5 Small Living Room Ideas with TV: Creative, practical small living room designs that make a TV feel right at home

Once I tried to fit a 75-inch TV into a shoebox apartment because the client swore it would make the place feel "cinematic." Long story short: we learned that size matters less than placement, lighting, and furniture scale. Little spaces force you to be clever — and that’s the fun part. In this article I’ll share 5 practical inspirations for a simple small living room with TV, based on real projects I’ve led, mistakes I’ve made, and tricks that actually save space and make the room feel larger.

1. Wall-mounted TV above a slim console

I love mounting the TV on the wall and pairing it with a low-profile console. It frees floor area and creates clean sightlines — great for a narrow living room. The upside is obvious: more walking space and less visual clutter. The small challenge is cord management and ensuring the screen height is comfortable; I usually recess cables or use a slim cable channel to keep things tidy.

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2. Floating shelves and integrated storage

Floating shelves around the TV turn a single focal point into a functional feature wall. I once combined open shelves with a closed cabinet in a tiny flat to hide gaming gear and kid’s toys — clients loved that balance of display and concealment. The benefit is maximum storage without bulky furniture; the trade-off is careful styling to avoid looking messy.

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3. Corner TV setup for awkward layouts

Placing the TV in a corner is a lifesaver when the room shape won’t cooperate. I used this on a project where a doorway and window limited wall options; angling the screen and a compact L-sofa created a cozy nook. It can slightly reduce seating capacity, but it often improves flow and sightlines in oddly shaped rooms.

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4. TV as part of a multipurpose wall (work + media)

Small homes need multifunctional solutions. Combining a small desk and TV on one wall saved another project from feeling cramped. I recommend a retractable or swivel mount so the TV doesn’t glare while you work. The upside is efficient use of vertical real estate; the drawback is potential visual busyness unless you keep materials and colors consistent.

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5. Camouflage the TV with artwork or sliding panels

If you want the TV to disappear when it’s off, try a framed artwork mount or sliding panels. I once designed a living room where an art frame hid the screen — guests were impressed, and the client enjoyed a more serene daytime look. This approach adds cost and requires precision in mounting, but it’s a high-reward aesthetic upgrade.

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Practical tips and budget notes

Opt for furniture scaled to the room: low sofas, narrow consoles, and multipurpose pieces. Use mirrors and layered lighting to make the space feel larger. If your budget is tight, prioritize good mounts and cable management over replacing big furniture. For planning layouts quickly, I often sketch variations on a simple floor plan to test sightlines and circulation before committing.

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Inspirational tools

When I need a fast visual of these ideas, I sometimes use an online room planner to mock up placements and try different configurations; it saves so much back-and-forth and helps clients visualize size relationships early on. For quick floor plans I recommend a free floor plan creator to validate sofa-TV distances and door swings.

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FAQ

Q: What is the ideal TV size for a small living room? A: Measure viewing distance — a common rule is TV width should be about one-third of viewing distance. For many small rooms, 43"–55" is comfortable. Reference: SMPTE viewing recommendations.

Q: How high should I mount my TV? A: Aim for the center of the screen at eye level when seated, usually 100–110 cm from the floor, depending on sofa height.

Q: Are soundbars necessary in small rooms? A: They help improve dialogue clarity without needing large speakers, and they fit neatly under the TV on a slim console or wall-mounted shelf.

Q: How can I hide TV cables effectively? A: Use recessed in-wall power kits, flat coax HDMI cables, or a paintable cable channel; hiding cables instantly tidies a small room.

Q: Can I place a TV above a fireplace in a small living room? A: You can, but check viewing angle and heat exposure. Consider a mantel or a tilting mount to reduce neck strain.

Q: What seating layout works best with a corner TV? A: A compact L-sofa or two small sofas angled toward the corner keeps conversation and viewing comfortable.

Q: Are sliding panels or artwork mounts expensive? A: They add cost for hardware and custom work but dramatically improve aesthetics; weigh the investment against how often you use the TV.

Q: Where can I quickly test different TV and furniture layouts online? A: I often use a 3D floor planner to sketch multiple options and check proportions.

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