Small living rooms present unique challenges when it comes to incorporating a television. The black screen can easily dominate a compact space, throwing off your carefully curated design.
But having limited square footage doesn’t mean sacrificing style for functionality. With thoughtful placement and creative solutions, you can make your TV work harmoniously within your small living room.
Whether you prefer to highlight your television or make it blend seamlessly with your décor, these expert ideas will help you create a balanced, beautiful space that doesn’t feel overwhelmed by technology.
1. Hang Sconces on Either Side
Frame your TV with wall sconces to create a balanced, intentional look. This simple addition provides ambient lighting and transforms your TV wall into a thoughtful design element, while keeping the screen from dominating the space.
2. Create a Wall Niche
Build a custom niche around your TV with closed storage below and open shelving above. This approach not only hides unsightly components but also creates an attractive display space that draws attention away from the screen.
3. Try a Frame TV
Install a Frame TV that doubles as artwork when not in use. Add a picture light above to enhance the gallery effect. This clever solution lets you switch between seasonal artwork and your favorite shows while maintaining your room’s aesthetic appeal.
4. Decorate With Bold Colors
Use strong, assertive colors in your room’s design through furniture and accessories. Bold hues create visual interest throughout the space, naturally reducing the TV’s visual impact while adding personality to your room.
5. Add More Black Decor
Incorporate black accessories throughout your room, from lamps to picture frames. This strategy helps the TV blend in naturally, making it just one of many black elements in a cohesive design scheme.
6. Hang It Off-Center
Position your TV beside rather than above the fireplace for a more comfortable viewing height. This arrangement works particularly well in rooms where ceiling height doesn’t allow for over-mantel mounting.
7. Use a Black-and-White Palette
Design your room in a sophisticated black, white, and neutral palette. This approach helps the TV’s black screen naturally integrate into the overall color scheme while creating a cohesive look.
8. Add Wall Texture
Install a textured wall treatment behind your TV, such as wood slats. This adds dimensional interest that makes the flat screen less prominent while creating an architectural feature wall.
9. Paint the Wall Dark
Choose a deep shade like navy, brown, or charcoal for the TV wall. Dark colors help minimize the screen’s presence without the starkness of pure black, especially effective on textured surfaces like shiplap.
10. Surround It With Bookshelves
Create a full wall of bookshelves with a dedicated TV niche. Fill surrounding shelves with books and decorative objects to reduce the television’s visual impact while maximizing storage.
11. Keep It Minimal
Mount your TV on a clean wall with just a simple wood console beneath. This minimalist approach can be surprisingly effective, especially when balanced with thoughtful decor on opposite walls.
12. Add a Thin Frame
Install a slim frame around your wall-mounted TV to give it a more finished look. Choose a frame color that complements your room’s palette for a polished appearance.
13. Decorate the Opposite Wall
Balance your TV with a large piece of artwork on the facing wall. Choose a piece slightly larger than the screen to maintain an art-focused atmosphere.
14. Build It Into the Wall
Create a flush wall insert for your TV. This seamless integration makes the screen appear as part of the architecture, perfect for contemporary spaces.
15. Consider Proportions
Choose a TV size that fits your wall space properly. The right proportions create a tailored look and prevent the screen from overwhelming your small room.
16. Make It Blend Into the Wall
Paint the wall behind your TV black to create a subtle graphic element. This technique helps the screen disappear when not in use, especially when paired with a low black console.
17. Backlight the Built-Ins
Add soft lighting behind shelving around your TV. This creates ambient light and prevents the screen from being the room’s sole light source.
18. Add an Ornate Frame
Surround your TV with a decorative frame, especially effective with Frame TVs. This transforms your screen into an intentional design element that enhances your room’s style.
19. Color Block It
Create a striking black-and-white color-blocked wall design. This modern approach makes your TV part of an intentional graphic statement.
20. Hang Graphic Wallpaper
Install bold patterned wallpaper behind your TV. The visual movement helps distract from the screen while adding personality to your space.
21. Surround It With Built-Ins
Design a custom wall unit with your TV at the center, flanked by white cabinetry and shelving. This makes the television just one element in a larger, purposeful design scheme.