This “Unconventional” Style Hack Solved My Living Room TV Mounting Problem

published Feb 15, 2024
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Credit: Photo: Armando Rafael; Stylist: Margaret Ward

When I moved from my New York City apartment to New Jersey about a year-and-a-half ago, I never imagined my suburban living room would actually be smaller than what I had before. While house hunting, I got distracted by my now-living room’s original stained glass windows, which are set above a brick fireplace and a half-wall of built-in shelves, and opposite a large wooden staircase that’s equally dreamy.

What isn’t so perfect? The fact that the room is almost completely open on its remaining two sides, to a sunroom and dining room, respectively. This meant I had to say goodbye to my living room gallery wall, and figure out where to put the TV. 

Once I started to place my furniture in the space, a few things became apparent: The sofa would have to float in the middle of the room to keep the fireplace and stained glass windows as the focal point. And a TV, although technically mountable above the fireplace if we went with a small enough size, would absolutely distract from the beauty of the windows.

I know this isn’t a huge problem in the grand scheme of things, but I’m a TV person, so I was stumped. Luckily, a few months ago, Samsung offered me the opportunity to consult with one of their designer-architect friends, Leyden Lewis of AD100 and Elle Decor A-Lister fame, so I could try out a product from the Samsung Lifestyle line. These TVs pack a little more punch than the average flatscreen, thanks to their designs that go beyond the typical wall-mount setup or television stand.

Lewis was up to the challenge and didn’t want me to have to place a big boxy TV in between my stained glass windows. He came up with two different ideas for me — one of which was putting The Frame TV on Samsung’s Studio Stand. I decided to go with this option because with an easel-like mount, the TV is endlessly repositionable, and I wouldn’t have the hard costs or time associated with installing a projector screen in my living room (The Samsung Freestyle portable projector was the other option). Even more importantly, this solution doesn’t require me to permanently jam another piece of furniture or tech into an already-small room. 

Most people want to hang The Frame in a gallery wall arrangement or use it solo as a statement piece of “art” that instantly morphs into a TV. But if you don’t have the wall space, getting one and putting it on a stand or easel is actually a brilliant idea. I can now park the TV in my office that’s off the living room, and when I want to sit on my sofa and watch it, all I have to do is move it.

Because I have the 43-inch model (some sizes are on sale for Presidents’ Day!), the TV is less than 20 pounds, and the stand is just as easy to pick up. The only thing you have to think about is The Frame’s One Connect system — both the HDMI and power are routed in a single small wire connected to a small receiver box — so you will have to have that box plugged in nearby. All Frame TVs require this — even if you choose to wall-mount yours. But you can pretty much get as long of a cord as you need to connect it to your television so you can move it freely; just be sure you don’t trip over the cord!

Credit: Danielle Blundell

I’ve loved the flexibility this setup has given me. Most of the time, The Frame serves as a rotating piece of “art” in my office, filling an otherwise empty corner with something pretty to look at. But at night or on the weekends, I can just move it a few feet into my living room without having to give up what little floor space I have permanently — or distracting from my stained glass windows. And if I want to really indulge, I can even position the TV in front of the table in my dining room to watch a hockey game during dinner. What can I say? Right now, I’m really in my multitasking era. 

If you find yourself in an apartment where you either lack wall space or can’t drill into your walls for whatever reason, definitely consider this TV placement hack. Samsung even makes a one-and-done television for this exact purpose, The Serif, but I chose to go with The Frame because it fits the aesthetic of my 1928 home a little better. But you might be surprised how much you like not mounting your TV or putting it on a bulky piece of furniture — especially if you live in a smaller space.