This Ridiculously Clever TikTok Hack Fakes the Look of a $1000 TV for Just $20
Practical items might be a necessity at home, but they’re not always the prettiest. The picture-perfect nightstand aesthetic almost never includes a box of tissues, for instance, and a kitchen counter vignette pretty much never features a stack of junk mail (guilty). One item you’re sure to use weekly but probably don’t give much design love? Your TV, which can often just feel like a big piece of equipment sticking out amidst the rest of your beautiful living area.
That’s why TVs like Samsung’s The Frame, which projects images like a screensaver when it’s not in use, have been so popular. Thanks to their low-key, stylish profile and ability to show works of art on the screen, they blend in perfectly with a gallery wall or stand out like an art piece on their own. However, they also come with a hefty price tag—over $1000 in some cases!
DIYer Cass Smith of Cass Makes Home understands the struggle, since she’s been wanting the Frame for a long time. But instead of saving up for the real deal, which could take years, she simply made her own $20 version—and honestly, the results look spot-on.
@cassmakeshome My DIY Frame TV for under $20 (check my insta for the full tutorial) ##diyer ##budgethacks ##budgethome ##homedecorhacks ##summervibes
♬ Vibin – Kesh Kesh
Smith started by measuring the inside perimeter of her television, and then picked up hardwood moulding shaped in the vintage look she desired. She added four extra inches to the four pieces so that she could cut them at a 45-degree angle, and then used corner clamps, epoxy, and a staple gun to get the rectangle shape in place. Once that was done, Smith sprayed the moulding with black paint (Rust-Oleum’s Canyon Black) and added a coat of Rub ‘n Buff’s “Antique Gold” to its center rim.
For the final step, Smith created an L-shaped bracket from 1×2 wood pieces and attached it to the back of the frame, which helps the frame stick out just enough from the wall to look like it’s part of the TV. (You can find a full tutorial at Smith’s blog, Cass Makes Home.)
This project has its complications—after all, using a miter saw to cut 45-degree angles even confused Smith—but the work is worth it for a custom frame like this. Smith also recommends downloading an app that has free images to project onto your TV’s screen, which really helps sell the art-like look.