Designing Around the TV as a Centerpiece, Not a Distraction

TV has never wanted to hide, never wanted to blend in. For decades, it’s been the big black rectangle hanging on the wall, the giant box taking up an entire entertainment center. Whatever you do, it’s a big blot in your otherwise subtle home decor. You can try hiding it behind art, closing the doors on your armoire, or sticking a fig tree in front of it.

But today’s design landscape and technological capabilities let us ask different questions: What if our TVs weren’t something to disguise, but they were something to celebrate? What if we could make the TV the centerpiece of our home’s design sensibilities?

We’re a quarter of a century into the 21st century, and we’re seeing technology and elegance living together — not just in harmony, but in style. So let’s start rethinking what it means for your TV to star in your living room and become the center of attention.

Gone are the days when entertainment technology had to blend away into a sea of beige, hiding behind oak doors and shutters. These days, savvy homeowners see the TV not as an afterthought, but as a piece that commands attention and rewards it with flair, artful displays, and a visual wow-factor that can’t be matched by any old fireplace mantel.

Smart TVs, Smart Designers

TVs have not only gotten smarter and sleeker, they’re doubling as digital canvases, letting us display famous (and not-so-famous) works of art. In fact, if you’re reading this article, you already know this. You probably already have a Samsung Frame TV hanging on your wall, and you want to know how you can make your TV look like an actual painting, not just a TV with a painting on it.

So, how do you highlight the paintings and art you like? To start, think of your TV wall as an art installation and an intentional design feature. That means curated, custom backdrops, like limewashed plaster, natural stone, or rich wood paneling that anchors your screen like a painting in a modern gallery. Have you ever seen a museum with just a plain drywalled wall?

No, the museum is the ultimate in intentional design, so start by adding some rich color and texture to your TV’s backdrop. Everything is about proportion, texture, and atmosphere, with elements like:

• Textured wall panels like fluted wood, ribbed plaster, or stone accents that offer dimension and elegance. They give the TV a sense of gravitas as an art piece, just like in a museum.

• Floating consoles and integrated storage help you ditch the media hub look. Instead, go for floating credenzas, neat banks of drawers, and even hidden compartments that stash your remotes, gaming consoles, and secret stash of late-night snacks.

• LED backlighting or sconces create a gentle halo that sets off the screen. Not only does it make the TV/painting pop, but it’s easier on the eyes during movie nights.

A centerpiece works best when everything around it is built to serve. It’s not crowbarred into a design with a shrug and a "Welp, that’s the best we can do." (Looking at you, 1960s TV consoles!) Instead, integrated wall units with shelving, cabinetry, and architectural nooks let your TV dominate without bullying the room.

• Frame the TV for a symmetrical effect with shelves for books, ceramics, and greenery. The result is a familiar, balanced shape, like a classic fireplace, that still feels current and modern.

• Use of a collage of mixed finishes, like oak shelves and marble ledges, to surround the TV so it’s grounded visually and still stylistically connected to the rest of the space.

• Today’s built-ins will sometimes combine a TV with a sleek, linear fireplace below, in order to double the focal points and double the drama. Plus, there’s no conflict if you want movie night and that warm glow at the same time.

You can also disguise your TV as a canvas, frame, or art gallery. The Frame TV’s Art Mode lets you showcase your TV with a piece of art, letting you display Monet’s lilies, Van Gogh’s sunflowers, or Warhol’s soup cans.

You can program the TV to cycle through your favorite curated digital artworks, photographs, or even your own snapshots in all their high-definition glory. Surround your TV with a custom frame in natural oak, subtle gold, or a matte black bezel that lets your TV sit pretty and blend in — or stand out — from the surrounding decor.

Old-school living rooms had a clear master, and it was the fireplace. When TV was introduced into homes, it became the big cabinet that all the seats in the living room pointed at. Now, thanks to the Art Mode, you can turn your TV into an accent piece one day, and the focal point the next.

Arrange your anchor sofa, a couple of accent chairs, and even the ottoman so they all learn toward the TV, but not right at it. A U-shape or gentle arc lets everyone feel included in the conversation without making them feel like they’re in a movie theater.

Choose furniture with slim lines and low backs as a way to keep sight lines open, and make your room feel larger and airier. Even floating storage and see-through shelving can lend themselves to the visual breathability of your room.

And be sure to allow some small, movable perches like poufs, benches, and small tables that can be shifted and moved around for optimal viewing without anchoring the room in place. Your couch can be the anchor, but not the entire living room suite.

Accessorizing around your TV is half craft, half comedy. You want items that frame, soften, and counterbalance the screen, not wage war for attention.

Layer your console decor. Use things like ceramic vases, stacked design books, and even a plant that likes football and reality TV. Balance is the key, so use groups of threes, harness some negative space, and avoid anything tall enough to block out the screen.

Use LED candles or sculptural lamps to add a warm glow and character without having an actual fire hazard sputtering away on a table.

Don’t forget the greenery, like potted plants, training vines, or even a single decorative, artificial leaf on a console. Plants, even the artificial ones, bring life to an area with a lot of technology.

This is the year that combines comfort with high impact: Warm, layered textures and artful palettes support the TV’s place at center stage. Designers are using coastal neutrals and desaturated botanicals, like soft oaks, subtle sage, and oyster white for a backdrop.

Add a splash of color with metallic accents, like brushed brass sconces or a gold-trimmed frame to support your Samsung TV’s Art Mode, and make your "painting" look like the real thing.

You can also combine media — I mean the plural of "medium," this time — by surrounding your TV with a matte black Deco frame against a polished stone wall, while floating oak shelves flank the screen and soft perimeter lights set the mood.

Or frame the TV in natural oak, surround it with pale botanical prints, and linen-braided baskets for storage.

Or place a bronze-accented console beneath a large Frame TV, plush wool rug, soft gold sconces, and a grid of smaller paintings that mixes analog art with the digital display.

Plan around your TV, not after it. Pick the TV, pick the frame, and pick the art you want to showcase in your living room. Then, choose the colors, furniture, and accessories that will feature your TV and give it the attention it deserves, not what it demands.

Rotate the art for seasons and events — think Monet for rainy days, Gustav Klimt’s "The Kiss" for Valentine’s Day, and Edvard Munch’s "The Scream" when you’ve had an especially hard day at work.

Treating the TV as a centerpiece in your home is not about giving in to technology; it’s about being intentional with the way you curate your space, so it fits in with decor, from wall color to console to furniture and even carpet.

The TV sets the rhythm for your living room and everything that goes on in there — family movie nights, artful gatherings, or a little quiet solo escape. Integrate it into your home and decor with confidence so your living room doesn’t just tolerate the TV, it thrives around it.