Switch the television off and look at it for a moment. A large black rectangle, often the biggest single object on any wall in the home, surrounded by a tangle of cables and a lonely remote. For most of the day, that is what your living room shows the world. Yet the TV wall is also the one wall everyone faces, every single evening.
Rather than fighting the screen or pretending it is not there, the best TV walls work with it. They frame the dark rectangle so it feels intentional, soften it with texture and light, and give the eye something lovely to rest on when the screen is off. Here are practical ideas for decorating around a television in a way that suits real Egyptian living rooms, from compact apartments to large family reception rooms.
Decor cannot rescue a TV that is badly placed. Before adding anything, check three fundamentals.
The centre of the screen should sit roughly at eye level when you are seated, usually around 100 to 110 centimetres from the floor. Mounting a TV too high, above a tall unit or near the ceiling, strains necks and makes the whole wall feel top-heavy.
Avoid placing the screen directly opposite a balcony door or bright window. Afternoon sun in Egypt is strong, and glare will make you close the curtains during the day. A side wall usually works better.
Nothing undermines a styled wall faster than dangling wires. Run cables through a wall channel, a cable cover painted the wall colour, or behind the TV unit. If you rent and cannot alter the walls, a neat cable sleeve along the skirting is a reasonable compromise.
The easiest way to make a TV look intentional is to treat it as the centre of a composition. Decor on either side, or above, frames it the way a mount frames a painting.
Matching items on each side of the TV, such as two plants, two lamps or two tall vases, create a calm, formal look. This suits classic reception rooms and anyone who likes order.
For a more relaxed feel, place one tall element on one side, such as a floor plant, and a group of smaller objects on the other, perhaps a lamp and a stack of books. The visual weight balances even though the two sides differ.
Art near a television should support the screen rather than compete with it. A busy gallery wall right next to a large TV can feel chaotic when both are in view.
Round shapes contrast beautifully with the rectangle of a screen. A Set of 5 Desert Oasis Wooden Wall Plates arranged in a loose cluster to one side of the TV adds warm, hand-painted colour while leaving the screen as the focal point. For coastal schemes, the Ocean Treasures Wooden Wall Plates bring soft blues that feel fresh in summer.
Leave at least 20 to 30 centimetres between the edge of the TV and any art, so each has room to breathe. Align the top or centre of the art with the top or centre of the screen for a tidy line.
Hanging a picture directly above a TV pushes the eye upward and makes the wall look crowded. If you want something above, choose a long, low piece or a slim shelf rather than a tall artwork.
A television is hard, flat and dark. Soft, natural textures nearby balance that coldness and make the wall feel more like part of a home.
A woven hanging to one side of the TV adds movement and warmth. The Wooden Half Circle Macrame Wall Hanging has a modern semicircle shape with hanging jute and cotton strands, a gentle contrast to the screen’s straight edges.
On very large walls, a substantial textile piece can balance a large TV on its own. The Coastal Wave Macrame Wall Hanging is generous enough to hold its own beside a big screen in a spacious reception room.
Baskets on or beneath the TV unit add texture at a lower level and keep clutter hidden. More on that below.
Greenery is one of the best partners for a television. Leaves soften the hard edges, add colour and draw the eye away from the black screen when it is off.
A large floor plant beside the TV unit works especially well. A Large Artificial Olive Tree adds height and a Mediterranean feeling without needing sunlight, which is useful because TV walls are often away from windows.
On the unit itself, a vase with a few stems adds height. Artificial Eucalyptus Stems in a tall pottery vase give a soft, silvery green that suits neutral rooms.
Watching a bright screen in a completely dark room tires the eyes. Gentle lighting around the TV wall reduces that contrast and makes evenings more comfortable.
The unit beneath the TV is a surface that tends to collect everything: remotes, game controllers, chargers, receipts. A little structure goes a long way.
Choose three to five objects at most: a lamp, a plant or vase, a small tray and perhaps a candle holder. Leave the space directly beneath the screen fairly clear so nothing blocks the picture.
Lidded baskets are the best friend of any TV unit. A Jute Storage Basket with Wooden Lid holds remotes, controllers and cables while looking like a decorative piece. On open lower shelves, a Woven Rope Basket can hold blankets for film nights.
A small tray gathers loose items into one neat spot. An Acacia Wood Serving Tray works well for remotes and a candle, and lifts the whole look.
The decor around a TV should feel like part of the rest of the room. Pick a direction and let it guide every choice.
Wooden wall plates, a jute or halfa basket, a pottery vase and an olive tree. This look suits Egyptian homes beautifully because it echoes traditional crafts and pairs with almost any sofa.
Soft blues, whites and sandy neutrals, with macrame and woven textures. Ideal for North Coast chalets and city apartments that want a holiday feeling all year.
A single striking hand-painted piece beside the screen, a sculptural lamp and deep-coloured walls. Keep everything else minimal so the art and the TV are not fighting for attention.
A wall-mounted screen, a long low unit, one plant and one lamp. Clean lines and plenty of empty wall let a few well-chosen textures stand out.
Whichever style you choose, repeat at least one material or colour from the TV wall elsewhere in the living room, perhaps in cushions or a rug, so the wall does not look like it was decorated separately.
Keep the wall simple: the TV, one plant, one lamp and perhaps a single art piece to the side. Wall-mounting the TV frees up floor space, and a slim unit keeps the room open.
A large wall can handle more: a full textile hanging on one side, a floor plant on the other, and a long unit with baskets and decorative objects. Consider shelves on both sides of the TV, styled with books and pottery.
Make sure the TV wall feels connected to the dining area by repeating materials. If the dining table has a jute runner, echo jute in the baskets beneath the TV.
Many households keep the television on in the background for hours, but there are also long stretches, during Ramadan gatherings, family visits or quiet weekend mornings, when it sits dark. A well-decorated TV wall still looks good then.
The TV wall does not have to be the least attractive part of your living room. Frame the screen, soften it with natural textures and greenery, add gentle light and keep the clutter out of sight. The result is a wall that looks good whether you are watching a film or hosting a houseful of guests.
Explore wall plates, macrame hangings, lamps, baskets and plants at coccarohome.com and build a TV wall you actually enjoy facing.
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