Tv in living room or not
Are TVs Really Necessary? - Why You Should Get Rid of Your TV
Think of some of your favorite homes you've been in—ones where the decor really inspires you. Chances are, they have living rooms thoughtfully outfitted with beautiful furniture, some sort of art on the walls, perhaps a selection of interesting books on shelves or coffee tables. And then, no doubt, they have the better part of an entire wall dedicated to...a large, shiny, glaringly unattractive black rectangle. Yes, the TV.
House Beautiful
How is it that this blight on a perfectly good interior has become an accepted necessity in nearly every type of home? As TVs have gotten bigger and "better," it seems the American population has thought nothing of continually upgrading, never once batting an eye at the growing, gaping black hole threatening to someday engulf their entire homes. All this not to mention the fact that most of our day is already spent staring at some sort of smaller screen—must we have an even bigger version shoved in our face immediately upon stepping in the doors of our homes?
And yes, I enjoy a good Fixer Upper binge as much as the next gal, but the truth is—hopefully—that more often than not, your TV is not in use, meaning its only purpose is to take up valuable wall or mantel space, cast an ugly glare, and completely detract from the design of the room. Plus, I'm of the opinion that having such a massive black box staring you down whenever you're in your home will encourage you to watch more TV than you otherwise would, instead of, I don't know, picking up a book, doing a project, cooking a meal, or literally any other activity you can do at home—why should one single one reign supreme?
A serene, neutral interior being completely ruined by a fugly TV.
Hero Images//Getty ImagesLook, I won't say I'm a fan of the kind of media cabinets popular from the '60s to early aughts (and now found exclusively in mid-range hotel rooms), but at least they provided the much-needed function of hiding the TV. And trust me, unless you have the Samsung Frame, your TV should be hidden.
If you simply can't bear the thought of parting with your big black box of entertainment, at least find a clever way to conceal it (ideas below). Meanwhile, I'll be over here somehow entertaining myself in my TV-free living room.
20 Genius (and Stylish) Ways Designers Hide TVs
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Hadley Keller
Digital Director
Hadley Keller is House Beautiful’s digital director. She oversees all digital content for the brand as well as working on the print magazine. She has covered covering design, interiors, and culture for 10 years in New York. She served as Associate Market Editor, Design Reporter, and News Editor for Architectural Digest and AD PRO before joining House Beautiful. Hadley is a staunch maximalist and vocal opponent of the Open Floor Plan.
Here's Why You Should Rethink Your Television Set Placement
Style
Living Room
by Kelsey Mulvey
published Apr 17, 2021
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From the moment my boyfriend and I laid eyes on our current apartment, we knew exactly what our living room would look like.
We’d buy a large sectional to fit the length of the room, offering enough space for our guests to kick back and relax. (Little did we know the shelter-in-place order would go into effect six months later, but I digress.) I’d fill our sun-drenched windows with all the plants a la my forever design muse, Justina Blakeney. (I faked the look with artificial plants, but it still looks great.) And since it’s the spatial status quo, I figured we’d mount our supersized television in the center of our room to create a focal point. Okay, well, that last idea didn’t go according to plan.
You see, our apartment has a very detailed lease, covering everything right down to where we can and cannot put our potted plants. Though we weren’t technically prohibited from mounting a television, we were nervous about damaging our walls and just wanted to be great tenants. When my mother came to visit a few weeks after our move, she suggested that we consider placing our television in front of one of our large built-ins.
We did the math, and it fit perfectly, as you can see below — no nails or tools required!
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“It’s so weird that your television isn’t in the center of your living room,” one of our friends said when they visited pre-pandemic. I’ll admit that placing our television anywhere besides the center of our room — essentially above our fireplace — felt… weird. My boyfriend and I love to watch movies, so this unconventional placement felt almost sacrilegious to our lifestyle, and of course, it’s not the symmetrical thing to do. The longer we’ve lived here though, the more I’ve become low-key obsessed with this off-centered placement.
After spending over a year inside — and, let’s be honest, sitting in front of the television — you might think this unconventional placement has worn out its welcome. Truth is, this setup really works for us. As I had envisioned, we picked up a large sectional, one where every seat offers an amazing vantage point for seeing the screen.
It doesn’t matter where we’re sitting, we’re able to get our dose of screen time. (And then some, tbh.)
We’re fortunate enough to have a wall filled with gorgeous built-ins and a working (!!) fireplace, so off-centering our television didn’t totally throw off our room’s flow. If anything, it balances the book-filled built-ins on the opposite of the fireplace. And, since this design decision required zero handiwork, we can kick back and relax knowing we’re not wreaking havoc on our security deposit.
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Prior to the shelter-in-place order, my boyfriend and I would host bi-monthly dinner parties. Some of my favorite memories of those parties involved a roaring fireplace, a great playlist, and a handful of friends focusing on not the television screen but each other’s company.
I know placing your television in the center of a room has become the design norm. If that makes you happy, who am I to judge? If you want to stray from the status quo though, go for it.
If you don’t want a TV at all in this room, that’s okay, too! At the end of the day, design is all about whatever makes you happy. As unordinary as this setup is (especially as we spend so much time at home), it gets me excited for the future; a future that can be, hopefully, spent enjoying each other’s company and giving the television a rest.
TV in the Living Room: Five Common Mistakes
Tips
Mistake #1: TV in the Spotlight
The modern TV is a real marvel of technology, but putting it at the forefront and making it the central object in the living room is not worth it. Especially when it comes to black minimalist XXL models in a classic living room.
The TV doesn't have to be the main focus of the room.
Tip:
Instead of building your interior around your TV, start with furniture, accessories and details. Let them be the main ones, and the TV will take its modest place in it. Yes, in the modern world one cannot do without it, but it is far from the only important object in the living room, but only one of its components.
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Mistake #2: The TV doesn't fit in the room
Have you bought a trendy, ultra-modern model, but it doesn't fit in your living room at all and looks out of place next to other furnishings? Unfortunately, this often happens.
The right furniture, accessories and decor will help fit the TV into the space and make it an organic part of the interior.
Tip:
Always start with your room's baseline when choosing a TV. If the living room is spacious and the sofa is far from the screen, the TV should be large. If the room is small and the screen is close to the "seats", choose smaller models. A huge "black square" in a small space looks alien and spoils the whole impression of the interior. nine0003
Error #3: The TV is hanging too high
One common mistake is to install or hang the TV too high. In this case, it is inconvenient to watch it, and you will always feel discomfort.
Do not set the TV too high. The screen should be at eye level.
Tip:
Wherever your television is placed or hung, it should always be placed at eye level. Otherwise, it will be uncomfortable to use it. Therefore, before installing it, sit or lie down on the sofa and look straight ahead (without lifting your head or lowering your head): this is where the screen should be. Remember, the right place for equipment is the key to your comfort. nine0003
Mistake #4: An Ugly TV Stand
Standard modern AV furniture doesn't suit every style. Sometimes it can ruin the whole look of your living room.
Choose a beautiful piece of furniture that can double as a TV stand.
Tip:
The TV does not have to rest on a standard TV stand. It's time to abandon the old stereotypes! For this purpose, almost any furniture is suitable. A chest of drawers, a console, a bookshelf or a side table - all this can easily serve as a stand for your equipment! And you can make special holes for cables yourself or simply do not move the furniture close to the wall so that there is room for wires behind.
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Mistake #3: The TV is not integrated into the interior
The desire to combine furniture, appliances and accessories into a single whole is a good way to achieve a harmonious interior. But a TV is a living picture, and inscribing an image is usually more difficult than just a static object. Many give up this idea, and as a result, the space loses its integrity, and the entire interior falls apart.
Fit the TV into the hanging pictures or photographs on the wall, why not?
Tip:
Don't let your TV become an ugly black stain that ruins all the beauty in your room. A flat panel can be decorated with a baguette and hung on the wall among other paintings, photographs or drawings. By the way, Samsung has a Frame model with a choice of different wooden or lacquered frames. This TV itself looks like a picture!
Frame 2018 TV from Samsung.
Frame 2018 TV from Samsung.
Tags
- Living room
How to place your TV in the interior: expert advice - INMYROOM
Tips
Confused about where and how to place your TV? We will show you the best way to do this in the living room, bedroom and kitchen
TV not only source of information, but also an element of the interior.
But how to fit it into the overall style of your home? Important, so that it looks not only beautiful, but at the same time everyone is comfortable.
Usually the TV is installed in living room, bedroom or kitchen. Although it is possible that in all rooms at once. Let's look at different options for placing a TV.
1. TV in the living room
As a rule, they gather in the living room all members of the family, as well as guests. Well, if the TV screen is deployed towards the entrance. If it is installed on a pedestal against a wall or in a cabinet niche, then for for comfortable viewing, make seating in the shape of a semicircle.
Distance to the screen should be at least 1.5 meters. And from the floor it can be about about a meter or more. The main thing is that at eye level. nine0013
TV should not be placed screen to the window. Otherwise you won't be able to see anything because the sunlight will reflect and create glare. If, on the contrary, put from the window, on the cabinet, then the vision will not need to be strained much.
The background should preferably be corner (curtains, wallpaper) was a dark solid color. This will improve visibility. Not forget to calculate seats for all family members and a couple more for friends.
2. TV in the bedroom
Even though the bedroom recommend placing a TV, few people listen to this. But still it is worth paying attention to the advice of experts. Especially for those who follow your figure and health. So, watching TV while lying down helps to gain excess weight, impairs vision due to an unsuccessful viewing angle. Also neck vertebrae stretched due to the uncomfortable position of the pillow. nine0003
But fortunately, there are recommendations on how properly install a TV in the bedroom. If you stick to them, then unnecessary consequences can be avoided. Set your TV up high beds. Then the body will not get tired, and the neck will be relaxed. You take a hard pillow for watching your favorite shows and movies.
It is important to consider the fact that on the wall of you can’t hang anything more than 30 kg of drywall, otherwise everything will collapse.
So if you want to buy a large TV, think in advance where to place it. nine0013 In case the wall is made of blocks or bricks, brackets can be used. They can be adjustable and rigid.
3. TV in the kitchen
If the kitchen is isolated from the living room, then any housewife does not want to be isolated from the events in the world. therefore TV in the modern kitchen has become an integral part. First of all, he does not should stand out from the general style and interfere. And this means that the model needs choose compact.
The main thing is to choose for him a safe place away from the stove and sink. Otherwise, grease and water can damage it. Also, you can not put it on the refrigerator. Vibrations are bad for device. nine0003
The most successful solution in the kitchen it is considered to install a TV on a wall in a niche (if the layout allows). But most often for this device use brackets that are mounted on the wall. Again, don't forget that opposite the window, the screen will give glare.
