A big black rectangle on the wall can dominate a living room, even when the television is off. A large black screen draws attention away from everything else in the room. If you'd rather the screen didn't become the room's focal point, there are plenty of ways to hide a TV, from simple tricks like a gallery wall to cabinets, sliding panels and frame TVs. This guide covers 12 ideas for every budget, including options for renters who can't build anything permanent.
Quick Answer: How to Hide a TV
- Disguise it with a gallery wall, dark paint or a frame-style TV.
- Cover it with sliding panels, doors, curtains or artwork.
- Enclose it in a TV cabinet, armoire or custom cabinetry.
- Remove it from view with a TV lift or a pull down projector screen.
12 Ways to Hide a TV
1. Camouflage it with a gallery wall
Surround a wall mounted TV with framed art in similar black or dark frames. The TV becomes one piece in a larger arrangement instead of the only thing on the wall. Keep frame colors and spacing consistent so the flat screen blends in and the wall space reads as one gallery. See our gallery wall ideas.
2. Paint the wall a dark color
A TV on a white wall stands out. On a deep charcoal, navy or dark green wall, the black screen almost disappears. Deep shades, slatted wood paneling or venetian plaster all help the TV recede. This is one of the cheapest ways to make a TV less obvious: choose a paint color one or two shades darker than you'd normally pick for that one wall.
3. Surround it with bookshelves
Built-in shelves around the TV fill the wall with books and objects, so the screen is just one element among many. A freestanding entertainment center with bookcases on either side gives a similar look without construction. See our built-in entertainment center ideas.
4. Choose a frame TV
Frame-style TVs, such as the Samsung Frame TV, display artwork when they're not in use, and many have optional frames that make them look like framed art. In plain sight, the TV displays artwork and reads as a piece of art rather than a big black box.
5. Hide the TV behind artwork
A hinged or sliding canvas mounted over the TV covers the screen completely, so the TV stays hidden behind a painting until you want to watch. Some systems use motorized art that rolls up when you want to watch TV.
6. Install sliding panels or doors
Sliding panels on a track can cover the TV when you're not using it. Use wood, fabric-covered panels or slatted wood to match your decor. Pocket doors in custom cabinetry disappear completely when open.
7. Put it in a TV cabinet or armoire
A cabinet with doors hides the TV entirely. Vintage hutches and armoires make good TV cabinets, as long as they're deep enough for the screen and have a hole at the back for cords. Make sure the doors open fully so you have easy access when watching.
8. Hang curtains
Ceiling-mounted curtains in front of the TV wall create a soft, theatrical reveal. This works well in bedrooms and media rooms. Choose fabric that matches your window treatments so it looks intentional.
9. Use a mirror TV
A mirror TV uses two-way mirror glass. When the TV is off, it looks like a regular mirror; when it's on, the picture shows through. It's a pricier option but popular above bathroom vanities and in formal living rooms.
10. Install a TV lift
A motorized lift raises the TV from inside a cabinet or the end of a bed and lowers it out of sight when you're done. It's the most complete way to hide a TV, but it requires a lift mechanism and a cabinet built for it.
11. Swap the TV for a projector
A projector with a roll up screen or pull down screen leaves the wall clear most of the time. The projector can sit on a shelf or ceiling mount, and the screen retracts into a slim case.
12. Downsize the TV area
Sometimes the answer is simpler: skip the big screen and choose a smaller TV, mount it lower in a corner, or move it out of the formal living room into a den or home theater.
Ideas by Room
- Formal living room: Conceal the TV completely with cabinet doors, sliding panels or a frame TV, so the room's focus is conversation.
- Family room: Blend it in with bookcases, a gallery wall or dark paint. Easy access matters more than full concealment.
- Bedroom: Curtains, an armoire or a TV lift at the foot of the bed keep the space restful.
- Dining room: A TV in the dining room is best hidden in a sideboard-height cabinet or behind art, so it doesn't dominate meals.
- Open-plan living space: Place the TV on the wall that isn't the first thing you see when you enter the house, and soften the area with a flat weave rug, plants and lamps.
Ask an interior designer about custom cabinetry if you want the TV fully built in; for most rooms, freestanding furniture does the job.
Comparison of TV Hiding Ideas
| Idea | Cost | Renter friendly | How hidden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gallery wall | Low | Yes (with removable hooks) | Blended |
| Dark paint | Low | Sometimes | Blended |
| Bookcases or entertainment center | Medium | Yes | Blended |
| Frame TV | Medium to high | Yes | Looks like art |
| Curtains | Low to medium | Yes (tension or freestanding rod) | Fully covered |
| Sliding panels | Medium | Partly | Fully covered |
| TV cabinet or armoire | Medium | Yes | Fully covered |
| Mirror TV | High | Yes | Looks like a mirror |
| TV lift | High | Rarely | Out of sight |
| Projector | Medium | Yes | Out of sight |
How to Hide a TV as a Renter
If you can't build anything permanent, these ideas leave no damage:
- Use a freestanding entertainment center or bookcases around the TV instead of built ins.
- Lean large art on the console in front of a TV on a stand, and move it when you watch.
- Hang a curtain on a tension rod or freestanding frame.
- Put the TV inside a freestanding cabinet or armoire.
- Choose a frame TV or a projector.
How to Hide the Back of a TV and the Cords
A hidden TV still has cables, boxes and a gaming console. Keep them out of sight too:
- Run cords through an in-wall cable kit or a paintable cord cover.
- Choose a TV console with closed cabinets and drawers to hide devices.
- Use cabinet doors with glass or mesh fronts if remotes need line of sight.
- Bundle cables with ties behind the console.
- Add a power strip inside the cabinet so everything plugs in out of view.
TV Consoles That Keep the Area Clean
Even if the TV stays visible, a console with closed storage makes the area calmer by hiding the clutter around it.
- The Orbis Streamline Edge TV Console has a long, low profile with closed cabinets and drawers, measuring 19.7"H × 86.6"W × 15.7"D, with a tabletop weight capacity of 110 lbs.
- The Relievo Panel TV Console combines cabinets and drawers behind framed panels and decorative molding, measuring 24.8"H × 60"W × 14.2"D with a 176 lb tabletop capacity.
- The Nacre TV Stand has mother-of-pearl fronts and a marble-look top over cabinets and drawers, so the console itself becomes the statement piece rather than the screen.
- To surround the TV with shelves, the White Entertainment Center with Built-In Electric Fireplace and 5-Tier Bookcases fills a wall with open shelving, an electric fireplace and anti-tip hardware.
If you want to move the TV off a stand entirely, see our guide to TV stand alternatives, and our TV wall ideas for more ways to design the wall around it.
Tips for Choosing the Right Approach
- How often do you watch? If the TV is on every evening, blending it in may be easier than opening doors every time.
- Room type: Formal living rooms and bedrooms benefit most from full concealment; family rooms usually just need the screen to blend in.
- Ventilation: TVs and devices need airflow. Leave gaps or vents in any enclosed cabinet.
- Screen size: Measure the TV, not just the screen size, before buying a cabinet or panels.
- Safety: Anchor tall furniture and TVs to the wall, especially in homes with kids.
Related: see our guide to how high to mount a TV and guide to hiding TV cords.
FAQ
What is the cheapest way to hide a TV?
Painting the wall a dark color or surrounding the TV with a gallery wall in dark frames costs the least. Both help the black screen blend in without hiding it completely.
How do you hide a TV in a living room?
Popular options are a frame TV that displays art, a gallery wall, bookcases or an entertainment center around the screen, sliding panels, or a cabinet with doors.
Can you hide a TV without building anything?
Yes. Use a freestanding cabinet or armoire, a curtain on a freestanding rod, art leaned in front of the TV, or a projector with a portable screen.
How do you hide a TV above a fireplace?
Use a frame TV, a hinged art panel, or sliding doors built into the mantel wall. Dark paint on the chimney breast also helps the screen recede.
Does hiding a TV damage it?
Not if it has enough ventilation. Avoid sealing a TV or electronics in a closed box with no airflow, and keep cabinet doors open while watching if the cabinet gets warm.