10 Living Rooms That Don’t Revolve Around the TV
Think outside the (goggle) box and create a calm haven with a different focus
Amy Maynard
19 July 2016
Houzz UK Contributor. I am an interiors consultant and journalist and have completed some fabulous projects and worked on some the UK's best-selling mags. I am passionate about homes and interiors and once looked at 99 different properties before putting in an offer. For me, gaining a furtive glimpse into someone's brightly-lit and beautiful house as I walk past is like getting an unexpected present. I live deep in the Kent countryside in a village house that dates back to the 17th Century with an Arts and Crafts facade. See more about me at www.amy-maynard.com and www.amymaynardinteriors.com.
Houzz UK Contributor. I am an interiors consultant and journalist and have completed... More
It’s amazing what can be achieved when screen time is banished, or hidden. Take inspiration from these living rooms and you could find yourself burying your nose in a good book, playing a game of cards or, who knows, even simply enjoying your surroundings. Hiding or repositioning the TV is a great way to bring the focus back to simply enjoying free time together. Here are some other ways to anchor your living room without all eyes being on the big black box.
Mimic the drawing rooms of old
If you want to make a statement with a room that’s set up to entertain and receive guests the old-fashioned way, arrange your furniture in a circle and unite the configuration with a huge rug underneath it all.
This is a great way of tying a scheme together, too. For example, select a rug with accent colours that are featured in other parts of the room, like this soft grey.
Check out more ways a rug can help a scheme
If you want to make a statement with a room that’s set up to entertain and receive guests the old-fashioned way, arrange your furniture in a circle and unite the configuration with a huge rug underneath it all.
This is a great way of tying a scheme together, too. For example, select a rug with accent colours that are featured in other parts of the room, like this soft grey.
Check out more ways a rug can help a scheme
Gaze on a fire instead of a TV
A beautiful fireplace is the obvious alternative focal point to a television in many living rooms. This example shows how you can set up a double-sided fire to help zone a large, open-plan space, too. As well as the practical benefits of having a fire, flames are mesmerising to look at – some would argue more relaxing than the telly!
A beautiful fireplace is the obvious alternative focal point to a television in many living rooms. This example shows how you can set up a double-sided fire to help zone a large, open-plan space, too. As well as the practical benefits of having a fire, flames are mesmerising to look at – some would argue more relaxing than the telly!
Draw the eye upwards
A huge chandelier or light fitting is another way to capture attention and create a talking point.
Pairing a modern fitting with a period room makes a great contrast; similarly, an ornate, antique chandelier would make a wonderful juxtaposition in a contemporary scheme. When choosing a design, generally the lower the ceiling, the smaller the light fitting should be to help keep a room in proportion (there are always exceptions, of course, but it’s a good rule of thumb).
Take a look at these ideas for working with Victorian ceiling roses and chandeliers
A huge chandelier or light fitting is another way to capture attention and create a talking point.
Pairing a modern fitting with a period room makes a great contrast; similarly, an ornate, antique chandelier would make a wonderful juxtaposition in a contemporary scheme. When choosing a design, generally the lower the ceiling, the smaller the light fitting should be to help keep a room in proportion (there are always exceptions, of course, but it’s a good rule of thumb).
Take a look at these ideas for working with Victorian ceiling roses and chandeliers
Turn your coffee table into a tiny library
Go big on interesting books for guests to flick through, and pile them high (and low if you have space or a shelf underneath) on your coffee table. This way, instead of having all your seating – and guests or members of your household – facing the telly, all eyes will be on the printed visual feast in front of them.
A large, low and sturdy coffee table will allow for maximum book stashing. Rotate your tomes so people get a fresh selection every few weeks.
Discover how to pick the perfect coffee table
Go big on interesting books for guests to flick through, and pile them high (and low if you have space or a shelf underneath) on your coffee table. This way, instead of having all your seating – and guests or members of your household – facing the telly, all eyes will be on the printed visual feast in front of them.
A large, low and sturdy coffee table will allow for maximum book stashing. Rotate your tomes so people get a fresh selection every few weeks.
Discover how to pick the perfect coffee table
Watch the world
Who needs a plasma screen when you have a gorgeous landscape to rest your eyes upon? While we might not all be as lucky as this homeowner, whose house offers spectacular countryside views, maximise what vistas you do have by providing seating from which you can drink it all in.
Minimal window dressings will help, but might not always be practical. If you need privacy, too, consider using voile drapes, half-window blinds or shutters to shield you from neighbours or passers-by while not totally obscuring the views. Alternatively, embrace a certain lack of privacy – a bit of people-watching can be good entertainment, too!
Who needs a plasma screen when you have a gorgeous landscape to rest your eyes upon? While we might not all be as lucky as this homeowner, whose house offers spectacular countryside views, maximise what vistas you do have by providing seating from which you can drink it all in.
Minimal window dressings will help, but might not always be practical. If you need privacy, too, consider using voile drapes, half-window blinds or shutters to shield you from neighbours or passers-by while not totally obscuring the views. Alternatively, embrace a certain lack of privacy – a bit of people-watching can be good entertainment, too!
Make it about the sound instead
Design your room around music rather than a focal point for a vibrant, social room. Though giant speakers aren’t always the most stylish of items – and we often do our best to hide them! – this room puts them centre stage, along with the sofa and striking art on the wall.
If you prefer to keep such things out of sight, consider a wireless system that will pump tunes from hidden points in the ceiling and walls. Turn your music up loud and fill your senses a different way.
Design your room around music rather than a focal point for a vibrant, social room. Though giant speakers aren’t always the most stylish of items – and we often do our best to hide them! – this room puts them centre stage, along with the sofa and striking art on the wall.
If you prefer to keep such things out of sight, consider a wireless system that will pump tunes from hidden points in the ceiling and walls. Turn your music up loud and fill your senses a different way.
Create a gallery feel
You hardly notice the lack of a TV in this space, since there’s so much else to look at, and there are plenty of ways to add interest in your living room in lieu of a telly. In this example, the owners have gone for bespoke shelving with a section of bold wallpaper, creating plenty of room for displaying art and interesting curios – good for creating a talking point when guests come over.
The downlighting within the shelving unit of this sociable space is also a clever way to highlight a treasured collection and attract the eye, leading from the dining area to an inviting place to relax after a meal. This is a room designed for entertaining!
Alternatively, you could colour code your books or add some large, bright artworks to create a screen-free focal point.
You hardly notice the lack of a TV in this space, since there’s so much else to look at, and there are plenty of ways to add interest in your living room in lieu of a telly. In this example, the owners have gone for bespoke shelving with a section of bold wallpaper, creating plenty of room for displaying art and interesting curios – good for creating a talking point when guests come over.
The downlighting within the shelving unit of this sociable space is also a clever way to highlight a treasured collection and attract the eye, leading from the dining area to an inviting place to relax after a meal. This is a room designed for entertaining!
Alternatively, you could colour code your books or add some large, bright artworks to create a screen-free focal point.
Cleverly camouflage your telly
Rather than not having a TV in your sitting room at all, you could shift the focus, as shown here – at first glance, it’s difficult to locate the screen.
Investigate pre-made shelving units you can paint black, or have bespoke dark shelving fitted to accommodate your screen and watch it blend into the background. If you prefer your walls to be light, check out the various coloured televisions now available on the market, such the Bouroullec brothers’ Serif design, and see which you could potentially match to your favoured paint shade.
Rather than not having a TV in your sitting room at all, you could shift the focus, as shown here – at first glance, it’s difficult to locate the screen.
Investigate pre-made shelving units you can paint black, or have bespoke dark shelving fitted to accommodate your screen and watch it blend into the background. If you prefer your walls to be light, check out the various coloured televisions now available on the market, such the Bouroullec brothers’ Serif design, and see which you could potentially match to your favoured paint shade.
Choose a ‘part-time’ TV
A clever option when it comes to hiding your telly completely is to look into custom-made shelving units with sliding panels. This way, when you’re not catching up on your favourite dramas, you can tuck the TV out of the way and – hopefully – forget it’s there.
TELL US…
Have you been inspired by any of these living rooms? Does your own space have a main focus other than a TV? Share you photos and stories in the Comments below.
A clever option when it comes to hiding your telly completely is to look into custom-made shelving units with sliding panels. This way, when you’re not catching up on your favourite dramas, you can tuck the TV out of the way and – hopefully – forget it’s there.
TELL US…
Have you been inspired by any of these living rooms? Does your own space have a main focus other than a TV? Share you photos and stories in the Comments below.
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Love these ideas. Artworks can be the perfect focus of the living room, especially when placed over a fireplace or next to a book case. Forget the TV, a lounge like this is perfect for sitting back and reading by the fire.
Mirrors are a wonderful focus in the living room, increasing the light and giving an illusion of increased space. Much nicer than the dead black screen of a flatscreen TV.
Can't you get TV's now that look like mirrors when they are turned off? Great ideas here if that isn't an affordable option though!
I've solved this problem by not having a TV.