TGIR: The Case of the Disappearing TV

First of all, TGIR stands for They Got It Right. Here at Houzz it’s our shorthand for a particularly clever interior design or architecture move, and we are thrilled to add something to history’s style lexicon. Today’s TGIR idea is a simple one: camouflaging the black void of a turned-off television by having the screen backed by a dark wall.

In the business of writing about architecture and design, you quickly learn that televisions are like guilty pleasures — almost everybody has one, but some go to great lengths to make sure no one else finds out about it. I believe I’ve seen every conceivable technique for hiding the so-called “idiot box,” from paintings that slide over the set to motorized screens that rise from custom furniture.

But recently I noticed that some designers have figured out an elegant solution to the problem: Simply paint the wall behind the set black, and it fades into the woodwork, so to speak. That’s what the designers at Jerry Jacobs Design did in this room, and you might have to look twice before spotting the set over the fireplace.


That brings up another issue: Many homeowners don’t have (or don’t want) a separate media room. And, in fact, many of us crave rooms that are multifunctional rather than specialized. In rooms with a fireplace, it can be difficult to comfortably locate a television anywhere else besides over the mantel. Nothing says, “I watch television” like putting it directly over the focal point of the space. There’s no shame in watching TV, of course, but not many of us would be the first to raise hands if we were asked if we watch.

The designers at Lucy Interior Design also chose the black-on-black look to make sure the set is not the first thing you see in the room here.


If the all-over-noir look is not your thing, you can also go with a touch of gray. The pros at Julie Williams Design accented the fireplace only in this wall of built-ins.


In this room the black is pared down and the television is not framed in, but the ploy is still effective.


Another designer trick is to place the television to the side of the fireplace. This allows you to keep one seating arrangement for two different purposes. In this home the wall beside the fireplace is painted black, effectively disguising the TV when it’s not in use.


Of course, there’s more than one kind of screen, and these days our homes are filled with them. The designers at Pour Toujours show here that the black-black trick can work for computers as well as televisions.

Whether you feel guilty about your viewing habits or not, this solution can lead to pure visual pleasure.

What photo on Houzz has made you think “TGIR”? Share it with the rest of us by pasting a link in the Comments section below.

URL: TGIR: The Case of the Disappearing TV http://www.decor-ideas.org/cases-view-id-23367.html