One of the most common challenges associated with decorating a living room is the dilemma of what to do with the television. If you love watching television and you're proud of your extensive movie collection, you may have no objection to your TV being the focal point of your living room. If you seldom watch TV, however, you might prefer to stash your television in a less obtrusive way.
Kimberly M. Stone, owner of the interior design firm Adore Your Décor and author of the FabJob Guide to Become a Home Stager or Redesigner, has generously offered to share some of her tips for creating an attractive living room TV furniture setup with the readers of LoveToKnow Interior Design.
Working with Your Current Entertainment Center
You don't necessarily need to run out to purchase a new entertainment center in order to create a more attractive design for your living room. "If your entertainment center has attached bookcases or side cabinets, consider breaking up the unit," Ms. Stone said. "You can reuse the bookcases somewhere else in the room, or use them in another area of the house. Then, make your entertainment center 'disappear' by painting it the same color as your walls. This will down play its perceptible size and also give it a custom built-in look. Your local paint or hardware store will be able to match your color from a few chips of paint off the wall or from an old paint can."
Purchasing a New Entertainment Center
If you don't like your existing entertainment center, replace it with a television stand or cart that is much less obtrusive. "These nifty stands and carts have come a long way, but their structural designs are typically a better fit for modern or industrial style interiors," Ms. Stone said.
Homeowners who have purchased a flat-panel plasma or LCD television may want to look into cabinets which house the flat-screen inside until you push a button and the TV rises out of the cabinet top.
Placement Tips
Regardless of whether you are reusing your current entertainment center or purchasing a new model, angling your entertainment center in a corner so that it has a built-in feel can help make the TV less noticeable in your living room. Strategic accessories can also be useful. "Add medium to tall sized plants on either side of the entertainment center to soften the transition between the cabinet and the wall," Ms. Stone suggests.
Maintaining Your Sense of Style
Even though decorating around your television can be challenging, it's not an impossible task. With a little work, you can easily enjoy your favorite movies and television shows without compromising your home décor.
