How To Style An Ugly TV 

The TV is this great example of designers in denial, showing us beautiful rooms we can never have because they essentially require a total lifestyle overhaul. The TV-less living room has long been one. The "office" with the uncomfortable stool and ineffective "desk" that never seems to house more than a laptop and some paper (for writing on?!) is another I could do with seeing a lot less of. So thanks for taking TVs seriously! Though, as a console gamer since childhood, I still feel like I'll never truly be able to take advantage of these techniques to minimize the ugliness of the media center. Running cables elegantly to an outlet isn't quite the same when you've got a surge protector with 10 things plugged into it. =) Sadly gaming culture doesn't really put any effort or concern into design anyway. This is the community that thinks dozens of pulsing LED lights and harsh angular boxes look good. Maybe I should just embrace the ugly. =(

For cord covers, a tip is to route it to the side instead of making it come down the middle. Then you can put a decor item in front of it like a plant or something.

Nick. THIS is what sets you apart. I am so happy to see this addressed finally. Thank you!

I don't know why people are convinced TVs are "ugly" -- there are many sleek looking TVs nowadays, and I really don't mind it being a focal point. Of course, you'll need to embrace your living room as a TV room as well, but in real every day life, it's easily done. Dealing with the wires, cables and cords is really what makes a difference.

Nick validating me with the "good for you go listen to your npr and read your books" 🥰🥰🥰🥰 I LOVE HIM!!!!

Just painted my whole “projector space” dark green, almost black, and it honestly looks amazing

Am I the only one who DOESN'T mind the plain black boxes on the wall?!?! They really don't bother me. What bothers me more is when the TV is too big or small for the room/wall. Also the unmanaged cables, that's an interior design boner killer.

I’m so glad you’re doing this, I don’t think I’ve ever seen good tips on styling a TV other than, “Put it in a cabinet and close the doors.” But what if we want it to look good while we’re watching it? I mean, the point of a TV is to watch it, and I want it to look halfway nice all the time.

Love this! My boyfriend has a 70” tv that is his pride and joy. He was not budging on getting rid of it. So I decided to tile the wall with black slate and it looks so nice! He loves it as well.

A dark wall…. What an affordable, simple yet effective idea!!! My boyfriend put a MASSIVE tv in our tiny living room and it really dominates the space.

No one notices my ugly TV because I had my Victorian piano disassembled and made into a corner cabinet. The TV sits on top. This ridiculous massive burled walnut with filigree and fancy turned corbels has all the pieces of the piano case that was made in 1857. It opens up to contain the sound board, the DVD player and the subwoofer is hidden behind where the foot petals were. It is an amazing (if unusual).

oh I totally thought (until min 5:33) that you would forget to mention the barn door - but of course not 🙌🏻

I also have the Samsung Frame and I'm never looking back. You can also buy a Chromecast to your existing TV so it always shows a curated fancy picture, but the advantages of the Frame is really the form, it really looks like a picture frame.

Love the video as always. For those of us with auditory sensitivity issues, the busy background music in this one made it really hard for me to hear you though.

Yes, I’m an interior designer that despises TVs getting such prominence in a room. Placing above a mantle sends me into orbit. I created a shallow box to surround the TV with 4 bifold flat doors and used a moderately priced oil painting, divided it into 4 sections and had it applied to the doors. Results were a beautiful painting showcased when the TV wasn’t in use. 👏👏👏

Another idea...a friend hooked her tv to a laptop and made the tv rotating art using a screen saver. She even took a picture of the plain wall so the screen would "blend in". I thought this was such a great idea.

In my previous house, we had a 65" and the walls were very beige. We mounted the tv but the wires were super ugly. So I went even cheaper. I went and bought a piece of beige fabric that matched my wall. I used the sticky double tape, taped the fabric under the bottom and behind the tv, and let the rest drip. My husband was so confused as to how I hid the wires and then he was like "Holy crap!" Aha. That's how I hide all my wires around my desk too since the length of the desk is open against the wall. Matching fabric and just cutting it to the size desired. Double tape and problem solved. The fabric isn't touching the wires so everything is safe. It just "hides" it and it makes it look seamless.

My husband and I got a new TV a couple of years ago. I really wanted The Frame for the very reasons you mentioned but it was an additional $1,000.😵 We ended up going for the "big black box", but we ran all the cables through the wall which was actually really easy and inexpensive. It makes a world of a difference to hid all those unsightly cables. Looks so much nicer.🙂

I love that you cover this practical topic, Nick!! We have 75" TV and our living room is 4.5 X 4.5! (UK homes are smaller lol) I might try painting a wall next time we move... although between homes being smaller in the UK and me being Korean and love buying bigger gadgets, I can't seem to find an ideal arrangement as yet. Lol

Before we moved into our home the previous owners were doing some renovation on the wall we planned to mount our TV. We kindly asked them if they could put an outlet up where we'd mount the TV. They were kind of to do that and add a pass through to the bottom of the wall as well as another outlet down there. It's worked out great. Definitely think add in the pass through is worth it, especially if you're going to be doing work/paint on that wall anyway.

The black/dark wall is FLIPPIN GENUIS and so simple!! I’m a little torn bc mine is hung over the fireplace and I really wanted to paint the fireplace black, if I do the fireplace and the wall black I don’t think the fireplace will be quite as much of a statement. It’s a brain scratcher.

My sister had a flat panel TV installed on a wall in her finished basement. The cabling was left trailing from the TV to the floor. I suggested installing a fake accent wall. We bought a 4x8 panel of beadboard, some wood moulding strips, glue, and white paint. Because of the way the TV wall bracket is constructed, there is about 6 inches of space between the back of the TV and the basement wall. The bottom of the beadboard rests on the floor. The beadboard is positioned within a few inches of the wall and behind the TV panel. It is rigid enough to remain free standing. We glued moulding strips to the edges of the beadboard to help prevent bowing and to create a finished edge. If the board decided to lean, we could wedge some lightweight polyurethane foam, between the wall and TV. We did make cut outs in the beadboard panel to accomodate the TV bracket and provide easy access to the wall outlet (which hides behind a low cabinet). The finished result gives the appearance of a beadboard accent wall on which a TV is installed. The unsightly cables are hidden. The fake wall is not anchored to anything and can be easily removed as if it never existed.

Yet another option: we bought some really cool fabric when we were in Argentina and we made curtains to cover the TV. They just slide open when we want to watch.

We bought frame tv 2 years ago and love it! Kids change the pictures often and get to know famous artists at the same time!

Few more suggestions to TV problem- If you have the google chromecast or fire TV, they do provide some really cool pictures to be displayed on your TV when not in use from their picture gallery that you can customize. It may not be as elegant as frame tvs but it’s better than black box on the wall and much cheaper way to incorporate. I know Nick hates DIY but you can also build a frame custom for your TV to make it look like a frame TV. You can also put led strips behind your TV that matches what’s displayed on your tv and extends the color. For a designer that may not be very appealing but it looks better than plane black screen when you have picture displayed on screen with extended light sometimes that working as mood lighting. Lastly this mostly you need to do it while building the home but if you run the HDMI ARC cable and IR repeater cables from your living room tv to say coat closet, you can put your whole media console hidden in the coat closet with all wiring running inside the closet removing the need to hide the modern day wiring problem rather moving it to different place. Additionally while running cables for your speakers across your living room try to run it as close to your baseboard as possible as hopefully some furniture pieces will try to hide it, you won’t need to paint the cable covers as white is mostly standard and cable management is easier that way. Hopefully this helps!

Thank you for these suggestions! We really don’t like the look of the TV and have tried different things, but ended up covering it with an antique Bolivian weaving and it actually doesn’t look too bad!

Those barn door covers - I nearly died from laughing.

Alternative to plastic cord covers: carve a channel into the back of wall molding to route the wires through it. That way it's a feature of its own instead of one lonely post

I am going with a dark wall behind the TV and red accent wall, on the opposite side with old movie posters, and other types of posters in the same category, to give this throwback, retro theater feel to the space. I am super excited. I've always loved retro designs and retro style. So I am trying to combine retro design in a contemporary way.

Mr. Rogers did it right from the beginning with Picture-Picture!

Nick, you are a mind-reader. I am in the middle of renovation and my home is now in light natural colors, transitional style. My boyfriend wants a big, black TV in the middle of the living room. I agreed but it is in total contrast with all the colors and the style of everything else in the room. Thank you for the tips and the affirmation that TVs are problematic.

I have a weird corner focal wall thing with a fake fireplace insert that didn't work. I took the fireplace out, painted the wall black, set the TV in front of the hole that was created to cover it up, and stuffed all the wires inside the hole. My TV completely disappeared. I was happy to see my solution was covered by your first suggestion.

Thank you for addressing the people that say “I don’t own a TV”. Those people are so self righteous. To each their own TV, or not.

Thanks for the reminders and ideas. Your videos are always awesome!

Great advice, as always! I wholeheartedly agree on the cord covers. My bedroom tv had several cords hanging down, and it gave me anxiety every time I looked at it. I finally grabbed some covers, and bam! 15 minutes later, including the time to paint the strip, no more visible cords! One small change made a huge difference.

Brilliant idea painting the wall behind a dark colour!

Hahaha, “you go listen to your NPR…” Love it!

0:52 ...... LOL!!! I love you so much! I literally laughed out loud... "go listen to your NPR and read your books" Baaahaahaa

I love your practical topics!

the Samsung Frame tv was our solution to put a tv above our fireplace in our victorian. A regular tv sticks out like a sore thumb.

Love the idea of the black paint 🎨

Your advice is so helpful thank you!

You just have to *whisper* paint and I'm excited! I love an accent wall! Agreed on cord management. I got a cheap white one and even just bundling them made a world of difference.

Love your videos and all your great tips

Like your videos so much I had to go back and watch them all once I found your site. Love your common sense advise, designer opinions and your humor (subtle but on target). Thanks. Your one of the few out there that make so much sense.

I’ve been searching for the perfect media console for months!! Something classy and timeless. Almost impossible to find

Thank you so much for this video! I've spent hours trawling for answers to this issue, and you covered all options succinctly. I'm tempted to try a dark wall now...

Yay! I had just started looking at dark green paint colors for the TV wall. This validates my decision!! Thanks 💕

We painted the wall behind the TV black. We love it. It is hidden and when we use it, it looks like a small cinema.

Great video, Nick! We painted our tv wall SW iron ore and OMG!!! It is absolutely gorgeous. Don’t be afraid to go for it!! ❤️❤️

Thanks for the video, Nick. Great suggestions. I appreciate that you give solutions at different price points. As always, I enjoy your sense of humor.

Great video! Practical living is as important as aesthetics ! ❤️

omg so glad for the tv on a black wall suggestion! I had decided to paint my TV wall a charcoal color just for the decor.... so happy now you have cemented the idea with realizing the fact that it mimizes the tv.

For a renter friendly option - I recommend just throwing a patterned throw over the tv. Its helps with the dust and you can easily blend it with the rest of your design / colour palette! For a bonus I hung a gallery wall around it to make it an almost intentional addition/ design.

Thank you so much for these ideas! I’ve watching your channel for a year and I cannot get enough of your content :)

We have a tv in every bedroom, master bath and great room… love them and use them for music when we have company.

Thank you for the video!

I’m doing a wood slatted wall behind the TV. It won’t be as camouflaged as a black wall, but the medium-dark stain and black background paint should help minimize the contrast and make it a fun feature!

Fantastic tips! Thank you Professor Nick.

Yesss! Samsung the frame represent! This was the compromise for my partner and I - he wanted a big TV and I wanted no TV.. So we settled on a TV that adds to the space rather than one that takes from it. They are more expensive for a tv, but it's actually pretty standard price for an artwork of that size.. And given you can change the artwork, gives more freedom to change your colour scheme in your room.

I bought the flattest tv I could find, probably 10 years ago, and hung a modern quilt over it-you’d never know. My husband wanted a tv in the living room and I didn’t, so this was our compromise 😊.

I used the dark wall trick and it does make a big difference. The TV is visible, of course, but it doesn't jump at you like it did against a light coloured wall.

My husband and I are in the middle of this dilemma... our main issue is that we live in a rental and can't hang anything on the walls or paint them. Otherwise we would just get the Frame. The house came semi-furnished, including a TV on a TV bench in the living room. We both hate it. We don't like living rooms centered around TV's but for the time being we need to make it work (in our previous home we had a family room/TV room and a separate more formal living room). We have very few options for placement due to windows, doors and radiators. I've been researching and brainstorming possible solutions for weeks. I'm trying to convince him to just move the TV and bench down to the storage room in the basement and get a projector that we can place on the coffee table only when we want to watch TV.

Thank you. Never thought of the black wall idea. I'm going to do this!

I agree wires are unsightly. There are many ways to conceal them. Some companies like Samsung make a box from which only one wire connects. You could also lessen the distance the wires have to travel with a taller tv console under it. I find wires multiply at my TVs bc of Nintendo, x box, wifi plug ins, hi-defe cables to connect your laptop to your computer to watch laptop programs on your big screen. I Like that for zoom. So I think the best thing to do is not try to corral all your wires in some wire hider. Instead find ways to put things under the tv to hide them and always leave easy access to unplug and add cables. I thought about darker walls too. But I think to go that dark in a main room is not a good idea. I have the Samsung frame tv. It’s a great option. I put Artwork I upload myself for free on it when it’s off. You could put your child’s artwork your artwork or artwork from your phone of major artworks at any museum you have visited. Just looking at artwork is meditative. Thank you😊 Nick for covering this important design issue.

Perfect time for this video for me! Gonna move soon, and all is planned already, except the tv-place.. And thanks for the links to the frame-/artwork tvs.

Thank you, Nick! Love your channel! My husband and I are moving into a smaller home and the TV will have to be in the living room. These ideas are fantastic! ❤️

I switched to a projector 2yrs ago and will never go back to an ugly tv. It’s so versatile, zoom in for normal tv and zoom out for the full cinema effects 👍

My friend had an older-style projector TV in the early 2000s. I loved the huge picture on an entire wall. I don't watch much TV so we just have a portable set, but if I did watch a lot of movies or sports events or had several people watching, I'd definitely consider a projection TV.

I finally hear your background music! How delightful! I felt like I was sitting in a 1960s waiting room. Ahhhhhhh, the memories! Thanks, Nick❤️. Oh, and we have two Samsung frames. Both are hung over horizontal gas fireplaces on stone slabs, one black figured marble, the other greige travertine. Great tvs, great look, great viewing at the optimal height!

The advice you give is wonderful! I can't believe I didn't think about it myself, but that's why you and others are here!

Ha ha. Thanks for pre-emptively addressing the anti-TV virtue signalers out there! Another Ha ha for the barn doors comment! I have a TV but barely watch it because I use it to lull me to sleep. It takes me 3 days to watch a movie because I fall asleep 30 minutes into it. That being said, I still want a TV but I do dislike the look of them. I appreciate you giving me ideas. i love the dark paint idea!

Hi, Nick, thanks for covering this topic. We downsized to a home with just 1 room for TV viewing and family hangout…you have offered great suggestions for us.

I feel like the only person who likes the look of flat screen TV's. Maybe it's because I'm into technology in general, but I like seeing folks electronics on display. That said, beautiful cord management is a must. I like the look of an electric box where the electrician expertly organized the wires so you know which is which. I like to do that with my cords, so if there is an issue, I can easy find the cable I need to do a bit of troubleshooting.

Great tips!!

This is a great idea. I'm dying for one of these for the home office.

Great video, thank you! That John Singer Sargent painting is one of my favourites so I’m considering getting a frame TV just so I can do that! What a great idea. I also like the dark wall idea but I suspect my husband wouldn’t like that as he’s all about the off white!! 😄

Great suggestions!

0:52 DEAD hahahahaha. How do you know if someone doesn't own a TV? Don't worry, they'll tell you (as they watch The Office on their laptop)

When I was a kid we had the TV in an antique cabinet-bookshelf kind of thing. Easily closed the doors when we had people over.

I've used a low cost projector for years now. It just projects onto a white wall, works amazingly well. Attach a chromecast or whatever and you are sorted.

Just to add for hiding the wires. On top of using cable covers, just use a decor piece to hide it. If you place your TV correctly (not too high) then it’d be low just above the console. Perfect height to place a strategically placed vase or sculpture to hide that strip of wire cover.

The last time anyone used the television my family was about 2 years ago. We use our laptops to watch television programs, netflix, youtube etc. I'd love to get rid of our television, but the others want to keep it, despite not actually using it! It sits on a shelf in a bookcase (shelves at the top, and cupboard doors at the bottom. The bookcase is a very dark wood. This means the television is pretty camouflaged. Lots of people don't realise we have a television.

Thanks Nick

Ok….painting the wall behind my 📺 is now officially on my to-do list. LOL 😆

Really love your videos, they've been a huge help in making some decisions about my fixer upper I bought with my boyfriend. I know this is kind of niche, but I'd love to see a video about fireplaces. It's hard to gather the options and what can look really good in a living room (especially when you can't get it back to the original brick)

Love your sense of humor 😂

I've been WAITING for this video!!!!!

I don;t have a TV but I have a friend who put the TV (that big black blank space) in front of that other big black blank space (the fireplace opening). It's on a very low, plain wheeled tray they had and can easily be moved when they have a fire or entertain. It looks great. And yes, hide the wires!! What is up with those people who don't see all those wires?

THIS.EPISODE.IS.FANTASTIC...!! Most of us have a t.v. in one of our rooms. So many wonderful solutions for making them look less pedestrian. Thank you! 😘❤

Hate the farm door too. Agree with you there. Great tips as usual.

Cord covers really are the single best upgrade as far as bang for the buck. They make SUCH a difference. Especially for us because our television (for gaming more than shows) is wall mounted.

I love love love my Frame TV! As soon as you mentioned it on your other hide your TV video I ran out to get it.

I luv charcoal paint! ❤️

LOVE the dark wall idea! This is why I need you Nick, for all the simple ideas my brain just never comes up with on it's own, lol. :)

A new trend I’ve noticed is to simply put the tv on an easel, as if it were a painting. This is more for spaces where the tv is not the focal point of the room and allows it to be more in the corner (like beside a fireplace)

I just love you! Thank you for making me laugh. LOVE your channel.

I’ve had the Samsung Frame for about 2 years and love it!! I got the white frame for it and have gray walls with white fireplace/mantle. Wires are hidden and it looks so good!! I find landscapes or neutral Frame Art looks the most natural in the wall; like an actual painting. I love bold abstract art but it looks a little more like TV when I use those so I just avoid it.

Bravo, Nick!

I needed this video