Decor Pad
Decor Pad
What about you? Where is your tv?
TVs {Ugh}
Arranging a living room can be challenging enough when you have a fireplace, but throw in a tv and it gets even more complicated. When arranging our family room, the fireplace and the mantle are the two things I find myself working around the most. And by the way, I rarely get to watch tv which ups the frustration factor even more. We currently have our tv in an armoire and I have had it listed on craigs and in our local paper but still no takers. If we do eventually sell it, I would love to find something smaller that takes up less visual space. Mr. wants to mount it above the fireplace, but I have been looking at credenzas and corner tv stands.
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Front and Center!
ReplyDeleteNah just joking. Mine was in my living room beside the fireplace like picture #1. However, it has since been mounted to a wall in my bedroom. It can be a challenge. I like tvs in nooks or placed in large bookcases.
Cant wait to see where yours go.
Mr. Goodwill Hunting
Yep, and evil necessity. I can't remember who, but someone just did a post on NOT hiding the tv, since they are such a part of our lives.
ReplyDeleteI have mine on a dresser/credenza. If it is off to the side, you can easily make it swivel by putting it on a wooden lazy susan (paint it out to match your credenza); preferably a lazy susan with a low profile. That way you can swivel your tv when needed, and put it back when you don't. Ikea sells the lazy susan's inexpensively.
We got rid of our armoire last year and repurposed our console table.
ReplyDeleteRene I'm siding with the Mr. on this one - ours is above the fireplace. One issue - it makes for very difficult mantel decorating! But keeps the focus where it naturally goes anyways. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteRene, so funny you did this post. My living room is a horrible design layout, as well as the ugly fireplace, which I am getting ready do do a post on! Question , have you ever painted brick? I am getting ready to paint the fireplace.
ReplyDeleteWe recently did a small renovation taking out a cabinet where our TV was and adding a fireplace there, and we decided to re-locate the TV to a small room off the living room on a console. I love it-- the fact that the room is so much smaller makes it more like watching a "real" movie. I've been experimenting with how to decorate around the tv, and for me, the layered look with lots of art seems to make it dissapear a little.
ReplyDeleteUgh, I am there with you girl. I have an odd shaped room that also has a fireplace. And when I add the tv it can be quite...challenging. I have been looking for options but feel like pulling my hair at times.
ReplyDeleteAngie
Linen + Verbena
It's in a huge armoire/armoir in our living room....how DO you spell armoire? :)
ReplyDeleteAbove the fireplace, I like symmetry. In our last house it was an a wall adjacent to the fireplace, but it worked well with the tv on a media cabinet and the stone fireplace reaching all the way up to the ceiling, felt balanced. I think that is the key, wherever it is placed it needs to feel balanced with other elements.
ReplyDeleteJanell
I'm just glad the TV's are flat now! I remember decorating around a ginormous box!
ReplyDelete(p.s. I would love if you would join in on my giveaway!)
Janell, I like balance too and part of me wants to try the above the mantle approach. Where does all of the "stuff" go? Cable box, dvd player, xbox?
ReplyDelete-Rene
I don't have a TV in the living room, So I guess I would call myself lucky. there is only two of us here so I have a chair in my bedroom and the TV is hidden.
ReplyDeletePattie
"My" TV (we have two downstairs b/c he won't want any good girlie shows like "Dancing with the Stars" with me) is in an armoire, which I like b/c I can close it up. In the Fall, we got one of the flat screen LCD TVs for the living room and a small console to go underneath it. I wanted a big storage piece to stretch across the wall, but my husband is extremely stubborn when it comes to furniture and I'll just leave it at that. ;)
ReplyDeleteGreat inspiration photos!!
Great post - mine is in a dining room hutch which I have ripped out the top part to make room for the tv (and painted, of course!)
ReplyDeleteHidden behind an out-dated cabinet from the 90's that needs to go! Although, Tony and I disagree about this...he likes the cabinet. Working on changing that slowly :)
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to see what you decide, loving your inspiration photo's!
Wendy
I continue to house the flat screen tv in an armoire, as this tv is not enormous in size as many of them are. I like the option of closing off the door to conceal all the equipment and hardware, as well as the tv. And, less dusting. ;)
ReplyDeleteI completely understand your frustration! I know you'll find that perfect piece - can't wait to see what it is!
ReplyDeleteOur TV use to be in an armoire, until DH bought a big screen. I have had the same problem with the fireplace and a small family room to boot. I love them over the fireplace, but we have the real deal and it's a no can do.
ReplyDeleteSo I hunted for a cabinet. I am not thrilled with it.
DH is eventually going to hang it on the wall (which will be better) and the cabinet will be underneath. Our TV is now a focal point in the room. It use to be less so.
Such pretty rooms and great ideas for the TVs you posted.
It's finding what works with your room, taste, and lifestyle. Not always an easy task...
i agree that they make decorating a challenge. ours is flanked by two antique cabinets that are a little taller than where the tv sits, creating our own little entertainment center. i like it, but i would love to have built ins around it so it blends more. one day!
ReplyDeleteWe just upgraded from a 46" to a 58" now the tv hangs over on each end of the console that we bought at Target, I love it but now it's to small, Mr. K just looked at me when I mentioned it. Right now his brain just associates the TV with the Steelers at the Super Bowl, so I'll leave it rest until after:) It is hard to decorate around though, love the one with the twinkle lights!
ReplyDeleteRondell
I have a very similar setup to the 2nd decor pad picture - no way was I putting it over the mantel - my husband was interested in putting it there, but I convinced him against it and he is very glad he didn't! :) I wanted a low console set of bookcases vs. a wall unit thing and have it kind of just blend into the wall area.
ReplyDeleteTV is a fact of life, and they're getting bigger every day. Fortunately, they are also getting thinner, which means that they don't take up as much valuable floor space as they once did.
ReplyDeleteAt this old house of ours, we have the perfect TV wall just inside our family room door. This keeps the TV out of sight until you walk into the room and turn around, and it's in the best place for viewing. I repurposed our former dining room open-shelved hutch into a great TV stand, and I couldn't be happier with it ... I got a much better cherry hutch for the dining room in the deal, too. (Go to my blog and click Family Room on my sidebar to see.)
Connie
Oh, TV's are SO hard! I love the inspiration pics that you found though ... especially the one from Decor Pad ... Looks like it's just another piece of art!
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to see where yours ends up! :)
-Lauren
thepaintedcottageonline.blogspot.com
We are lucky to have a built in next to our fireplace, like photo #5, so the perfect spot. If you do put yours over the FP, do you have room nearby for an interesting console or chest to house all of the "goodies"? If so, you could go that route and hide all of the wires behind the wall (that could be an interesting project!) Can't wait to see what the solution is!
ReplyDeleteCathy
So ours is on the smaller side in our living room {like you we don't watch often}. It's in our built in. But upstairs we have a larger one mounted above cabinets. As long as it blends with everything else going on, I think it works.
ReplyDeleteI feel ya girl! We have a fireplace and a large tv as well, and add to that a sectional sofa. The only thing that we can really do is change the tv from either our west wall to our east wall and just turn the room. Good luck!!
ReplyDeleteSince most TVs are now flat screened I don't find them to be offensive in the decor or a room. Of course they look a bit out of place in a formal living room, and perhaps could be tucked into a cabinet. BUT, if you only have one sitting room or family room in a home and the TV is used all the time then I see nothing wrong with having it shout, "HERE I AM.. THE FAMILY TV SET". They are such a huge part of family entertainment so no need to hide when most people also have one sittiing in their main room.
ReplyDeleteI know the feeling. We had our t.v. on the mantel in the L.R. It hurt my neck to look up so high and I couldn't decorate the mantel. Grrrr! Hubby agreed to put it on a low boy dresser that I repurposed. It's still in sight but off in the corner.
ReplyDeleteBest of luck to you!
~Michelle :)
Ours is probably closest to Life in the Fun Lane's. I agree, it is difficult and tvs aren't pretty. But as my husband says, "hey, we really live here." Plus, we only have one TV, unhidden, on a vintage radio cabinet. I used to have photos and art all around the TV, but it was too cluttered in my opinion and there is no hiding or camoflaging it. I do like to rearrange the furniture though and with the TV and the fireplace and the windows... well, there is really one way to arrange our room.
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to see how you make yours work!
I do have the luxury of a big beautiful cupboard hiding the beast!
ReplyDeletegreat post
Since we are totally old school and still have a "oh my gosh a tube tv" we have ours in an old, deep armoire in the corner. I love that I can close it. We have one in our bedroom that is totally throwing off the feng sui and on the bureau, I hate it...just one of those things.
ReplyDeleteI have my tv on an antique duncan phyfe buffet. The problem is the other components (dish network and dvd player.) Because of those two things, the TV can't be centered on the buffet and there are a ton of cords showing. It drives me nuts!
ReplyDeleteCheck out Emily Clark's blog. She has a great way to deal with her off center TV.
this is the eternal question, i think. i was pondering the same thing for our basement redo, and we ended up recessing the tv above the fireplace. well, it isn't at that point yet, but the unit is built and the fireplace (not tv) is installed. good luck with your choice!
ReplyDeleteYou featured such pretty pictures my favorite has to be the house beautiful beach shot.
ReplyDeleteTVs can be a pain in the living rooms. I have a lot of clients that are apt renters and they rarely want to make holes in the walls to hang the TVs so placing them on a dresser/console is the way we work them into the room.
I personally never placed a TV in my living room. My living room is the first room you see coming into the house and I didn't want to see a giant flatscreen everytime I walked in. I love TV tough so we have a big screen in our basement aka the man den.
:)
Oh I don't like the TV showing at all, in fact I called our exposed TV "the Huble Space station" it was such an eye sore!
ReplyDeleteWe have it in an antique Armoir that the hubs re-purposed just for the TV and entertainment center and now I'm Ok with it.
Terry
Looks like we both have TVs on the brain! If you do end up mounting your TV, we found our bracket for a steal at monoprice.com.
ReplyDeleteI will be curious to find out what you decide!
You have perfect timing my friend. We had this very discussion last night. Currently, our tv is in a huge armoire. However, there is a new one on the way and won't be going in the armoire. I want the enormous piece of furniture out of the room. This leaves us with the dilemma of where to put it. I don't want it over the mantel so now the idea is to mount it on the wall and build book cases around it. Hmm, not totally sold on this idea either.
ReplyDeleteJo
The tv is one of the most challenging of design dilemmas, and builders and architects haven't figured it out either! When I am able I like to have the focal points in the same area of the room, so going over the fireplace is a great solution. Now that tvs take up so much less space, we've got more options. It still has to make sense in the room when it's all over. Mine's still in a painted armoire...doors stay open all the time, but when company comes I can close it.
ReplyDeleteRight now we have our TV on a credenza but it doesn't look right. It's too much the focal point in the room and we're trying to come up with something else where it will blend in more. Our room is in transition. I look forward to seeing what you decide to do. We need inspsiration!
ReplyDeleteOh, look at me! I never expected my console to show up here! I would go front and center--over the fireplace, unless you can find maybe two consoles to flank with fireplace? I'm with Janell--I like the symmetry. BTW, if you find a solution for selling your armoire, let me know. I have been trying to sell some stuff on Craigslist and keep reducing but still no takers. I am thinking of going to eBay for a wider audience.
ReplyDeleteSeaside Style, yes, I painted the brick around our fireplace. Buying time until we can get a marble surround. One coat of primer & two of semi-gloss white.
ReplyDeleteI also painted the inside using grill bbq spray paint.
-Rene
Well my tv isn't flat screen, but hopefully we will get one when we move. Anyway, our tv is on an antique sewing cabinet. I love the look of the tv's on the last two pictures. I had a cabinet for many years & just want a change. I wonder about damage to the tv with the heat from the fireplace?? Anyone know??
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Cindy
They are a horrendous challenge! I split my time between my home (with Hubs) and my mom's. With Hubs, it's front & center and he loves it. I choose my battles ;)
ReplyDeleteAt Mom's we have a smaller one that's neatly housed in a beautiful armoire. Close the armoire and it's just a beautiful piece of furniture.
When I hit the lottery, or meet a cabinet maker who will trade for artwork, I'll have a custom built cabinet for our big one and paint a mural on the doors so when they're closed, it too will be a piece of art.
We have a smaller
ReplyDeletebuilt-in next to our
fireplace that we
pray doesn't go out
anytime soon! Our
largest is also a
built in, down in our
lower level. Someday
I will tell you the
story of how I left
a faucet on in the
kitchen, above, and the
sink overflowed and fried
out the first one that
used to be there. Yeah,
good times.....NOT!
Love 'em or hate 'em,
we still have to have
'em!!
xx Suzanne
IN THE BASEMENT if I had my way...LOL LOL LOL
ReplyDeleteIt's in the living room right where everyone can see it...UGH!!!!
Hugs, Amy (Mom to the Four Sisters)
Ours is going to go above the fireplace in our family room. I've given up trying to hide it and will decorate around it. I saw a gorgeous credenza at Homegoods today - it would be perfect for a TV!
ReplyDeletei like how the 'life in the fun lane' pic is laid out. the mantle is definitely the focus, but the tv isn't throwing it off balance by being to the side of it. seems practical as well.
ReplyDeleteOur tv is currently in an old armoire, but it will be placed above the fireplace we are adding in the Fall. It will be recessed into the wall like your inspiration pic from houzz.
ReplyDeletewe JUST finished our new shelves/entertainment unit this weekend and couldn't be happier. i agree that the tv's an eyesore (not to mention eye candy for any burglars in the hood), but it's a necessary evil. we designed and built these shelves to satisfy our need for function + focal point in our room. check out the post here!
ReplyDeletehttp://masonjarchampagne.blogspot.com/2011/01/urban-industrial-shelves.html
How funny to look at the pictures and my eye always goes to the TV. I can't wait to find a great way to disguise them.
ReplyDeleteHave a Wonderful day!
Directly across our couch which I love for viewing. It sits on a console but we have an old fashion TV - a box, really. I hate it and want some sort of flat screen, eventually.
ReplyDeleteWell....how about not watching TV? I know, revolutionary...We keep a small TV up in the guest room: for emergencies only!
ReplyDeleteTV's...I know...fact of life. For me anyway. It is harder with older homes because they were usually in a bookcase. Sometimes they look like a huge black hole in a bookcase. I always hate when there is a large armoire right next to the fireplace also because then the room can be so heavy on one side. I have mine on the wall in the den but in an armoire in the bedroom which I painted white by the way!
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I linked this to my little "media solutions" post too, well done!
ReplyDelete