What to do when screen time takes over the house

TVs have exploded in size, but now we have a new issue. An ugly black square mounted on the wall when it’s not on.

Old Televisions stacked up.

In my mind, there is no such thing as a TV that is too big. If there was a way for me to afford an 200cm OLED, 8K, hot shot TV I would make a space to take it. However, as with all treats, there is a price to be paid.

A wall filled with a giant black hole of nothingness even bothers screen freaks like me. Beside the fact that TVs take up valuable display space, it also brings the down the vibe of the whole room. Here are some ways to add some flair into that television space.

Some smart TV’s such as this LG look like art when they are not in use.

WE’VE GOT OUR TV ON THE WALL, WHICH SAVES SPACE, BUT IT LOOKS SO HEAVY. HOW CAN I CREATE A VIEWING SPACE THAT IS FASHIONABLE AND FUNCTIONAL?
Giant black holes belong on Star Trek, not on your wall. While massive entertainment units can take up the supporting role, they also suck up space – and cost a pretty penny.

 My favourite new obsession are TV stands – I love them. Of the many about LG has one that is so elegant, it almost slips into a mid-century vibe.

 The LG Gallery Stand is a silver toned, sleek, three-footed stand that has in-built, channels for cable management and adjustable height, and the ability to hold companion devices on a rear bracket. Suddenly the TV can float in your viewing area. A particular favourite of mine is finished in an elegant, tapered timber finish (white is available) from One For All.

  It, too, is a tripod style, but offers a 360-degree pivot, and dedicated sound bar space. This one takes up to a 65-inch television, and yes, also has a cable management system, though not as concealed.

 At the time of writing this one retails at around $400. Being able to rotate the screen for optimum viewing options is pretty cool – and a slimline stand can easily fit into a corner position if space is tight.

 Dreaming about building your next home? When designing your lounge you may want to consider a adding a ‘pocket wall’ or two. However, there is no excuse, none, for covering your TV with a vile, voile slipcover. I’ve seen ‘em – and I shall bear the scar to my grave.

Mounting a TV on the wall is definitely a space saver.

HOW CAN I COVER THE TV THAT ON THE WALL WITHOUT MAKING IT LOOK ODD? I DON’T LIKE THAT IT LOOKS AT ME ALL DAY...
How about mini, dual, barn doors? Before you scoff, think about it. With two ‘panels’ (let’s not call them doors in this instance), you can cover a huge TV if you have the wall space. The panels can carry artwork of your choice, or disappear into the background via a matching wall and panel paint choice. A professional builder might be the best option, but there are kits from hardware stores for a DIYers with a dream for under $300. Too hard? Well, consider a dowelling curtain rod and hang your own Bayeux Tapestry, which can be easily whipped aside when The Bachelor comes on.

Big-screen TVs are all about the experience. This is The Frame.

WHEN IS A TV NOT JUST A TV ...
We’ve all seen the TVs that rise majestically from a cabinet at the foot of a millionaire’s bed. I don’t know why that feels a bit tacky – I may be associating it with some bad movies, in any case, imagine your 100-inch monitor rising from the floor – unlimited entertainment rising between the floorboards – what magic!

 Of course, you need underfloor space, a builder and, I would suggest, a serious AV installer to make the whole thing happen the mechanism alone is around $10,000.

 Projector screens are far easier to hide in the ceiling and with the amazing advancement in projector quality, such as the 4K UHD LG CineBeam makes the idea really worth consideration. They come in a range of price brackets from around $3500 upward.

 Then, and not finally by any means, there is the TV that looks like an artwork – and they do a pretty good job of fooling us that they are not TVs. You have to program them to show an artwork within the bezel frame – Samsung via Harvey Norman offers 75-inch sized The Frame for about the $3000 mark – but specials come and go as we know too well.