Designing a living room with media wall ideas in mind will create a space filled with purpose and style. All too often, homeowners simply plonk a TV in the corner of their space, and all of the hard work is diminished through a lack of consideration.
Media walls help your TV feel part of your living room design, as opposed to ruining it, while offering a handy place to store books, games consoles and wires out of sight.
From built-in options to stylish panelled designs, we've shared some of our favourite ideas to create the perfect media wall in your living room.
1. Choose a built-in media wall
A built-in media wall with doors can offer the best of both worlds if you don't want to constantly look at screens and boxes.
If you do opt for a wall-to-wall built-in design, ventilation will need to be accounted for. When in use, consoles and TV boxes get hot and need to cool down utilising their fans – so allow enough air flow through the units to keep these in top condition.
Access to the back of the TV and to the various elements of a built-in media wall will also need to be addressed for repairs and updates. Technology is not forever and not infallible, so you don't want to have to remove plasterboard or joinery if something goes wrong.
2. Disguise the TV as artwork in a stylish media wall
For a media wall that can be disguised as feature artwork, hide all the boxes and wires in closed storage, while showcasing a cutting-edge TV that can display artwork.
Rather than a black void in the centre of a wall, these TVs (like Samsung's frame from John Lewis) can feature customised bezels for a more personal touch and show stunning photography and paintings when turned off.
Even just adding a ChromeCast can help present beautiful vistas and masterpieces from around the world on a slide show.
This budget-friendly display dongle lets you sync your phone, laptop or tablet to the TV with no app required.
3. Build a DIY media wall
To build a DIY media wall, you will need to have the hard wiring infrastructure established by an electrician, even if this is a simple set up of a couple of sockets and an aerial point.
One of the easiest ways to build a media wall is to follow the example above. A simple plasterboard partition has been finished with MDF panelling to create the separate zones while an off-the-shelf unit sits below.
The best material for a media wall will depend on your budget and style. Plasterboard is possible the most common material as it is sturdy and can hide all kinds of wiring and other unsightly elements that go on behind the scenes.
MDF is also a great option and can suit more modest budget over other timbers, but might not give the smooth finish of plasterboard.
4. Install wallpaper behind your TV
If you love the idea of a feature wall but don't want to commit to an entire surface, you could install wallpaper behind your TV within a media wall, as shown in the example above by Magnet.
"The TV will naturally become the focal point, so the wallpaper should quietly elevate your living area rather than compete with the screen. Keep in mind how the wallpaper will look both in daylight and in the evening, when the room is darker and the TV becomes the main light source," says Melissa Deneham, interior design expert at Hammonds Furniture.
“To make your media room feel multifunctional, I recommend opting for a neutral decor that can adapt to any mood or activity. Neutral colours and simple textures create a calming atmosphere that works just as well for cosy film nights as they do for watching high-energy sport matches or gaming sessions.”
This wallpaper hanging kit has everything you need to get started – all for an affordable price of £12.
With over two decades of experience designing and delivering interior projects, Melissa creates stunning interiors for residential projects as well as events, workspaces and showroom staging. She aids clients in creating their vision of a dream space through her interior design expertise and creative eye.
5. Add panelling behind a media wall
If your media wall is looking a little flat and cold, installing living room panelling – either within alcoves or behind the unit – is a fantastic way to bring warmth and character into this cosy area of the home.
“Textured designs in an MDF wood, such as fluted or ribbed, work particularly well here as they add another dimension to the area, preventing the alcoves from appearing flat or too plain," says Summa Costandi, co-founder at Panels by Sofia.
“Both of these designs have such a contemporary feel, and feature vertical lines that instantly add depth and visual interest to the room. Most MDF wall panels are also paintable, so they can be customised to the colour scheme of your room, which gives the media wall a seamless, built-in feel."
Made from natural veneer wood with a durable felt backing, this slatted panelling will complete your media wall design.
Summa Costandi is the co-founder of North Yorkshire-based decorative wall panelling company, Panels by Sofia. As well as heading up all marketing activity and helping to grow the brand, Summa provides practical advice on product installation and styling, enabling DIY enthusiasts to create their dream homes.
6. Get your media wall lighting design right
Don’t overlook the lighting in your media wall idea as it’s one of the most important factors to consider – especially if you plan on putting your favourite items on display. In the example above, Sharps have incorporated soft, warm spotlights on the top shelf to highlight the accessories, without taking away from the main TV feature.
"The best media wall lighting works subtly in the background. Rather than competing with the television, it should help bring the rest of the room to life by picking up on materials, shelving, and details that might otherwise go unnoticed," says Massimo Buster Minale, Founder of Buster + Punch.
"A soft layer of light can add depth and character to the space, making it feel more inviting in the evening without pulling focus from the screen. When it’s done right, you notice the feeling it creates rather than the lighting itself.”
These rechargeable LED lights are a breeze to install – simply stick them under your cabinets, and they’ll illuminate the space in any colour of your choice via a remote.
Massimo Buster Minale is an architect, industrial designer and the founder and creative director of Buster + Punch. Established over a decade ago, his London-born label has grown into a leading global name in interior detailing, acclaimed for its use of solid metal to turn everyday fittings into bold design statements with an unmistakable attitude.
7. Choose a hideaway media wall
Don’t want your TV on display all of the time? No problem – a hideaway media wall could be a fantastic solution. While many TVs offer screensavers that look like a picture frame, this idea ensures it’s completely out of sight and blends seamlessly into your living room.
In the example above, the TV is concealed inside grey cabinets, and the doors can be easily opened whenever it needs to be used. There is also ample storage at the bottom of the unit for games, consoles, and books.
If you decide to give this idea a go, you’ll need to think carefully about the positioning of your seats to ensure the TV isn’t blocked by a door, and make sure the doors stay open rather than swinging closed.
8. Mix open and closed storage in your media wall
For smaller living room ideas that you don't want to feel crammed in or claustrophobic, open shelving might be the way to go. You can still utilise closed storage for wires and boxes, but books, plants and personal objects around the TV can be introduced on opening shelving. When the TV is not in use, shelving and displayed wares will become a focal point in their own right.
If you're worried about sound echoing with too many hard surfaces around the TV or sound system, include a couple of acoustic panels either on the opposite wall, or behind the TV.
There are some incredible designs – including those that look like slatted wood panelling – that will dampen sounds and provide the atmosphere you might be looking for in snug room ideas.
This cabinet offers an abundance of storage, from open shelves to closed cabinets – some of which have glass doors.
Is a media wall a good idea?
Planning and building a media wall is a great idea if your living room or snug's main purpose will be to watch TV or used for gaming. Rather than denying their existence, lean into the size of a good TV, the equipment that a good sound system needs and the accessories that games consoles demand.
And, if you don't like the look of any of these things on display, a media wall can feature built-in doors or other ways of concealing tech when not in use.
There are a few rules that might be helpful to follow when building a media wall:
- The ideal distance between TV and seating area is double the size of the screen. So if you're using a 45-inch TV, position your sofa 90 inches away.
- Freestanding speakers will give a better level of sound quality compared with a sound bar but will take up more space (especially when a subwoofer is introduced).
- Try to position your TV at eye level when you're sitting, not high on the wall. This is a mistake that make people make and end up with a sore neck and distorted picture.
- Futureproof the media wall by ensuring there is more than enough sockets and ethernet points for what you need. Technologies change quickly and you won't have another chance once the wall is installed and decorated.
These media wall ideas prove you don't necessarily need to spend a fortune on your entertainment setup – there are plenty of ways to DIY it, from using a partition wall to upcycling a closed cabinet.
For more inspiration, browse through these family living room ideas or these small living room ideas.
