Let's face it. TV has become central to our lives and its prominence is only increasing. And, while I love watching TV, having it front and center makes me feel like a guy in his first bachelor apartment. Putting the TV in the bedroom is one option but, apart from possibly killing the romance (although I love watching TV cuddled up in bed with someone), what if I have people over to watch a movie or some event television like the Golden Globes or The Emmys? Would we all pile in my bed? For right now, the TV's staying in the living room. The question becomes, which wall to put it on?
Side Wall: Originally I felt strongly about putting it on the side wall. There were a couple of reasons this seemed like a good idea: I could just run the cable over the kitchen doorway myself without having to call in the cable guy, I wouldn't have to move the very heavy poster, it was out of the way, I usually watch TV while lying on the couch anyway so it would be good placement, I liked the visual of seeing the poster when you walk into the house as opposed to the TV. But opinions were heavily weighted against this idea.
Back Wall: Putting it on the back wall means it's more conducive to having people over to join me. If we're playing a game, there's more room to swing your arms or rock out. To get around the problem of walking into the house and being confronted by the TV, Gregory, over on Unpluggd, suggested I work to distract the eye away from the TV. One option would be to put a wide couch table with knick knacks on it and a few pictures below it. A vintage lamp I recently got picks up the blue green color in the poster. Placed on the table alongside the knick knacks, it may act as another deterrent by steering the eye from the lamp to the side wall where the poster is and skipping over the TV entirely. Adding a second chair which faces towards the couch emphasizes that the focus is on hanging out and conversation rather than watching TV. Part of my feeling apprehensive about this idea was feeling hemmed in by where the cable is. I felt elated to learn that the cable company will do one move for free per year and that the cost, if I have to end up paying for it, is a lot less than I was imagining.
Image: Abby Stone; Photoshop rendering by Gregory Han
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Back wall, if you ask me!
It's awkward to hang a TV where people can must walk in front of it. Also, the front of a TV is a lot more attractive than the side.
I vote for the back wall.
Maybe you could leave it on the back wall and try framing it. By doing that, when the TV is off it almost looks like just another picture, and your eye probably wont linger on it as long because it won't really stand out. And when its on well it's doing its job so you can look at it all you like.
Just a thought.
Two apartments ago, I faced this same question and, perplexed, allowed my TV to linger in the moving box long after I'd organized the rest of my new home.
This led me to a new question: Do I need a TV at all? My answer was no, so I sold it. It was honestly, the best design-inspired lifestyle choice I've ever made.
With movies and tv readily available online and on dvd, I chose to use my laptop when I wanted to. That worked well as a single, and has continued to be just fine as a married gal. The difference now is that we enjoy other pursuits a lot more than TV.
The back (the picture you have up) looks like the most natural option you have available. I also love the big poster on the side wall. Cute place!
back wall, yes. wide couch table, yes.
you could also move the standing lamp into the back left corner (seems kinda large where it is, anyway) and pull the lounge chair out a bit so that someone sitting in it could converse, or could swivel the chair around to watch tv. you could then put a side table/ lamp next to the couch, or put a lamp on the table behind the couch.
If it were on the side wall, you'd get glare on the screen during the day from your window.
(Off topic, but wow, the perspective is really messed up; the proportions of the poster look completely different for each photo. XD I must keep this in mind when looking at pictures for rental offerings....)
Back wall, just like the photo. And what are those goofy crayons?! They look so out of place!
Speak for yourself! In our life, the centrality of TV is _de_creasing. It's a choice ;-)
How about put the TV... nowhere?
Back Wall
And yeah - the little white credenza just isn't right behind the sofa
What a lovely room. In general, I am anti-big TVs like the one you show. Here you have a very pleasing room and then BAM the TV just dominates and shifts the whole vibe. I put my much smaller TV on a white and stainless metal cart that I bought for 20 bucks on Craigslist. It gives me flexibility for watching in bed or the living room or even better, it can be stashed away in the closet. I like everything else you've done with the room. If you must have that huge TV then, yeah, the back wall is best. But I vote for banishing it.
I had a similar problem with the tv being the focal point in our living room. After months of searching, we found a cabinet that originally sat on top of a dresser (I believe) to hide the tv. I went to a local ironworks shop and had them make a base/legs (see link below). It might be an option for you, perhaps in the back left corner.
http://diynovice12.blogspot.com/2011/01/blog-post.html
I'm with Alicebot - TV is far from central in my life.
Don't mean to be a crank, but television isn't gaining any momentum in my life. I haven't owned one for two years. I still don't have enough time to read, check news online, watch YouTube, and mostly hang with friends.
I haven't watched TV in ages so am, like some other posters, contemplating giving it up altogether. Am also trying to think of a way to to hang piece of art over and in front of the TV in such a way as to be removable when/if I do want to watch. ("Two for the Road" is one of my faves - love the poster!)
Hey, I remember your previous post! These photos are much better.
I think the TV is best on the back wall. As for people saying to get rid of your TV, well, that isn't the problem, now is it?! Obviously you want to watch TV; that's why you asked for advice on placing it and that's why you have one. And there is nothing wrong with that!
If you want to direct attention away from the TV being there, you could add more decorations, like a hanging paper lantern (or several), some plants (hanging or large, potted ones).
As for your cable wire, you could purchase a long one in a color that matches your wall or carpet and staple/nail the cable along the floor or ceiling. I love to rearrange my living room & did this so I could place the TV away from the cable jack. You really don't notice it.
I'm with the posters that disagree that tv is increasing in being front and center in our lives. My husband and I have been tv-free for 9 years in March, and many of our friends live a similar lifestyle.
Back wall, definitely. Move the crayolas, unless there's some reason you keep covering up the bottom of that poster? And pay no attention to the people who tell you to sell the TV. It's your house; do what you want.
I like the placement of the TV on the back wall. The side wall would just give you horrible glare during the day and the back wall seems to have the TV at a comfortable place for sitting on the couch without having to rearrange everything. When the TV is off I tend to not notice it unless it's like a 60" or something and looks overbearing.
Back wall is perfect.
I tend to loath these posts because all of the TV detractors come out of the woodworks.....
*rolls eyes*
Personally I think nothing is more attractive than an awesome tech setup in a home.
Another vote here for the back wall. Hang artwork in dark (or black) frames in different sizes around it to help make it seem less prominent.
The back wall as in the second pic. I really like the repeats of the dark rectangles and the decreasing sizes gives a long perspective to the room. The dark table behind the sofa is a big improvement over the white.
I might put the lamp more in the corner and white chair closer to the sofa, as has been suggested. All depends on if the lamp is used for reading or general ambiance.
BTW, nice TV.
No advice, but chiming in to say that Two for the Road is one of my favorite movies. Love Albert Finney!
Let me be the first to say KEEP the Crayolas. They add a bright spot of color to the room, and right now, they're one of the main things distracting the eye from the TV.
I also second the vote to find a frame to put around the TV-- maybe you can find a cool vintage frame you leave as-is or paint to match your decor. When done successfully, the TV really looks like art when it's off.