It’s hard to imagine a house without a TV these days. While TVs remain a necessary device in a household, they are not the nicest thing to look at. Here’s how to style a TV console and work a TV into the design of any room.
I’m a couch potato. At this point, I’m not even ashamed to admit it anymore. Watching reality television is the only way I know how to destress.
Anyway, I’ve been thinking of styling our TV console and integrating the TV into part of our living room. We left our TV console empty for the past three years because our living room already had so much going on.
Since we restyled our living room recently, I figured our TV console needed a refresh too.
So, I tried to style it a few weekends ago and realized decorating a TV console is a real struggle! I consider myself to be pretty creative, but even I found it challenging to make the TV console pretty yet functional.
After lots of trial and error, I’m finally satisfied with how it looks and I’d love to share my styling tips with you. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to style a TV console.
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Step 1 – Choose the right TV for your space
Chances are, you probably already have a TV, and that’s fine. But, if you don’t or you’re planning to upgrade, you need to check out the Samsung Frame TV.
The Samsung Frame TV is a television that functions as a TV when it’s switched on and becomes art when it’s switched off. How? All you have to do is press the power button on its remote, and the artwork will fill the blank TV screen.
The TV itself looks like a picture frame, and you can choose the color and type of frame you like. If that’s not good enough, you can purchase a studio stand that looks like an easel. It’s perfect for disguising your TV as a piece of prized artwork!
When we bought our TVs three years ago, I wanted a Frame TV. But, my husband and I made a deal before renovations. We agreed I would have full creative direction over the design of the house, and he would be in charge of all of the electronics and tech in our home.
He chose Sony TVs for our home, and that’s that. Thankfully, I recently discovered a hack that completely changed the way I view my TV. You can now type “vintage art tv” on Youtube, and you’ll find loads of art videos for your TV.
The only thing is that this hack is not energy-efficient, so it’s best to have it on only when you have guests.
Step 2 – Decide on the right placement for your TV
Sometimes the simplest thing can make the biggest impact. For example, choosing the right placement for your TV.
Whenever possible, do not place your TV facing any doors. You don’t want the TV to be the first thing you see upon entering your home unless it’s beautiful like the Frame TV.
Besides that, the other thing to consider when placing a TV is to mount it on the wall or to use a stand.
I’m all for a wall-mounted TV. It just makes make the entire area look sleek and clean.
The next question is: Where should I mount it? In the center of the wall or keep it off-centered?
Well, it depends. Are you aiming for a symmetrical look in your home? If you are, then you should mount your TV in the center of the wall.
But, if you are leaning towards a modern style, you can keep your TV off-centered. The best way to balance asymmetry is by decorating around the TV so that the TV is not the main focus.
Whichever option you choose, remember to mount your TV at the right height. The most common mistake people make is mounting the TV too high.
According to Apartment Therapy, the TV looks best mounted six to eight inches above a media cabinet or other piece of furniture in the space.
Step 3 – Pick the right console for your space
Once you’ve selected the TV and its placement, it’s time to select your media or TV console.
Built-in with a bookshelf
I’ve been seeing a lot of people building their TVs into their bookshelves, and I can see the appeal. Tucking the TV into a bookshelf makes it look like it’s part of the decor, especially when the bookshelves are peppered with interesting trinkets.
Standalone console
If built-ins are not an option, the standalone console is for you. Your TV may be out in the open, but that doesn’t mean the whole area has to look ugly!
Invest in a beautiful TV console that will elevate your living space. Make sure to find one that has a hole in the back to allow cords to come out of the console and some closed storage so you can hide all of your other electronic devices.
Here are a few standalone console recommendations under $500:
Step 4 – Conceal the “ugly stuff”
There’s nothing more annoying than looking at a bunch of tangled cords underneath your TV.
I should know, I lived with it for three years! I finally bought a large water hyacinth basket last month to dump everything in. My only regret is not doing it sooner!
Cords, modems, and other bulky devices should be hidden from plain sight. Don’t have a media console to conceal them? Get creative and use baskets, crates, or pretty boxes if you have them.
Step 5 – Decorate around the TV
Don’t fret if your TV is out in the open. You can still make the area look beautiful if you decorate around the TV!
Create a gallery wall
This is by far the most popular decorating tip because it works! Place your TV off-center and create a gallery wall around it. Make sure to hang your frames above and around your TV so that your TV looks like it belongs on the wall. The art around the TV will create visual interest, and the TV will no longer be the area’s main focus.
Have a hard time curating art? Check out these gallery wall art prints for less than $15:
- Modern gallery wall art prints
- Vintage rustic gallery wall art prints
- Botanical gallery wall art prints
- Neutral gallery wall art prints
- Boho gallery wall art prints
Paint the wall
Want your TV to blend in? Try painting the wall behind it! A dark wall works best, as it gives depth to a room. You can even go the extra mile and add beadboard paneling to your dark wall. The overall result is an accent wall that is beautiful AND practical.
Step 6 – Style the console
The final step to putting all the pieces together is to style the TV console. I like to start with a blank slate so I can experiment with a few different options.
Create balance
The trick to styling any space is to create balance, and the best way to do that for a standalone console is by using symmetry.
Since I have a huge built-in cabinet on one side, I added some height to the other side of my console with a large picture frame. Although the picture frame is still significantly smaller than the cabinet, they share the same rectangular shape.
I also added more decor items on the same side because I wanted this corner to carry the same visual weight as the cabinet.
Be intentional
Overdecorating is a real thing, people. I’ve seen people crowd surfaces because they think it makes the area look better. Newsflash: it doesn’t. It just looks like clutter!
Breathing room is so important when it comes to styling. That’s why I usually work with six to eight pieces when it comes to styling a surface. Being intentional with the pieces you display allows people to appreciate them more instead of simply glossing over them. Less is always more!
Besides that, I like using a combination of sizes from large vases and books to small candles and ornaments. Using different sizes creates contrast and builds visual interest.
Group small accessories together
If you have a lot of smaller accessories, group them in threes. Then, use a tray, books, or a basket to hold them together.
Trays are an excellent way to keep things organized. They can also provide another layer of texture to the overall look.
Use greenery
Include greenery in your styling whenever possible. Real and faux plants soften any hard lines and make any area look cozy. Plus, they add warmth and a touch of color to a home. They are one of my favorite things to decorate with, and I had to include them on my TV console!
TV console decor essentials under $50
- Lidded stoneware container, $15
- Carved ceramic vase, $25
- Decorative metal knot figurine, $20
- Set of 3 brass candle holders, $25
- Woven rectangular tray, $25
- Artificial fern plant in a pot, $25
- Natural frame with stand, $12
- Textural ceramic mini lamp, $17
- 4-wick speckled ceramic candle, $24.99
I hope this post teaches you everything you need to know about how to style a TV console! What is your favorite way to decorate a TV? Let me know in the comments below.
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