Design

Why Do “Design” People Hate TVs?

Arlyn HernandezSeptember 9, 202062 Comments

Here’s what feels like a bit of an unpopular opinion amongst design folk: TVs do not bother me in the least and I have zero desire to hide them.

In the span of my nearly 10 years writing about design, I’ve concocted innumerable articles all about either camouflaging “the ugly black box” or decorating around it to detract from “the ugly black box.” All the while rolling my eyes at myself because, friends, TVs are FINE. Every time I read an article from a blogger or a publisher quoting a designer about the hair-brained schemes they have to come up with to cover their flatscreens, the only thing I can think of is: WHY?

It’s like someone decided they hated TVs, so then EVERYONE had to hate the TV. While I get that designing around tech, or better yet, “necessary” home items instead of just doing what’s purely ornamental can be uninspiring, isn’t that what design is all about?!? Otherwise it’s just a showroom and who wants to live in that?

The reason I even started thinking about this? Well, as I was documenting what I might be doing in my bedroom, a wonderful reader suggested maybe I use an armoire instead of a dresser across from my bed so I could close the doors when the TV wasn’t in use and hide it away. I know that everyone has their own take on whether the television belongs in the bedroom, but in my house, it’s a welcomed friend. If I’m in my room, the TV is most likely on, so there really is no point in “putting it away” when not in use, because…I wouldn’t be in the room at that point. That, or I’d be asleep, and let me tell you, I’m not rolling out of bed at midnight just to close the doors on an armoire so I don’t have to look at my HIDEOUS TV.

Here are some of the “solutions” I’ve written about for disguising the boob tube:

  • Painting the wall around it black so when it’s off, it blends in.
  • Creating a gallery wall around it so it blends into the art.
  • Installing customized barn doors or the like that can be pulled in front of the TV when done (for instance, when it’s above a fireplace).
  • Hacking a big piece of art so that it stands out from the wall enough to be able to cover the TV somehow (yes, it has been done I’m just not describing it properly).
  • Hanging a rod and then draping a rug or tapestry on it to cover the screen.

I have zero shade for anyone who might have read some of those and thought “wait, great idea, I want to do this!” If you don’t want to see your TV when not in use, all the power to you. I love the idea of screen-less rooms but not from a design perspective, but rather to create a place to go to not be distracted by streaming. A room to read. A room to sit and chat with friends or family. But because it’s ugly? Nah.

We (Charles and I) can barely deal with pushing our flatscreen hanging on our living room wall (above) back from the pulled out angle it’s at to view it from the sofa. To be completely honest, it stays that way *most* of the time, only going back when we have visitors (which hasn’t happened in six months so…it’s been out for, well, six months).

While I have shown interest in the Samsung Frame TV (if you don’t know, it’s a flatscreen that mimics a large piece of art when “off”), I’m not sure I’d opt to spend several hundred/thousand more dollars for this functionality. I mean, it does look nice when I see it in a room but it’s not a priority for me. Would I consider one for say, my bedroom or living space one day? Yeah maybe, but the reviews are so-so and for the price, I’m perfectly fine with a black box on the wall instead.

Here’s my cry for the design blogging and publishing world: CAN WE PLEASE NORMALIZE THE TV?? We need to strip away the “shame” of incorporating them into our designs without feeling the need to apologize for them. Don’t watch TV? Yeah okay, sure That’s wonderful for you, but if TV-watching is a very real part of your household entertainment, put that screen on your wall loud and proud, I say.

So…what say you guys? Are you #TeamTV4Me or #TeamOMGnoTV? I hold no judgment for either, I just felt the need to say what it feels like no one else is saying. Your home should work for YOU, even if it works for literally no one else, and for me, well…you already know. 🙂

**featured image by Sara Ligorria-Tramp, styled by Jess Bunge with Velinda Hellen (from this post we shot in my living room a while back for Style by Emily Henderson).