9 Smarter Spots for the TV

A traditional “hope chest” at the foot of the bed can provide the perfect hideaway for a fairly large flat-screen TV—the screen mounted to the inside of the lid, and any associated hardware or electronics hidden away on the inside of the chest. So during the day, you have an attractive piece of furniture flanking the bed; at night, the television is so close that you don’t have to squint or use binoculars to see a clear picture. See how one DIYer did it here!

Related: 10 Easy Ways to Build Your Own TV Stand

Clever placement of black gallery frames above an attractive Mid-Century media console allows this large TV to disappear into the background—becoming just another piece of framed art. As a bonus, the closed doors on this console provide an inconspicuous spot to tuck away associated electronics, cable boxes, game systems, and cords.

Related: 9 Ways to Make Your TV Look at Home

Break out of two-dimensional thinking and take advantage of all that unused vertical real estate in your rooms. Innovative mounting hardware from Chief allows you to suspend even very large televisions from the ceiling; the mount swivels so you can place the screen at the optimal angle for maximum viewing pleasure. Conceal unsightly electronics nearby and run the cords alongside the mounting hardware and through the ceiling for a seamless look.

Related: 8 Ways to Age, Distress, Gild, and Add Shine to Your Next Project

When you really don’t want the television to clash with your decorating scheme, you can completely camouflage it behind custom artwork. The custom hide-and-seek system from Blue Egg Brown Nest features vintage botanical prints, specially cut mattes, and chalk-painted frames connected by custom hinges, all designed to cover up the “bourgeois” entertainment device.

Related: Storage Where You Least Expected It: 10 Sly Spots to Stash Your Stuff

Outdoor entertaining is one of today’s hottest trends, and with your family’s entire focus shifting outside, why not take the TV there as well? Although most televisions won’t hold up to the weather, outdoor TVs from SkyVue are specifically designed to be installed on decks, patios, outdoor kitchens, sunrooms—you name it. These weatherproof TVs are designed with multiple mount configurations for easy set up in a variety of backyard environments and also come with speaker bars exclusively designed so the sound can be heard outdoors, in spite of background noise.

Related: 8 DIY Pick-Me-Ups for a Plain Patio

There's no shame in asking for (or hiring) help. In fact, with some humdrum home maintenance tasks, doing it yourself doesn't do you any good. Read on!