TV in real life

Ever larger screens, a multitude of wires and cables we’d rather keep out of sight, more and more electronics – whether in the living room or home theatre, properly integrating a television and audio video equipment presents a definite challenge. Here are a few ideas on how you might "blend" these elements into your decor so that you can get the most out of your leisure time.

 

Truly worthy of a grand movie theatre, here is a giant screen that is perfect for showing the great cinema masterpieces. We’ve installed warm, coloured wood cabinet around the screen for a beautiful finish and below, plenty of storage for audio and media equipment.. The deep red curtain serves to accentuate the dominant "movie theatre" style theme of this room.

Home movies

A couple of dark brown ottomans provide extra seating when necessary and double as end tables, perfect for refreshments, popcorn and candy that are "de rigueur" for a successful night at the movies! Choose and combine shades of red, cream, and brown carefully, and you’ll have a room that is both interesting and modern.

With a modern nod to the old black and white cinema classics, this stylish and efficient home theatre draws on pure lines and right-angled design to give its occupants all the comfort and practicality they could possibly want. Fairly thick black moulding frames the large screen, contrasting strongly with the white walls. The result: spectacular! And, under the screen, a cabinet on wheels with lots of compartments for handy storage space for DVDs, audio and video equipment, and speakers. Two glass-door units on either side of the screen installation form an attractive arch and are also ideal for extra storage.

Classic black and white

The white furniture exudes such calm that you will feel impelled to relax... A console with two matching cubic, black leather stools provides a refreshments area. The built-in shelving painted black, three attractive right-angled frames mounted vertically, the stainless steel picture frames and rugs with rectangular motifs: all these accessories accentuate the simplicity of the lines and the two-toned theme of this decor.

Glass and stainless steel

In this very bright entertainment room full of symmetrical aspects, glass combines marvellously with stainless steel for a very modern look. On the walls at the back, under the window, two silver-coloured metal shelves on either side of the television set make it possible for the television to literally meld into the decor. They also provide the necessary space for the audio-video equipment and decorative accessories – in the accent colours of the room, of course.

To strengthen the symmetrical effect and give the area some warmth, we’ve included a number of plants.

A very simple black leather loveseat has been placed at an angle, freeing up space for a mini-bar which we’ve made out of a small stainless steel and glass shelf, where the glassware and accessories needed for mixing cocktails can be found. We then completed the ensemble with two matching stools.

 

 

Here is an ingenious solution for getting the most out of the available space. To integrate the television set into the decor, we’ve chosen to set it into a wall which we’ve built a few feet proud of the original, existing wall. We then had enough room to install solid wood shelves for the audio-video equipment. Thus, the wires are hidden from view and you have extra storage space into the bargain!

Decor with depth

On either side of the television, discreet doors provide easy access to the new space just created. On both doors, rectangular alcoves with recessed lighting have been built in, perfect for displaying decorative objects. The inside of the alcoves and outer moulding have been painted white to provide contrast and lighten the effect of the decor. The picture frames holding attractive orange-tinted pictures and the ceiling motif echo the rectangular shapes dominating the room. The footstool, end table, and chocolate coloured console harmonize with the back wall, and can be used for setting other decorative objects.

Very little is needed here to integrate the television into the decor. Two tall, narrow bookshelves on either side of the audio-video equipment make for interesting height effects as well as overall symmetry. The television is hardly noticed! The extension of the silver colour of the television set to the bookshelves makes the integration of the equipment to the decor easier. The sofa covers the length of the wall opposite the door, drawing the attention of those entering the room and making the first impression a warm and inviting one. Here – a decor that is simple yet inviting, promising hours of comfort and entertainment.

Symmetry and effects using height

In this bright and radiant living room, the whole back wall has been decorated with the audio-video equipment in mind. To integrate it into the decor, we thought we’d build boxes made to measure into the wall for the different pieces of equipment, painting the insides in the same shade as the walls. We’ve emphasized symmetry to harmonize the decor, placing the two speaker systems on either side of the screen. Other, smaller speakers were placed in a box the same size as that used for the television, whereas the audio-video equipment was installed under the television on specially built shelves.

Integration built in

 

Long, very stylish and practical curtains hang at both ends of the wall; the television and appliances can, when the curtains are drawn, be completely hidden from view. To complete the decor and provide a touch of colour at the same time, we’ve added a few attractive orange vases evenly spaced with three rectangular picture frames.

With the accent on natural

In this long, narrow room, the television has been set in the corner so as to show off an architectural element to full advantage – the beautiful stone wall. The small cabinet we’ve used for the television is still big enough to house the audio-video equipment, and matches the wood and glass end tables in the seating area. To make something grander of the small windows, we hung ceiling to floor curtains on either side of the sofa. The shades of brown and cream, as well as the blue accents on the fabric, harmonize well with the simple lines of the furniture, giving the room a natural allure that is very much in step with the latest trends.

By concentrating on symmetry and playing around with proportions and height, it is possible to blend TV and other audio-video equipment into the decor of the room. Plan your space, highlight the more interesting architectural elements, and integrate electronic equipment into the surrounding furnishings by emphasizing either contrast or continuity of shapes and colours. These are some of the ways to create the kind of atmosphere that will enable you to get maximum enjoyment from the leisure hours you spend in your own home theatre.