5 New Family Rooms Designed With a TV in Mind
See how designers play with built-ins, dark colors and other details to create living rooms arranged around a TV
Sometimes a TV is a critical design component in a room. And TVs can pose a significant design challenge as well. While kicking back and watching a movie is the easy part, determining at what height to mount a TV and what design features can help visually play up or play down the device isn’t always straightforward. Here, five designers share how they handled designing a family room around a TV.
2. Cozy Cluster
Designer: Marisa Lafiosca of ML Interior Designs
Location: Harding, New Jersey
Size: 698 square feet (65 square meters); 18 feet by 38 feet, 9 inches
Homeowners’ request. “A comfortable, cozy great room for a family of six to watch TV, sit by the fire and play games — cards, puzzles, etc.,” designer Marisa Lafiosca says. “We were brought in to help with the interiors after construction was completed. We were able to edit their existing furniture, revise the layout and add the correct size and scale of furniture.”
Special features. Oak beams on the ceiling and in place of crown molding around the room. Built-in bookcases with window seats. French doors. Vintage leather chairs. Upholstered X stools. Wide-plank oak flooring. “The TV is flush with the stone fireplace wall and is at a perfect height for viewing,” Lafiosca says.
Designer tip. “Adding patterns and textures pulls together a neutral palette,” Lafiosca says.
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Designer: Marisa Lafiosca of ML Interior Designs
Location: Harding, New Jersey
Size: 698 square feet (65 square meters); 18 feet by 38 feet, 9 inches
Homeowners’ request. “A comfortable, cozy great room for a family of six to watch TV, sit by the fire and play games — cards, puzzles, etc.,” designer Marisa Lafiosca says. “We were brought in to help with the interiors after construction was completed. We were able to edit their existing furniture, revise the layout and add the correct size and scale of furniture.”
Special features. Oak beams on the ceiling and in place of crown molding around the room. Built-in bookcases with window seats. French doors. Vintage leather chairs. Upholstered X stools. Wide-plank oak flooring. “The TV is flush with the stone fireplace wall and is at a perfect height for viewing,” Lafiosca says.
Designer tip. “Adding patterns and textures pulls together a neutral palette,” Lafiosca says.
Shop for sofas and sectionals
3. Built-In Beauty
Designer: Johanna Adamiak of Rooted by Design
Location: Philadelphia
Size: 187 square feet (17 square meters); 11 by 17 feet
Homeowners’ request. “This young family of five really needed a functioning first-floor layout that met their storage needs and supported their daily life,” designer Johanna Adamiak says. “We demolished a wall that separated the former living and dining room, creating one large, inviting living space in this traditional Philly row house.”
Special features. Extensive built-in storage and display space. “Understanding this family’s storage needs is what ultimately determined where the TV would be set up for this space,” Adamiak says. “After doing several plan studies, it worked best to pull the seating and TV area close to the front of the house where we had the most natural light. This client had a lot of great decorative accessories and art to display, so we wanted to mix in some open shelving around the TV to help personalize the space.
“We really considered how the space needed to function for the family throughout a typical day, but also on special occasions. There is plenty of toy storage in the base cabinets that the kids can access at various times. It’s also easy to clean up at the end of the day so the parents have a nice space to unwind in.
“We also provided multiple surfaces to work from, starting with the pullout desk from the built-in. Our contractor included an outlet in the desktop here so while the kids are in school or day care, our clients can plug in the laptop and work for longer periods of time.”
Designer tip. “If you are working with a long, narrow space, consider creating ‘zones’ to break it up,” Adamiak says.
“Uh-oh” moment. “The contractor noted that transporting a 17-foot-long walnut board that we used for the counters had its challenges and politely asked that I don’t specify something like that again,” Adamiak says. “I’m not sure how he got it there or what that entailed, but it looks gorgeous installed.”
General contractor: B.W. Builders; project photography: Kristina Kroot Photography
10 Living Room Features Pros Always Recommend
Designer: Johanna Adamiak of Rooted by Design
Location: Philadelphia
Size: 187 square feet (17 square meters); 11 by 17 feet
Homeowners’ request. “This young family of five really needed a functioning first-floor layout that met their storage needs and supported their daily life,” designer Johanna Adamiak says. “We demolished a wall that separated the former living and dining room, creating one large, inviting living space in this traditional Philly row house.”
Special features. Extensive built-in storage and display space. “Understanding this family’s storage needs is what ultimately determined where the TV would be set up for this space,” Adamiak says. “After doing several plan studies, it worked best to pull the seating and TV area close to the front of the house where we had the most natural light. This client had a lot of great decorative accessories and art to display, so we wanted to mix in some open shelving around the TV to help personalize the space.
“We really considered how the space needed to function for the family throughout a typical day, but also on special occasions. There is plenty of toy storage in the base cabinets that the kids can access at various times. It’s also easy to clean up at the end of the day so the parents have a nice space to unwind in.
“We also provided multiple surfaces to work from, starting with the pullout desk from the built-in. Our contractor included an outlet in the desktop here so while the kids are in school or day care, our clients can plug in the laptop and work for longer periods of time.”
Designer tip. “If you are working with a long, narrow space, consider creating ‘zones’ to break it up,” Adamiak says.
“Uh-oh” moment. “The contractor noted that transporting a 17-foot-long walnut board that we used for the counters had its challenges and politely asked that I don’t specify something like that again,” Adamiak says. “I’m not sure how he got it there or what that entailed, but it looks gorgeous installed.”
General contractor: B.W. Builders; project photography: Kristina Kroot Photography
10 Living Room Features Pros Always Recommend
4. Marble Moment
Designer: Christina Henck of Henck Design
Location: Old City neighborhood of Philadelphia
Size: 324 square feet (30 square meters)
Homeowners’ request. “To warm up the blank slate of this newly constructed home, we introduced layers of natural colors and textures to create a comfortable balance between the minimal, modern architecture and the luxurious, custom finishes,” designer Christina Henck says.
Special features. Twenty-foot ceiling with full-length draperies. Custom built-ins. Warm sand-colored, textured wallpaper flanking a black marble fireplace. Custom upholstered seating. Modern brass tube chandelier. Double ivory upholstered ottomans with marble shelves. Smoke-gray velvet chaise. Custom black velvet armchairs with brass nailhead trim. Domed alabaster-and-brass table lamps.
“The large TV, mounted above the mantel, is camouflaged by the black marble fireplace, which stretches to the ceiling,” Henck says. “At this height, the TV can be enjoyed from any seat in the living room as well as the adjacent kitchen.”
Other special features. The two-story living room features a black marble fireplace, custom built-ins backed with warm textured wallpaper, double-height draperies and custom upholstered seating. The gold-and-alabaster light fixtures act as jewelry for this dramatic, contrasting neutral palette.
Designer tip. “Floor-to-ceiling draperies not only add a sense of grandeur and luxury but also serve as noise dampening for echo-y rooms and corridors,” Henck says.
New to home remodeling? Learn the basics
Designer: Christina Henck of Henck Design
Location: Old City neighborhood of Philadelphia
Size: 324 square feet (30 square meters)
Homeowners’ request. “To warm up the blank slate of this newly constructed home, we introduced layers of natural colors and textures to create a comfortable balance between the minimal, modern architecture and the luxurious, custom finishes,” designer Christina Henck says.
Special features. Twenty-foot ceiling with full-length draperies. Custom built-ins. Warm sand-colored, textured wallpaper flanking a black marble fireplace. Custom upholstered seating. Modern brass tube chandelier. Double ivory upholstered ottomans with marble shelves. Smoke-gray velvet chaise. Custom black velvet armchairs with brass nailhead trim. Domed alabaster-and-brass table lamps.
“The large TV, mounted above the mantel, is camouflaged by the black marble fireplace, which stretches to the ceiling,” Henck says. “At this height, the TV can be enjoyed from any seat in the living room as well as the adjacent kitchen.”
Other special features. The two-story living room features a black marble fireplace, custom built-ins backed with warm textured wallpaper, double-height draperies and custom upholstered seating. The gold-and-alabaster light fixtures act as jewelry for this dramatic, contrasting neutral palette.
Designer tip. “Floor-to-ceiling draperies not only add a sense of grandeur and luxury but also serve as noise dampening for echo-y rooms and corridors,” Henck says.
New to home remodeling? Learn the basics
5. Airy Arrangement
Designer: Cheryl Southworth of Designs by Cheryl Interiors
Location: Keswick, Virginia
Size: 400 square feet (37 square meters); 19 feet, 9 inches by 20 feet, 3 inches
Homeowners’ request. “Their overall vision was a relaxing, cozy yet functional and practical family room,” says designer Cheryl Southworth, who used Houzz ideabooks to learn what her clients like. “Their tastes somewhat differ from each other, so I made sure to find a happy compromise both would love. Equally important was the family room had to be kid-friendly and animal-friendly.”
Special features. Large sectional. Wall-mounted TV above large console. Custom wool rug. Light blue walls (Sleepy Blue by Sherwin-Williams). Gold drum shade ceiling light and other gold details. “The ottoman not only serves for putting up your feet, it can be extra seating if needed or become a coffee table with the use of a tray,” Southworth says. “The height of the TV was very important. I wanted to make sure when they were sitting and relaxing on their sectional, they were looking straight on versus holding their necks up, which adds tension and strain.”
Designer tip. “Start with a furniture plan or layout first,” Southworth says. “That way you know everything will fit. I call the main furnishings in the room the ‘bones’ of the room — always start here first. Keep in mind leaving space to maneuver and walk around in. And make sure there are tables reachable for placement of drinks etc., as well as balanced lighting throughout. The next step would be color scheme ideas, area rugs or carpeting and wall art. The accessories are the last thing you do.”
Project photography: Aaron Watson
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Designer: Cheryl Southworth of Designs by Cheryl Interiors
Location: Keswick, Virginia
Size: 400 square feet (37 square meters); 19 feet, 9 inches by 20 feet, 3 inches
Homeowners’ request. “Their overall vision was a relaxing, cozy yet functional and practical family room,” says designer Cheryl Southworth, who used Houzz ideabooks to learn what her clients like. “Their tastes somewhat differ from each other, so I made sure to find a happy compromise both would love. Equally important was the family room had to be kid-friendly and animal-friendly.”
Special features. Large sectional. Wall-mounted TV above large console. Custom wool rug. Light blue walls (Sleepy Blue by Sherwin-Williams). Gold drum shade ceiling light and other gold details. “The ottoman not only serves for putting up your feet, it can be extra seating if needed or become a coffee table with the use of a tray,” Southworth says. “The height of the TV was very important. I wanted to make sure when they were sitting and relaxing on their sectional, they were looking straight on versus holding their necks up, which adds tension and strain.”
Designer tip. “Start with a furniture plan or layout first,” Southworth says. “That way you know everything will fit. I call the main furnishings in the room the ‘bones’ of the room — always start here first. Keep in mind leaving space to maneuver and walk around in. And make sure there are tables reachable for placement of drinks etc., as well as balanced lighting throughout. The next step would be color scheme ideas, area rugs or carpeting and wall art. The accessories are the last thing you do.”
Project photography: Aaron Watson
More on Houzz
Read more living room stories
Browse more living room photos
Find the right pro for your project
Shop for your living room
Designers: Jane Henderson and Stephanie Henderson of Jane Henderson Interior Design
Location: Denver
Size: 336 square feet (31 square meters); 16 by 21 feet
Homeowners’ request. For this new-build home, the owners wanted “upscale, easy living with kid-friendly and dog-friendly finishes,” designer Jane Henderson says. “The clients are a 6-foot-6-inch NFL football player and his wife is 6 feet and a former Division I volleyball player, so the furniture had to fit large frames and be able to handle a 350-pound athlete comfortably.”
Special features. “We wanted the room to function for easy conversation in an open-concept layout,” Henderson says. “If the couple is entertaining without the blare of a TV, the black substrate on the wall makes the black TV ‘fall away’ from the main focus of the space. The TV becomes less of a focal point with the heavy saturation of black.”
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