectibles.  I left plenty of room below the TV to decorate.  The low cabinets could easily turn into extra seating when the TV is not in use, just add some pillows or a cushion. The bookshelves frame the screen and make the wall interesting and pleasing when the TV is not turned on.  This a great solution for a small space where storage and floor space are much needed.

And if all else fails, make your TV art.  I completely surrounded the screen with framed art, empty frames, and shadow boxes.  I used black and white pictures and neutral frames.  The TV becomes part of the art wall even when turned off.  To make it blend even more, create a frame for your TV that coordinates with the frames on the wall.  To take this idea of TV art one step further, Restoration Hardware is just one of the companies that offer television easels.  Artists style easels built for holding flat screen TVs.  Great idea!  So don't settle for a TV stand, make your TV part of your room.

Books and ladders

This living room set has two interesting ideas:  lighting and book storage.  Chandeliers are not just for the dining room.  I hung a funky modern chandelier over the end table.   If you are someone who likes to rearrange your furniture every six months, I wouldn't recommend a hanging fixture.  But if your room has limited furniture layouts or you prefer great style for long periods of time, I say call that electrician!  A chandelier keeps the table clear, and adds vertical interest. I've seen designers add chandeliers over night stands, free standing baths, end tables, coffee tables, and beds.  There are so many great fixtures for every style that it would a shame to just buy the cheapest table lamp you can find.  Be as discerning about your lighting as your were for your sofa.

 

As for the books, I used an old farm ladder.  Now, since this was a TV set, it's just leaning against the wall.  If I were to do this in a real home, I would securely fasten it to the wall with "L" brackets or hinges and anchor bolts.  Adding some extra supports to some of the rungs may also be needed.  (*Side note -- If you have little kids roaming around, I wouldn't recommend this! A ladder and kids are a disaster waiting to happen.) Notice I didn't formally arrange the books .  I mixed sizes and stacked some vertically and some with the pages facing forward instead of the spines.  This stacking method adds to the informal nature of the ladder.   

It's little things like these that make impressions on people visiting your home and help make your room just as unique as you.  "I never would have thought of doing that!" is a great compliment that all designers secretly love to hear.