Large flat-screen TVs have become a staple in modern homes, providing an unparalleled viewing experience unthinkable just a few years ago. We love their ultra-high definition, HDR colours and screen size, but there is a price to pay, as a large portion of the living room wall right in front of the seating areas is now taken over by a big, black, reflective canvas, that, when switched off, can be perceived by some as an eyesore.
Large flat-screen TVs: The interior designer's dilemma
From clashing with décor aesthetics to dominating the room, the massive screens of contemporary TVs, stretching up to 85” in diagonal, can undoubtedly be a challenge to decorate around. From an interior designer's perspective there are several hurdles that needs to be negotiated to incorporate them in a stylish living room.
Visual dominance
The overwhelming visual presence of large flat-screen TVs draws the eye even when they’re turned off. Their size can easily overpower the room's overall design, making it challenging to create a balanced and harmonious space and disrupting the intended flow of the room décor.
Clashing with aesthetics
Good interior design revolves around creating a seamless blend of colours, patterns, textures, and furniture pieces. The sleek, modern appearance of large flat-screen TVs can be at odds with your living room's carefully curated aesthetics, especially if it leans towards a traditional or rustic style.
Limited placement options
The size and location of the TV is dictated by the layout of the room, limiting the options for furnishing and décor placement. Finding a harmonious balance between the TV set and furniture can sometimes become an enormous challenge.
Cable management
The abundance of wires required for modern TV setups can quickly become an unsightly mess, detracting from the overall design. While cable management solutions exist, concealing the wires adequately without compromising accessibility is not always easy.
Transforming the TV wall into a design highlight
While for some a state-of-the-art entertainment wall that incorporates all the latest devices is a source of pride, many prefer incorporating the TV set into the overall design of the living room, blending it into a more cohesive aesthetic. Which wallpaper to pick will very much depend on the look you are hoping to achieve. Let’s consider some options:
Create an oasis of calm with a nature-inspired wallpaper
Many of our customers ask us how to reconcile high-tech equipment with a more earthy and relaxed ambiance suitable for winding down and relaxing after a long day. Pairing a botanical wallpaper with a TV wall provides a contrast between technology and natural elements, creating a stylish juxtaposition. The botanical components soften the presence of the TV, making it an elegant and integral part of the room décor.
This design concept also fits perfectly into the growing trend of “biophilic design”, which incorporates nature-inspired elements into interior spaces, fostering a connection with nature even in technology-driven spaces. This link is known to reduce stress and promote overall comfort.
A botanical wallpaper inspired by nature can be complemented by adding hanging flower vases which are artfully suspended around the TV area, infusing the space with the green allure of nature. We recommend picking plants that echo the colours of the wallpaper as this establishes a cohesive wall around the TV, transforming it into a stunning focal point.
Choose geometric and abstract motifs for TV walls in a modern living room
When it comes to more contemporary living room décor, a good option is to pair it with a wallpaper featuring geometric or abstract motifs. The clean lines, bold shapes, and abstract patterns tend to exude a stylish elegance that aligns well with modern design aesthetics.
The symmetrical nature of geometric patterns works well with the sleek and minimalist elements often found in contemporary interior design solutions, adding order and precision to the room and complementing the clean lines of modern electronics.
As they come in a wide range of hues, you will find it easy to choose a model that suits your living room's existing scheme.
Add more texture and depth with material imitation wallpaper
If you are looking for a more textured look, wallpapers with a materic effect provide depth and interest behind a tv wall and are therefore an option that should be considered. This is particularly true for those with brick or concrete designs. Their Industrial Chic aesthetic has gained immense popularity in modern interior design, mainly as a result of their ability to create a raw and urban loft vibe that works so well with a large tech object like a modern TV.
Material imitation wallpapers are also an excellent choice if you need to conceal minor imperfections or blemishes on the wall. If the surface where you plan to install your entertainment devices is uneven or shows some cracks and fissures, a textured wallpaper can effectively cover these flaws, providing a seamless and more polished overall result.
In addition, wallpaper models with a materic effect draw attention to the TV area, making it a prominent focal point. They are suitable for wall-mount as well as standalone solutions. We recommend picking a model with a soft and textured surface as it will provide substantial acoustic benefits by reducing sound distortions. This is especially advantageous in rooms with hard surfaces and provides a more comfortable and immersive aural experience for your movie nights.
Create interest by adding framed pictures and artwork around your TV
If you plan to personalise the space around the TV, a sophisticated monochrome wallpaper is the ideal solution to create a cohesive and impactful design. An eclectic mix of framed photographs, paintings, and prints around your set will create a gallery wall that feels truly distinctive and showcases your memories and favourite art pieces.
Choosing a wallpaper featuring frames in black and white in different sizes and shapes is a good way to seamlessly integrate this concept into a simple and elegant interior design solution. Leave some empty if you like, or use the frames to add your family photos or artwork.
Transform your TV wall into an ever-changing canvas
Do you want to take personalisation a step further with an everchanging feature wall behind the TV that can be customised and re-designed each day? If this is the case, you could opt for a wallpaper that allows drawing and scribbling on with chalk or chalk markers.
The unique chalkboard surface of this wallpaper will turn the TV area into a dynamic work of art. You can draw colourful patterns, write inspirational quotes, or whimsical illustrations directly onto the wallpaper, ensuring that your TV area reflects your mood and style at any given time.
It’s a great choice for households with kids who like to express their natural creativity. Rather than excluding them from the TV area, this wallpaper allows them to become participants in daily décor changes. You can let them draw their favourite cartoon characters and heroes, knowing that you can easily wash it all away by bedtime.
Which wallpaper colour creates the best TV viewing experience?
Whether you opt for a monochrome wallpaper or a graphic, multicoloured pattern, it is important to bear in mind that the shade you pick will influence your viewing experience. While there isn’t a definite rule on which colour is most appropriate behind a TV screen, a balance must be struck between the visual design when the TV is turned off and its effect once it is on. If creating a cinematic feel and enhancing screen brightness is important for you, opting for dark-coloured wallpapers is recommended. Rich, deep shades effectively absorb light and make the TV screen more vibrant and cinema-like.
However, if your main goal is to create a TV wall that fits with ease with your living room's existing décor, then neutral and lighter wallpaper colours are probably a better option for you. Their subtle and discrete hues are easy on the eye and help to create a cohesive design that blends in with your surroundings. Find out more about colour psychology and the many other factors that play a role in determining which wallpaper colour is best for your TV wall in our in-depth article How to choose the best wallpaper colour for your TV wall.
How do I make my TV set “disappear” with the help of wallpaper?
You might want to seamlessly integrate the TV set into your décor, concealing it with the help of wallpaper in a way that can make it appear “invisible”. Let’s see how this can be achieved:
Use a black wallpaper model and add framed images
For TVs with visible bezels, a smart option is to use a black wallpaper that matches the TV screen's outer frame. This dark backdrop can help the television blend seamlessly with the wall, making it visually unobtrusive.
To enhance the effect even further, add framed images or artwork around the TV, as they will draw attention away from the screen.
Merge your TV into the background with digital artwork
One of the most creative ways to make your TV disappear with the help of wallpaper is using digital artwork that matches the wallpaper behind it. This approach works particularly well with TVs with frameless designs.
When the TV is not in use, the screen displays digital art that matches the wallpaper pattern, transforming it into an artful extension of your décor and making it “disappear” into the background.
How to correctly install your TV mount on your wallpapered wall
A very common question when it comes to using wallpaper on a TV wall: “What should be installed first?”. In our experience it is always best to start by selecting the position of the TV set on the wall, install the mount and hang the device. Once you are satisfied with the result, remove everything and put up the wallpaper, making sure you have marked the bore holes on the wall.
There are many other factors to consider within this topic, such as what is the best place to install the TV mount, whether you plan to include a sound bar or a home theatre sound system, how to deal with and conceal the cables, and more. They are all are covered in our article How to correctly install your TV mount on your wallpapered wall.
Tips and tricks for installing a wallpaper behind your TV
Having spoken with many of our customers about this topic over the years, we have gathered some essential tips to help you achieve a flawless look when installing wallpaper behind a TV wall. These cover a range of issues, from choosing a wallpaper model that can be easily removed so that you can stay up to date with changing trends, to the advantages provided by sound-absorbing wallpaper models, to the risks involved if you don’t take into account enough space for ventilation behind the TV. For more a more detailed guide on all the tricks for installing wallpaper behind your television we recommend you read the article Tips and tricks for installing a wallpaper behind your TV.
What are the potential challenges in wallpapering your TV wall?
Wallpapering the TV wall undoubtedly offers numerous advantages, but it's also important to be aware of some potential drawbacks.
Limited TV placement options once the wallpaper is installed
Once a wallpaper with intricate patterns or designs is installed on the TV wall, it can limit your options for relocating it at a later point as repositioning it might require removing the wallpaper and reapplying it.
Not working for all TV sets
Wallpapering a TV wall might not be ideal for all types of television sets. Older models with a very wide bezel, especially if not black, might still stand out far too much. Also, TV sets that cannot be detached from their base in order to be put up on the wall may not fit well with the design of the wallpapered wall, potentially leading to a mismatch in style or visual imbalance.
Not ideal if you need to frequently change the television position
If your TV needs to be moved around the room frequently, or if you require a very large mount to swivel the TV at big angles, a patterned wallpaper might not be the best option for you.