A giant television set might not be the most stylish decor accent, but it’s the undisputed focal point in many family rooms. Whether you’re watching movies, gaming, or letting the screen idle in the background, a television demands attention — so why not design around it?

In this guide, you’ll find TV wall decor ideas that balance form and function. From creative gallery walls and wall-mounted bookshelves to stylish panelling, this is how to decorate around a TV to make it a valuable addition to your interior design.

15 modern TV wall design ideas

A blank wall with a television feels unfinished, especially when you’re left with a big black rectangle after you power it off. These TV wall ideas add depth, color, and personality to make a big screen feel like part of a larger design. 

1. Bold wallpaper backdrop

A flat screen on a blank wall sticks out like a sore thumb. Adding an accent wall behind the TV gives the space a sense of presence, whether you're into mid-century modern geometric patterns, luxe florals, or a full-scale maximalist mural.

Dark, repeating patterns and large motifs can help camouflage a black TV and turn the whole media wall into a statement piece. Try matching other decor details, for example, turquoise and blue-toned palm leaves with an eclectic green sofa. Frame the wall with shelves and built-ins for extra dimension so the wallpaper pops without swallowing the whole room.

2. Sliding artwork

A television doesn’t have to be the main attraction on a wall. A sliding art panel or framed canvas is a clever way to hide the TV when it’s turned off. It’s a simple DIY project — mount a single large painting on a rail or custom frame panels that slide apart to reveal the screen underneath. Some smart TVs even have a setting that automatically displays an art piece of your choice. It’s a go-to styling hack for interior designers to balance tech and design, especially in homes that don’t have separate living and family rooms.

3. Black walls

A black wall is a daring design decision. While it will instantly camouflage a black TV, dark colors absorb light and make rooms feel smaller. In rooms with low ceilings or little natural light, it’s best to go with a single black accent wall rather than painting the whole room. 

To keep the room from feeling like a cave, balance dark walls with plenty of light accents. White trim, an off-white couch with a colorful throw, and a pair of gold pendant lights will make the room feel cool instead of gloomy.

4. Gallery wall

A carefully curated gallery wall sprinkles your attention across the wall rather than letting it settle on a TV set. Your TV wall design layout can vary: Keep the television front and center, or offset it to one side so the artwork grabs your focus first. Surround the screen with graphic prints or vintage movie posters to make the television feel like part of a larger display. 

A frame TV works especially well as part of a gallery wall, displaying images when it’s off to blend in with the rest of your pictures. Keep the palette tight and spacing consistent to keep it all collected. 

5. Sculptural sconces

If you want movie night to feel like a trip to the theater, skip overhead lights and bring in the drama with wall light fixtures. Sculptural sconces on either side of your TV can echo the glow of old-school cinema, especially in bronze, silver, or frosted glass with an Art Deco curve or angular Brutalist shape. 

In dark living rooms, sconces act like ambient lighting, and they feel more like wall art in brighter spaces. To tie the old-school interior design together, style the rest of your room with a plush sofa, lacquered frame TV, and vintage area rug with a bold Persian pattern or rich jewel tones.

Decorate with Art Deco lighting on Onton

6. Floating shelves

Wall-mounted shelving gives a TV wall three dimensions — and extra space to layer in decor. Style these shelves with books, sculptural ceramics, framed photos, and trailing plants. For a modern look, go with thin wood or matte black shelving, or try warmer painted shelves that echo your living room design. 

7. Recessed wall

If you’re renovating a family room or media center from the ground up, consider building a full recessed TV wall. The niche only needs to be shallow enough to fit a slim television, or you can go deeper for built-in shelving, backlights, and cabinet doors to hide the TV completely.

Learn how to use AI to imagine your media wall setup

8. Fireplace mantel

Mounting a TV above the mantel is a common interior design choice, but it can feel out of place without a contrast between high tech and classic architectural features. A frame TV is a good workaround for this design clash: When it’s off, the television displays artwork to blend more naturally into interior design schemes. 

Style the mantel with asymmetrical decor, like a low vase and stacked books on one side and a candle or picture frames on the other. This draws the eye to the mantel’s center, and then up to the TV.

9. Textured panels

A flat screen doesn’t have to mean flat walls. Textured panels behind your TV screen gives the media wall visual interest without dominating the room’s design. Try wood slats for balance and warmth, fluted plaster for an elegant look, or upholstered panels for something soft and sound-dampening. A little texture gives a room dimension, especially in living spaces that rely on neutral palettes and minimal decor.

10. Custom television frame

If the TV is going to sit on the wall like a piece of art, you might as well frame it like one. A custom surround is a great wall-mounted TV decor idea to give even a basic flat screen the polish of a frame TV. Plus, you won’t have to spend a sizable chunk of your design budget replacing something that still works. Match the material to your furniture or moldings — like slim light wood in minimalist living rooms or brushed metal on a luxury bedroom wall — to gracefully integrate the TV into your interior design style and make it feel a little less high-tech. 

11. Contrasting paint colors

Your TV set doesn’t have to blend in, especially in a media or game room where the screen is the star of the show. If you want to show off your TV, go for a rich paint color — like burgundy or ochre — to add contrast in a room full of off-white sofas and light wood consoles. Or choose an energetic teal or eggplant in more eclectic spaces, where color helps the whole setup feel playfully curated.

12. Mirrored panels

Interior designers use mirrors to reflect natural light and expand a space visually, but they can also help camouflage a TV set. If there’s a dark accent wall opposite the TV, add mirrored panels behind it. The reflection will create a subtle darkening effect that helps hide the TV screen when it’s off.

To keep the wall from feeling too stark or cold, add soft contrasting decor, like a sculptural vase with white flowers or light-colored candle holders. Similarly, choose mirror finishes that match your interior decor: glossy panels for a glam 70s-inspired mid-century modern living area or frameless panes for a more modern look.

13. Accent wall

A thoughtful living room TV accent wall gives your screen a sense of place without relying on built-ins and renovations. Paint is an easy way to make the wall itself an accent, but there are plenty of others. Patterned wallpaper or slabs of marble, for instance, add texture, personality, and shine. For a more open feel, try applying contrast to an adjacent wall instead of the TV wall. This pro interior designer move splits focus elsewhere, helping the room feel larger and less centered around a screen.

Browse textured wallpaper on Onton

14. Wood slats

Evenly placed vertical wood slats add rhythm and structure, bringing architectural presence to otherwise plain walls. In minimalist or Japandi-style living rooms, pale wood slats can highlight other natural textures in the room, like a wicker planter or clay table lamp. Dark-stained wood is a welcome addition to rustic or modern farmhouse-style homes. But no matter the room’s interior design style, pair your choice with gentle edges, like a round couch or tapered coffee table, to soften the slats’ hard lines.

15. Wall-mounted TV setups

A swivel-arm TV mount lets your screen float out from the wall and pivot toward your seat, be it a sectional sofa or a dining table. This flexibility is great in open layouts or rooms where the TV can’t be placed conveniently nearby gathering points. Some other wall-mounted TV decor ideas include installing it over a stylish credenza topped with flower vases and sculptural pieces, or building long open shelves for books and games underneath.

Explore TV wall design with Onton

Do you dream of a media center with a big-screen TV or a quiet wall-mounted set tucked in a corner? Onton’s AI-powered search engine helps you design your TV setup, from modern wall-mounted shelving to a custom frame. Dress up your wall using prompts like “slim console table,” “floating shelves,” or “wall art” to discover pieces that complement your setup.

Once you find a few favorites, use Onton’s Imagine tool to preview your ideas for a TV wall. Just upload a photo or describe your vision for a “50 inch frame TV on a wall with baroque wallpaper and matching gold-framed artwork” to start experimenting with layouts, materials, and decorative accents. Dream up your ideal TV wall design with Onton.