Before the age of the flat screen television, many designers and home owners hid their televisions in entertainment centers, armoires and custom made cabinetry. Rooms were designed around ways of disguising and hiding the big black boxes of old style televisions. When not being used, televisions were discreetly tucked away behind doors. The flat screen TV changed all this.

 

Flat screens have moved up onto the wall in many homes. Mounting a flat screen to the wall means you free up floor space in the room. No longer do you need a large entertainment center or armoire. This means flat screens can be hung above a fireplace, returning the fireplace to a focal point in many living and family rooms. Mounting a large television on the wall should be done with the proper television mounting kit that is attached to the studs.

 

Smaller entertainment consoles can be placed underneath the television to hold DVRs, DVD and BluRay players as well as game consoles and movies.  Today’s entertainment consoles can be lower and smaller in profile, taking up less space on the floor than older models.

 

Many homeowners do not decorate around the big black rectangle on the wall, instead they leave it as the sole focal point, as in this room. Adding shelves or artwork around the TV can help balance out the size and dark color, making it blend in more with the rest of the room’s décor. Creating balance on the wall that holds the TV can make the TV feel more a thoughtful part of the room’s design.