How to Decorate a TV Wall: 15+ TV Wall Decor Ideas

The wall behind your TV is prime real estate for stylish decor, yet it’s often overlooked. Floating shelves, bold art ideas, gallery displays, and dynamic backlighting are just a few ways you can make the space around your television look better. Use these creative ideas to make your TV wall as captivating as the shows you watch!

3 Tips for Decorating the Wall Behind Your TV

  • Position your TV at about 42 inches for optimal viewing comfort, but adjust based on the size of the TV and seating arrangements.
  • Enhance the aesthetic of your TV wall by using dark paint colors, floating shelves, or built-in storage to camouflage the TV when not in use.
  • To make your TV a stylish focal point in your living space, incorporate creative design elements like recessed niches, sliding panels, or gallery walls around it.

Hang Your TV at the Right Height

Ideal TV Wall Height is 42 Inches From the Floor

Just like how there’s an ideal height to hang photos, there’s a system for getting the right height for a TV. For a comfortable viewing experience, the center of the TV should generally be positioned at about 42 inches from the floor. This height ensures you’ll have a perfect view without straining your neck, whether binge-watching your favorite series or catching up on the news.

However, the ideal height can vary based on the size of your TV and the function of the family room. For instance, when mounting a 60-inch TV, its center should ideally be around 30 inches from the floor. Aligning the TV center with the average eye level of your family members can also enhance comfort.

Consider your preferred seating position. If you enjoy lying down while watching TV, consider adjusting the height accordingly. For those who love the idea of a wall-mounted TV above a fireplace, ensure it’s at a comfortable eye line to prevent neck strain.

Choosing the Perfect Paint Color

Dark Grey Walls Help Disguide TVs

The paint color for the wall behind your television significantly impacts how the TV blends into the room. Dark paint colors like black, navy, dark grey, and forest green are particularly effective for camouflaging the television.

For a dramatic effect, a rich dark blue can enhance the visual impact of a modern TV wall while minimizing the TV’s presence. Alternatively, a contemporary shade like sage green can provide a stylish and current look.

Matching your furniture color to the wall enhances the camouflage effect.

Utilize Wallpaper for Contrast

Wallpaper adds visual interest and contrast to your TV wall. Bold or patterned wallpaper can create a striking accent wall that enhances the overall aesthetic. Textured wallpaper can add depth and interest, making the space around the television more dynamic.

Incorporating bold colors in your wallpaper can create a dramatic effect that contrasts with the television. This makes the TV stand out while seamlessly integrating into the room’s decor, ensuring that technology and design work together.

Use Floating Shelves Around Your TV

Floating Shelves Around a TV

Floating shelves can significantly enhance the look of your TV wall. They can seamlessly complement your existing decor in various styles and finishes.

They can hold various items, from media equipment to decorative pieces, adding character and practicality to your living room. Open shelving allows you to display personal collections, making your TV area uniquely yours. Installation is also quick and easy, even for DIY novices. 

Incorporate Built-In Shelving

Built-Ins Around a TV

Built-in shelving enhances organization and adds decorative value to your TV wall. Crisp white built-in bookshelves can create a striking visual contrast around a television, adding depth and interest.

For a DIY approach, you can create built-in TV walls using unfinished cabinets and wood. This addition provides warmth and ample storage and display options around your TV. Plus, it’ll let you display photos without nails. Remember to keep the background simple and clutter-free to maintain a clean and cohesive look.

Create a Recessed TV Niche

TV Niche Example

A recessed niche makes your wall look intentional and stylish. This design prevents the TV from protruding into the living space and allows storage and shelf incorporation. Imagine an inset flat-screen TV alongside a sleek, wall-mounted sound bar and dark paint for a modern, updated look.

Design features for a custom TV wall niche can include recessed areas and built-in consoles with display cubbies. Integrated LED lighting can enhance functionality and aesthetic appeal, making your TV wall a true centerpiece.

Install a Sliding Panel

Sliding panels stylishly and functionally conceal your TV when not in use. By hiding the TV behind doors or curtains, you can maintain a clean look in your living room. A sliding panel can be created using a frame of 2x4s and cedar planks, combining functionality with aesthetic appeal.

Customize and purchase the sliding track from specialty hardware suppliers for seamless wall movement. Stoppers on the sliding track ensure the panel stays in place, adding an element of surprise and sophistication to your decor.

Frame Your TV with Wood Paneling

TV on Wood Paneling

Wood paneling transforms a plain TV wall into a stylish backdrop. It adds warmth and architectural detail, making the television area more inviting. The various textures available in wood paneling allow for personalization, ensuring your TV wall design reflects your unique style.

Framing a television with wood paneling could tie together other wooden elements in the room, creating a cohesive look. This design choice enhances the TV’s visual appeal and makes it a central piece in your living room’s overall aesthetic.

Add Colored Backlighting Behind Your TV

Backlit TV Example

Backlighting your TV wall enhances the viewing experience with a soft glow that adds ambiance. This type of lighting helps to prevent eye strain, creating a more comfortable viewing environment.

Different lighting options, such as soft output lighting, LED backlighting, and sconces, can enhance the overall aesthetic of the TV setup. These solutions improve functionality and add a touch of sophistication to your living room.

Modern LED accents transform your TV wall into a beautiful focal point. Incorporating sleek lines and contemporary styling, these accents provide a high-tech appearance that seamlessly integrates technology into home decor. LED lighting can enhance the ambiance of the room while reducing eye strain.

This modern approach makes the television a stylish living space element and creates a comfortable viewing environment. Different lighting options, such as soft output lighting and LED backlighting, can enhance the overall aesthetic.

Gallery Wall Around the TV

A gallery wall around your TV turns it into a piece of art. Framing the television with photos and art anchors it within the room. Mixing frame materials adds visual interest, while uniform colors offer a cohesive look. Use the thematic ideas below to inspire your TV gallery wall.

Abstract and Geometric Art

Elevate your TV wall with abstract and geometric art pieces that bring modern sophistication to your space. Choose bold, dynamic designs with vibrant colors or clean, minimalist patterns to create a striking visual contrast against the sleek lines of your TV. 

A series of geometric prints or a large abstract painting can be a focal point, drawing attention away from the screen when it’s not in use. Pair these pieces with matching frames or floating panels to maintain a cohesive, polished look.

Nature-Inspired Decor

Bring the outdoors in with wall art inspired by nature. Opt for botanical prints, landscape paintings, or framed pressed flowers to create a calming and organic atmosphere. 

Consider incorporating natural materials like woven wall hangings or wooden carvings for a more dimensional approach. This theme pairs well with earthy tones and textures, creating a serene and welcoming environment while softening the TV’s technical appearance.

Movie and TV-Inspired Art

Celebrate your love for cinema and television by adorning your TV wall with art inspired by your favorite films and shows. Choose iconic movie posters, minimalist prints of beloved characters, or artwork featuring memorable quotes to create a unique entertainment-focused vibe. You can also mix in elements like framed stills from classic films or fan art that resonates with your taste. 

Sticking to a consistent color scheme or framing style maintains a cohesive look. This theme ties in seamlessly with your TV setup and adds a personal and creative touch to your living space.

Add a Touch of Greenery

Plants Around TV

Greenery around your TV softens electronics’ harsh lines and creates a more inviting atmosphere. Various plant heights add visual interest and dimension to the television area. Draping trailing plants enhances the design and draws the eye naturally toward the TV.

Install a Media Cabinet

TV Media Cabinet Example

A media cabinet offers integrated storage for organizing electronic components like gaming consoles and streaming devices. Its various styles allow customization to fit different decor themes.

Built-in cable management conceals wires, creating a tidy appearance. Media units facilitate easy installation by simply placing the TV on top, avoiding complex mounting procedures. 

Embrace Minimalism

A minimalist TV wall design creates a serene and stylish look. Utilizing clean lines and a neutral color palette helps maintain a tidy environment. A black accent wall can enhance the TV’s camouflage, making it less prominent when off. Custom cutout shelving can help create a streamlined and organized look around the television area. 

Achieve a Stylish Living Space by Incorporating These Decor Ideas

Decorating your TV wall can transform your living space and make your television an integral part of your home decor. There are countless ways to enhance your TV area, from choosing the perfect paint color to incorporating floating shelves, built-in shelving, and custom cutout shelving. By experimenting with different styles and techniques, you can create a stylish and functional TV wall that reflects your personality and complements your home.