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A TV is the catch-22 of living room design. Logistically, it makes the most sense to center your layout around them, as they often determine where the seating goes, but to do so is neither aesthetically pleasing nor conscientiously astute. After all, who wants to admit that a TV is the focal point of any space? It’s not nearly as interesting as having a bespoke gallery wall or bookshelf full of collected classics serve as the centerpiece. There are ways to disguise your television in a gallery wall or media console setup, but if you’d rather hide all evidence of its existence, we’ve stumbled across a seriously genius DIY that’ll help you keep your binge-watching tendencies hidden from plain sight.
The hack comes courtesy of Kristin Guy, an LA-based creative director, stylist, and photographer. Guy posted a stunning before-and-after transformation of her fireplace mantel on Instagram to great fanfare. All that’s required is a rug, a dowel, and a couple of sturdy hooks—it’s a simple DIY that really transforms any space and won’t take more than a weekend to complete.
“I’ve never been a big fan of seeing the television, and when we bought our home, there was only one dedicated place for it to live—mounted above the fireplace,” explains Guy of the impetus behind the project. “Not wanting a black box to be the focal point of the room, I immediately started brainstorming ideas on how to tastefully conceal it while not in use.”
Guy took the transformation a step further, painting the backdrop of her fireplace and mounting a faux mantel to create a perfectly styled vignette; but for those short on time or budget, it’s a totally optional move. The best part is that it’s totally customizable.
“There are so many different styles of rugs out there; go bold with graphics or more soft and minimal,” says Guy, noting that her favorite spots to find cool rugs are Aelfie, Shoppe Amber Interiors, West Elm, and even Etsy. “You can play the hanging hardware up or down. If you’re not into brass, go for matte black. The wooden dowel can also be stained any color you’d like or completely swapped out for a decorative curtain rod.” Guy was kind enough to share the step-by-step process, below.
You Will Need:
- 4×6-foot flat-weave rug, depending on TV width
- 2 sturdy brass hooks and wall-mounting hardware
- 1 wooden dowel, at least one inch in diameter
Instructions:
- Cut the wood dowel so it overlaps eight to 10 inches on each side of your television screen. Shown here is a 67-inch dowel to cover a 48-inch monitor.
- Attach the brass hooks or hanging hardware approximately six inches away and two to three inches above your television monitor.
- Fold the flat-weave rug over the wooden dowel and hang for a super-easy and lightweight wall hanging that hides your television in style.
Get the Look
