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Floating TV Units are becoming increasingly popular, and with them comes the challenge of figuring out how to decorate around them, conceal them, or, in other words, make them look less like a black hole in the corner of your living room.
When they're turned on, we want to stare at them a lot.

It's no surprise that many people have trouble decorating around Floating TV Units. We're going to take this sucker on with a couple tricks in our sleeves. In today's piece, I've got a solution for you whether you have a big budget or almost none; whether you're able to make fundamental improvements or just need a quick style repair.

This option gives the Floating TV Units the appearance of being purposefully placed... almost as if they were part of the furniture. The large screen, rather than sticking out like a sore thumb, takes a second seat to all that exquisite, show-stopping woodwork. Plus, open shelving allows you to show off your interior design skills.

Plus, by including cupboards behind the shelves, you'll gain a ton of secret storage space to stow DVDs and gaming gear out of sight!
You'll need to make something else the focal point of the space if you don't want the Floating TV Units to be the focal point. The ideal answer is a fireplace. When you use a feature material on the mantle, you'll make a huge, bold statement that will steal the show.

Plus, nothing beats gathering with family or friends around a warm fire in the living room. It's just so inviting and kind.
This is a popular choice because it does not necessitate any long-term or costly structural adjustments to the room. Simply hang some artwork - anyone, anywhere can do it! Not to mention, putting together an eclectic gallery wall is a great way to show off your unique flair. There will never be two identical gallery walls.

A few pointers for putting up an eye-catching gallery wall. To begin, utilize a variety of art sizes and frames, and pay attention to the negative space between your pieces. If they're too dispersed, they won't appear coherent – as if they belong together. You want them to jigsaw together like a puzzle.
Next, notice how the artworks in these examples overlap BEHIND the Floating TV Units? Instead of standing out like an uncomfortable adolescent at a school dance, this is a really ingenious approach to make the TV feel grounded in the arrangement.

Any décor will benefit from a tastefully framed mirror. Wouldn't it be fantastic if you could turn your drab TV into a seductive mirror?
Wait, there's more! Dielectric mineral glass is a special two-way glass that looks like a mirror when the TV is turned off but is entirely transparent when the TV is turned on.

Some businesses will come out and install the unique two-way glass over your existing Floating TV Units and add a frame to complete the illusion, while others will come out and install the special two-way glass over your existing Floating TV Units and add a frame to complete the illusion! However, only certain televisions may be suited for this procedure, so check with the manufacturer to see what they propose.

Let's return to some basic easy fixes, shall we? Here's a simple approach to achieve some balance with what you already have.
An entertainment unit with a TV produces a triangle composition that can be difficult to decorate around. A tall object, such as a floor lamp or a potted tree, helps to create a sense of equilibrium. So go ahead and add some height to the room by bringing in something tall to balance out the Floating TV Units!
It's worth noting that all of these configurations are asymmetrical, with something tall on one side and shorter on the other. On the end of a TV unit, a selection of vases is usually a terrific filler.

People, plants are your friends. Plants in pots, baskets, hanging plants, and even a swath of greenery in a vase all serve the dual purpose of covering that awkward blank space surrounding and beside the TV while also bringing the outdoors in.
Guaranteed to make you feel like a boho hipster lounging in your own personal indoor garden, rather than a 21st-century slave.
There are various reasons why mounting your TV on the wall is preferable to leaving it freestanding on a media console. Mounting your Floating TV Units is something many homeowners have on their DIY to-do list, with sticky fingers and the risk of them tipping it over being at the forefront of many people's minds – as well as a desire to tidy –

However, it is naturally a difficult task. If you've spent a lot of money on the best TV, the last thing you want to do is screw it up and ruin it, as well as the wall.
It's also crucial to consider where you'll put your television. It's unsettling to watch when the volume is too low or too high. This is why, even if it is more difficult, mounting a TV is often preferable to utilizing a TV stand. You can ignore any other 'best practices' you may find online concerning tv size and distance up the wall if you use the central point of your TV screen as your main point of reference. Your final goal is to ensure that it is at a comfortable level for everyone who views it.
It should be at eye level.

When seated on the sofa, the optimal arrangement for a fixed Floating TV Units is to align the center of the screen with your eye level. You also want the entire screen to be inside your field of view, so keep that in mind when shopping for a television. If you have a small area with little space between the sofa and the wall, you may not want to acquire a large TV because it will strain your eyes and be uncomfortable to watch. In a huge room with a little TV, you don't want to have to squint to see it!

You should also examine other items on the wall that may obstruct your ability to position your TV at the optimal height, such as a fireplace. TVs must be at least four inches (10cm) away from the top of an electric fire or six to twelve inches (15–30cm) away from the mantle of a real woodburning fireplace. Because televisions are heat-sensitive, this prevents them from being destroyed by the flames. Place your Floating TV Units within these restrictions, but as close as possible to your preferred viewing level. If you need to raise your TV, make sure you have a mount that can tilt downwards to make watching more comfortable.
By sitting on the sofa and facing directly at the wall where you want the TV to go, you may determine the ideal viewing height. Fixate on one point and have someone mark the wall. Make sure you're staring straight ahead and not tilting your head forward or backwards. This is where the bracket will be placed, and thus the screen's center. Check that this height is comfortable for everyone else in the house and, if necessary, lower it (there will have to be a bit of compromise between kids and adults).

Tip: Make a mock-up of your TV screen out of wrapping paper and tape it to the wall to make sure it's at a suitable viewing angle.
Horizontally, center
You may also want your TV to be perfectly centered against a wall or chimney breast, so divide the width of the wall/area by two with your tape measure. This will be your new focus point, so mark it at the same level as your TV's 'center.'
The mounting holes in most Floating TV Units are usually framing the center of the TV and are 200mm apart width-ways and 100mm vertically in a rectangle, according to a specified standard (the VESA standard) for wall-mounting. If you have an older television with mounting holes that are closer to the top or bottom, you'll need to modify your mounting height and make sure your mount fits.
The first step is to check for any live cables, pipes, or studs behind where you wish to put your Floating TV Units with your stud finder. If there are pipes or live wires, you'll want to rethink where you're going to put your TV or be very careful to avoid those places — cut off the power before digging just in case.
You can use your stud finder to determine if there are any wooden studs where you can install your TV if you're mounting it on drywall (plasterboard). Studs offer a solid hold without the need for drilling or rawl plugs. Heavy-duty plasterboard rawl plugs are required if there are metal studs or no studs where the TV will be installed. The Blue Grip It fasteners are ideal for this because they can support up to 245 pounds/113 kilograms, making them ideal for TVs. It's fine if you only have a stud on one side of the mount; just use rawl plugs on the other.
You'll need masonry rawl plugs (typically red or brown) if you're mounting the Floating TV Units on a brick wall, such as a brick fireplace, and you'll want the heavy-duty sort built for heavy goods. For a stronger hold, make sure you drill into the brick rather than the mortar when marking.

Remove the mount from the wall and drill any holes that are required. If you have a stud, leave those marks because a screw can be driven right in without drilling. If you're using Grip Its, you'll need to use a flathead screwdriver to open up the wings at the back. Then you'll need to reposition the mount against the wall to screw in the bolts and any wood screws into the studs. Tighten it up a little more, double-check the level, then go to work on the TV bracket.

Your bracket will have a choice of different mounting options for various TVs. Choose the proper ones for your Floating TV Units by putting them in the holes on the back of your screen. They'll have to be able to screw all the way in. Use the spacers and screws as directed in the mount instructions and secure with a handheld screwdriver once you've figured out which one it is. A drill is far too powerful for this task, and it may damage your television.
After you've installed the bracket, you can secure it to the wall mount. Some varieties simply hook on, while others require screws or bolts to be attached, while still others require hooking and tightening bolts. You'll want to plug in your Floating TV Units once everything is secure.

The idea is to have your TV fit in with the rest of the room's decor. Integrating your TV inside a beautiful built-in, for example, is fantastic! There's nothing wrong with highlighting a media center if it's a truly stunning piece of architecture.
Big, bulky entertainment centers, on the other hand, are usually *not* attractive pieces of design; they're designed to be functional, but they don't always seem that way.
Anything from the 1980s or 1990s is unlikely to look fantastic.
Is that a yellow oak? Probably not very good. What about massive laminate entertainment units? Another resounding no. Cabinets and shelves with a million small cubby holes? No, as well. Units that resemble "hutches" and are intended to be used as Floating TV Units? Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh,
I believe we've all seen enough of this old chestnut to confidently conclude that we will never see this TV stand, or any derivative of it, again.
It's one of the saddest-looking television stands I've ever seen. You could put it in a boardroom or something, but it doesn't belong in anyone's home room.
So, let's assume you've just moved into your new home and there's just one reasonable place in the living room to put the TV.
And that spot happens to be a 40-inch-wide portion of wall (or a section of your fireplace).

This means that your 50-inch television will not look nice on this wall. It'll be way too huge to fit on the wall!
If you're only allowed to use a portion of a wall, keep in mind that there should be enough breathing room around your Floating TV Units for it to appear visually balanced. At the very least, aim for a few inches of clearance on both sides! (At least 3′′ would be excellent).
The center of your screen should be at eye level or just below for Floating TV Units, according to the common rule of thumb. You don't want to be craning your neck upward for long periods of time when watching TV.
However, if you have a particularly large room, you *can* afford to hang the TV higher up because your seating arrangement may be more distant than typical. You might even enjoy cooking while watching TV from across the room in the kitchen. As a result, there are occasional exceptions to the norm, although they usually only function in considerably bigger spaces.
But, when your Floating TV Units are too big for your console or TV stand, is it always obvious? Nope! It wouldn't be such a common blunder if it wasn't.
I recommend choosing a console that is at least a few inches wider (on both sides!) than the width of your TV.

It's vital to remember that TVs are measured diagonally, but TV consoles are measured horizontally, so when choosing your console, make sure to factor in the actual width of your TV screen.
With my 65′′ TV, I've experimented with several distances, and I've found that placing the sofa any further away from the screen than 7 or so feet creates a disconnect from the screen and makes it feel less cozy. Though I appreciate that for some, this may be a little too close, I believe that the 7′ sweet spot gives a much more immersive experience.
We also play a lot of PS4 and Nintendo Switch games, so it's the ideal distance for us.

This is very similar to what PC Mag says in their article, but vastly different from what Samsung suggests.
Finally, because your sofa will be further away, I'd think it's pretty safe to say that the bigger your space is, the bigger screen you'll need. The same is true for tiny rooms: if your space is limited, your sofa will most likely be close to your Floating TV Units, thus you'll probably prefer a smaller television.
The fear of hanging a TV over the fireplace has grown over the last decade and a half. This was true with plasma TVs, but plasma technology is no longer widely utilized.

In most cases, you can safely hang your television over the fireplace. The only thing to keep in mind is that the temperature of the area beneath the television does not exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit. If you're worried, you can put a thermometer in the area where you wish to put your Floating TV Units as a test and see for yourself. Trust me, 100 degrees is really hot; your fireplace is unlikely to produce that level of heat!

It's a misconception, and basically just an outmoded belief, that the heat from the fireplace will damage your television — your TV won't melt, and the mantel will act as a heat barrier. If your fireplace was indeed so hot, your mantel would show evidence of heat damage long before your TV.
If that's the ideal answer for your room (i.e. the final TV position isn't too high for comfortable viewing), then hang your Floating TV Units over the fireplace.
A fireplace is a main point, but if you have a huge TV in a room, it will also be a focal point from a décor aspect. It makes far more sense to marry the two components so that they can be enjoyed together at the same time than to have them compete.

Leaving an ugly tangle of cords behind, below, or next to your Floating TV Units will instantly detract from the overall atmosphere of your room.
Gather all of the cables and utilize cable raceways, paintable wire covers, or even PVC pipes to hide your TV cables in the most aesthetically pleasing manner.
Consider routing the cables into the wall for the ultimate clean look if you own your home and the TV position is permanent.
As a designer and self-proclaimed decorating fanatic, it hurts me to acknowledge that adorning your house entails more than just choosing wonderful furniture to complement lovely paintings and pillows.

It turns out that everyone must make some practical decisions. One of the most important considerations is the height at which Floating TV Units should be installed. Allow me to clarify if you're debating whether or not to install it at all: mounted TVs always look a thousand times better and make your home look polished. As a result, mount, mount, mount.
So, now that you've made the wise decision to mount your telly, you'll have a slew of questions: how high should it go? And where are you going? Oh, and what about the cords; how can you get rid of them?
That's why I'm here today to explain it. So buckle up as we delve into how high to place Floating TV Units, the unit behind them, how to hide cords, and much more.
Before we talk about how high a TV should be mounted in your living room, consider everything that plugs into it and what you'll do with the cords. Nobody wants to see a power board with cables all over it, so let's avoid it like a drunk uncle at Christmas.
Get an electrician to run all of your HDMI cords and other cables from where your TV will reside, down through the wall to where your set-top box, gaming consoles, and other devices will dwell below if you have the budget (and I recommend you do).

They can also install a power outlet and an antenna outlet just behind the new TV spot. This hides everything, and all you have to worry about now is keeping things tidy where they hook into your gadgets and behind the TV. If you choose the right mount, the television should hide that (more on that below).
Cable concealers are a good choice for your Floating TV Units if you can't run your connections through the wall. Although not ideal, it is preferable to dangling wires. They hide your wires and stick to the wall, at the very least keeping things tidy. Look for one that complements the color of your wall paint.