7 smart ways to hide the television screens in your home

Big or small, analogue or digital, plasma flat screen or a full HD display, compact 32-inch or a mammoth 200-inch and larger, the television has become a must-have and yet it often feels like a visual distraction, some unwelcome clutter, in beautifully designed homes. There are those who say they hardly ever watch it and those who can’t do without it but often this technological element comes into conflict with its environment. There are ways, however, to hide it from view and create a sense of continuity and harmony with the décor. From sliding screens that open and close as required to plasma screens with a mirrored effect and specially designed storage units, here are seven tips from experts on how to camouflage a television.

1. Concealed Panels

Perhaps the most common approach, and often a successful one, involves panels that provide a perfect camouflage effect: They can open and close when necessary, revealing or concealing the television screen. This is an approach used by architect Giorgia Fini and interior designer Daniela Torre—the two founders of the 13pari studio—who, as part of a renovation project carried out for a 1,720-square-foot flat in Turin, Italy created a small sliding wall with the aim of reducing the presence of the television. Another partner in this game of see-through was the use of colour, which creates a feeling of visual continuity on the wall.

2. Wall Niches

Niches can offer an ideal solution for tidying up a home in many situations. They are a multi-functional element that is capable of both displaying and concealing its contents. Architects and designers Maura Pinto and Piervito Pirulli of Opus Atelier used niches in their design for a Nordic-style flat in the heart of Rome, transforming the wall of the living area: “with lacquered and specially designed made-to-measure panels in Canaletto walnut, we were able to conceal the TV compartment inside a niche.” The intervention is both meticulous and minimalist at the same time. It doesn’t require a deep niche to pull off this effect, even a plain wall with a slight recess is sufficient.

3. A TV That Looks Like A Painting

“At Studio Falù, we like camouflage solutions. That’s why for one of our renovation projects, we opted for a chameleon plasma panel. At first glance you can’t tell if it is a photograph, a painting, or simply a TV screen.” This is how designers Linda Greco and Silvia Marlia describe The Frame from Samsung that combines design, art, and artificial intelligence at the same time. “It is a mysterious object that when you turn it on grabs your attention.” The designers at biroarchitects adopted the same strategy for their renovation of a flat in Milan, with the TV/picture—to coin our own name—positioned above the fireplace.

4. A TV That Is Also A Modern Sculpture

More than a simple TV set, one Bang & Olufsen set is a true contemporary design object. “With the choice of this model, our aim was to unify the living room environment. The wooden slats conceal the TV while also creating a visual separation of the kitchen area from the living room.” These are the words of the architects and designers of Gamp studio—Marco Grippo, Matteo Murzi, and Valentino Anselmi—who recommend Bang & Olufsen’s Beovision Harmony: a television set that, when it is switched off, is hidden behind two oak and aluminium wooden panels. These audio panels open and close just like the wings of a butterfly.