Decor Portfolio

From the time that television first became popular in American homes some forty-odd years ago, it has presented a perpetual challenge: hot to assimilate it into living spaces without letting it dominate them.

Initially, the television was usually kept in the living room of most homes, often as a freestanding console that resembled a piece of furniture.  As it became less bulky, and then portable, the television could be found in many more rooms.  Now, it’s a fixture in nearly every family room and its frequently found in the workshop, the kitchen, the children’s bedroom, and the maser bedroom suite.  The question remains, however, whether this ubiquitous fixture should be left out in the open, given a low profile, or disguised altogether.  And the answer is purely personal.  Electronics enthusiasts might want the area of the family room that houses the TV, stereo, and VCR to feel like a media room, with an entertainment center that displays the equipment with a combination of open shelves and glass-front cabinets. Large, high-quality screens and slim lines make some televisions ideal candidates for placement in a narrow wall system that doesn’t intrude in a small room; shallow shelves and storage around the big screen can help downplay its size.
If you want to de-emphasize the TV when it’s not in use, you can hide the unit inside an armoire or a large cupboard, or even in a specially outfitted closet.  Just be certain that interior shelving can accommodate the television, its writing, and any related equipment of gadgetry, and that the set itself be a swivel shelf or turntable that can be pulled away from the cabinet to allow easy viewing from more than one spot.  As an alternative, you might consider a custom cabinet or a built-in arrangement that is designed and fabricated to fir a particular space in your room – an option that may not necessarily be more costly than buying ready-made furnishings and perhaps be more in keeping with your decorating style.
 Wherever you put the TV, avoid causing glare on the screen from reflected daylight or artificial lighting. Angling the screen to benefit one viewer may make it worse for another seated elsewhere in the room.  Ideally, the set should be positioned to avoid reflections; if they cant be avoided, install window coverings such as shades, blinds, or simple drapes, which can be drawn or pulled down to adjust the amount of light.