There’s a whole lot more to decorating a TV stand than simply plopping your TV on top. Whether you're a homeowner or a renter, the key to making your mark in the living room is realising that the area on and around your TV stand is the perfect spot to begin zoning the room and creating your own personal haven.
Where to start with decorating a TV stand
Like we said, embracing the fact that your TV stand is a ripe ground for experimenting with your personal taste and carving out a style and space of your own. Often the simplest things from colour scheme, positioning and materials can drastically change how the area is perceived.
Here are just a few things you should consider on your TV unit décor journey.
Selecting a TV stand that will make your living room sing
To start off on the right foot, you should pick the TV unit that really speaks to your unique style. If you’re drawn to a particular aesthetic – be it rustic, industrial or scandi – it’s never too late to incorporate it into your home.
Choosing a style: maximalist, minimalist or something in between?
Now you have the canvas for your painting, so to speak, it’s a good idea to think about how busy you want the area to be. There’s plenty of choice here and it doesn’t have to reflect the rest of your home. For instance, you could contain a taste of maximalism in one corner. It’s up to you.
Complementing your room’s colour palette
You also want to think about the room’s overall palette. What colours go with oak furniture? What about a glass TV stand? Or a mango wood one?
Working with your surroundings
As well as complementing your room’s colour scheme, you should pay attention to the architectural features of the room. Can you work with a fireplace? Can you make use of an alcove? Might it be a good idea to coordinate your chosen aesthetic with features like ceiling architrave? Even the height of your coffee table and sofa can become guiding lights for the direction of your design.
12 TV stand decor ideas to get your creativity flowing
1. Take a leaf out of the biophilic design book
Turn up the ambience by following the principles of biophilic design. That means incorporating different types of wood furniture and natural textiles to bring nature indoors and making your space feel brighter and healthier. To achieve this, opt for airy colours and open spaces. It makes a world of difference.
2. Follow the old slogan “less is more”
You can never go wrong with minimalism. Pick 1-3 different items to decorate the surface of your TV stand and introduce visual interest with some floating shelves on the wall behind. Then you can finish things off with a simple mirror or piece of artwork. If you're struggling with the placement, know that we have a full guide on the matter to help you out.
3. Try out farmhouse TV unit décor
A farmhouse-style TV unit is a great way to add some countryside character to an otherwise boring room. Whether you opt for a classically painted stand or allow the natural graining of the wood to shine, you can dress them up with plants, pottery and handmade textiles for that cosy cottage feel.
4. Design an artistic alcove with a selection of wall art
Gallery walls are becoming all the more popular as maximalism is back on trend. Part of the fun of curating an art wall around your TV stand is that it’s a perfect framing device and you can opt for any aesthetic under the sun from quirky and kitsch to vintage and preppy.
5. Create harmony at home with feng shui
Before you scoff at this tip, hear us out. Although feng shui TV placement and positioning are crucial if you follow this primordial practice, there is more than a morsel of interior design wisdom at the heart of it that everyone should learn from.
Feng shui is the thoughtful art of arranging objects, layouts and spacing in the home to create harmony and balance. Of course, this covers visuals, but primarily we’re talking about the energy or feel of a space.
Feng shui masters advise against placing the TV in the direct line of sight as you enter a room. Why? It’s simple: if it’s the first thing you see, you’re more likely to take the path of least resistance and go to turn it on. Instead, try positioning your TV elsewhere, ensuring that your sofa remains in a commanding spot and that your seating isn’t too close to the screen. We’re thinking at least 8-10 feet away.
This set-up will radiate a sense of ease and harmony into your space, making it the perfect spot to unwind in the evening with a warm cup of tea. Plus, you are encouraging healthier habits!
6. Go by the rule of three
From one set of spatial guidelines to another. If you’re really into interior design, you may have heard of this method – after all, we designers are all over it. So, what is the rule of three?
Well, it basically entails grouping accessories, fixtures and furniture pieces into vignettes of 3 and sometimes even 5, 7 or 9. If you’re sensing a pattern here, you’re not wrong. Odd numbers are an interior designer's best friend – they appear more appealing, memorable and visually stimulating than even-numbered groupings.
So if something’s not looking quite right with your ornaments try removing one until you hit an odd number or rearranging them into two odd-numbered groups – you’ll be surprised at what difference it can make to the visual experience!
This little trick works on practically any surface, so coffee table decoration, kitchen worktop tidying and table setting will all benefit. You can even try it out with varying heights: so, a wall hanging, plant and ornament all on one side of your TV stand.
7. Get the Mid-Century Modern look
If you’ve been paying attention, you’ll know that the mid-century modern design trend is experiencing something of a resurgence. Characterised by elements such as a tendency towards clean lines, muted hues, a blend of natural and synthetic materials, graphic shapes and colours, this style has been around since the mid-1950s.
To bring the mid-century modern look into your TV unit décor, build up a comprehensive scheme around a vintage stand, contrasting the natural tones of the wood with bold pops of colour. These accent colours could be jewel-toned accessories such as a decorative lamp or your wall colour painted in an earthy terracotta. Whatever floats your boat.
8. Add wood trim or panelling to the wall
Another way to instantly add a new dimension to your living room is by framing or contrasting your TV stand with wood trim or panelling. This will add an unabashedly modern twist to the space that keeps things interesting and drawing attention away from the TV, which is ideal if you don’t want the screen to dominate the room.
9. Encase with fitted shelving
This is one of the most space-savvy ways of decorating a TV stand: surround it with fitted shelving to create a wall of curiosities or a mini library. Whichever way you sway, you can ensure that the space will feel homier with all of your family photos and personal trinkets on display.
10. Find refuge in symmetry
If you’ve been struggling to find a focal point in your living room because you don’t have any architectural features that mark out the space, you can let your TV stand do that for you.
Simply lean into symmetry by aligning a showstopping sofa like our stunning leather and Harris tweed two-seater with a grand wooden TV unit and the place will start coming together. Add a pendant light, dripping with charm and you’ll have yourself a cosy entertainment centre you can’t forget.
11. Introduce wicker baskets for stylish storage
If your TV stand has shelving, you can neaten up these storage nooks by adding wicker baskets to hold all that clutter. Whether it’s full of remotes, video game controllers or miscellaneous wiring, your living room will look so much better with them all hidden away!
12. Leverage lighting for an ambience to die for
What’s the use of a beautifully styled TV unit if you can’t see it properly? This calls for the right lighting sources and some beautiful fixtures. To cultivate a snug intimate feel you can combine the soft light of candles with sconces on either side of the TV.
For those attempting to light a living room with a low ceiling, try a row of sleek semi-flush ceiling lights or a bespoke pendant light designed so that no one will bash their head off.
Stick around for more interior styling tips
And that’s it - everything you need to know on how decorating a TV stand can help you reinvent your living room. Whether it be switching up the backdrop or rearranging your ornaments, you can make these simple changes to make an overlooked spot shine and help you live your best life. It’s what you deserve!
Need more design advice? We’re here to help you. Explore the rest of our furniture and décor blog for the inside scoop on how to make your home a beautiful reflection of you.
