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Emily A. Clark

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Building a Gallery Wall Around Your TV

September 2, 2010

As I’ve mentioned before, walls around and behind flat screen televisions often stump me.  After many months of staring at too much blank space behind our television, I finally got my hammer and nails and went to work.  This is the result:

I first went to Michael’s and bought a variety of inexpensive frames to add to the ones I already had around the house.  I felt like the arrangement around the television shouldn’t be distracting (heavens forbid my eyes wander off of the Real Housewives. . . ), so I used all black and white photography and art.  I printed alot of it from this site (a great way to fill frames without spending a penny!). 
I also had a pair of sea fans that I bought from Ebay over a year ago, so I sprayed them glossy black and put them in shadow boxes:
I like the way the wall turned out, but it certainly took a while (and a lot of TV watching) to figure it all out.  Here’s how the wall looked right after we moved in a couple of years ago:
Ugh! Can you say depressing?!
And, here’s how the wall looked until about a month ago (and before it was painted a dark tan):
And, after a Saturday spent moving frames around and nailing lots of holes in our wall:
And, just a reminder, I’m drawing the winner of a pretty vintage necklace from Everton Terrace tomorrow! You can enter for a chance to win here.

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Filed Under: artwork, family room

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Rene says

    September 2, 2010 at 12:18 pm

    Oh my goodness gracious – I love it! One of these days I’m going to beg you to drive to Greensboro to help me with my galleries.

    -Rene

    Reply
  2. Abby & Her Boys says

    September 2, 2010 at 12:20 pm

    Wonderful! I’m saving this to my inspiration folder. abby

    Reply
  3. Abby & Her Boys says

    September 2, 2010 at 12:20 pm

    Wonderful! I’m saving this to my inspiration folder. abby

    Reply
  4. Abby & Her Boys says

    September 2, 2010 at 12:20 pm

    Wonderful! I’m saving this to my inspiration folder. abby

    Reply
  5. Abby & Her Boys says

    September 2, 2010 at 12:20 pm

    Wonderful! I’m saving this to my inspiration folder. abby

    Reply
  6. Abby & Her Boys says

    September 2, 2010 at 12:20 pm

    Wonderful! I’m saving this to my inspiration folder. abby

    Reply
  7. Tiffanie says

    September 2, 2010 at 12:21 pm

    It looks great!

    Reply
  8. Caren says

    September 2, 2010 at 12:39 pm

    Is this what you were thinking for behind my TV? Looks great, just gotta come up with things to frame that are important to me!!

    Reply
  9. Caroline @ The Feminist Housewife says

    September 2, 2010 at 12:41 pm

    It looks gorgeous Emily!!! Great job!

    I love the classy sea-inspired art.

    Reply
  10. marty (A Stroll Thru Life) says

    September 2, 2010 at 12:48 pm

    I love all of the pics being black and white with different size mats too. Very pretty. Great arrangement. Hugs, Marty

    Reply
  11. Melissa says

    September 2, 2010 at 12:49 pm

    I really, really love it. As a real person, living in a real house with real people, I love how you didn’t try to hide the TV. And I love how it all blends together – It’s so cool. I see the TV, but don’t really see it. Does that make sense? very nice.

    Reply
  12. other-option says

    September 2, 2010 at 12:49 pm

    Love it! Especially the Octopus print.
    – Danielle

    Reply
  13. Pigeon says

    September 2, 2010 at 12:53 pm

    it looks great! I love how it provides interest but the black and white doesn’t distract. Perfect!

    Reply
  14. Chic Geek says

    September 2, 2010 at 12:56 pm

    I Love It! I have such a hard time creating gallery walls I always like seeing one that’s done really well so that I can use it as a reference. Great work!

    Reply
  15. Caroline says

    September 2, 2010 at 1:18 pm

    Looks great!! I also LOVE LOVE the lamps on the sofa table.
    Awesome room.

    Reply
  16. [email protected] says

    September 2, 2010 at 1:28 pm

    I’m so glad you posted this. When I move I am not bringing my big TV armoire, but instead putting it on a chest like you have done. I have high ceilings and wasn’t sure what to do with that wall. This is helpful and looks so great!

    Reply
  17. Stella says

    September 2, 2010 at 1:30 pm

    Looks great ! I love how everything in the room is balanced.

    Reply
  18. Carolyn says

    September 2, 2010 at 1:36 pm

    Your home is really pretty. Gallery wall looks great. I esp. love the dresser you painted.

    Reply
  19. [email protected]:podge says

    September 2, 2010 at 2:00 pm

    That is gorgeous, love how the TV becomes one with the art! You are truly talented! Will have to add this to my tumblr files!

    Reply
  20. Belly says

    September 2, 2010 at 2:00 pm

    I love how all the pieces somehow relate to each other.

    Reply
  21. [email protected] says

    September 2, 2010 at 2:00 pm

    I love it ! I have the exact same issue at my house, this would work perfectly.

    Reply
  22. Erin @Domestic Adventure.com says

    September 2, 2010 at 2:04 pm

    I love how this turned out! You are so smart to have picked images/photographs that are black and white and all go together. I wouldn’t have thought of that. It looks great and the TV almost looks like just another frame.

    I’m inspired to try this at our house!

    Reply
  23. Janell @ Isabella and Max says

    September 2, 2010 at 2:07 pm

    This is a really good solution to making a large black tv begin to blend into the surroundings. It truly is a design dilemma these days! Great result…Janell

    Reply
  24. Jen Schenk says

    September 2, 2010 at 2:34 pm

    This looks amazing! I love that you used all black and white. I love seeing before and afters and the after is so great!

    Reply
  25. studioten25 says

    September 2, 2010 at 2:36 pm

    I love the addition of the fresh white pieces. The large T.V. console is beautiful, what a snag!

    Reply
  26. akainteriordesign says

    September 2, 2010 at 3:22 pm

    Oooh! I love it. Good job!
    Shannon
    http://www.akadesign.ca

    Reply
  27. In the Tweeds says

    September 2, 2010 at 3:35 pm

    It turned out so well! It really makes that a very pretty focal point for the room! Love that octopus print.

    Reply
  28. Kristen White says

    September 2, 2010 at 4:02 pm

    Love it…your living room is gorgeous! Love the touches of all the black and white!
    Kristen

    Reply
  29. traci zeller designs says

    September 2, 2010 at 4:37 pm

    Love it, Emily! You are really amazing at doing gallery walls!

    Reply
  30. Sixty-Fifth Avenue says

    September 2, 2010 at 4:40 pm

    Love it!! Our TV is hanging on the wall with a picture on each side hmmmm……..

    Reply
  31. karlee says

    September 2, 2010 at 4:50 pm

    I love how the wall turned out! and I’m really glad to know I’m not the only one who loves the Real Housewives…

    Reply
  32. Jen of Made By Girl says

    September 2, 2010 at 5:03 pm

    Aaah that tv chest is AMAZING!!! Where from? Good job on everything. You’re funny… Is that housewives of nj or dc? LOL. ;))))))))

    Reply
  33. Lisa says

    September 2, 2010 at 5:04 pm

    It looks wonderful and I love the sea fans!

    Reply
  34. Lissa @ After Adornment says

    September 2, 2010 at 5:37 pm

    Great Arrangement! Just what I needed to see for inspiration on my own Tv wall.

    Reply
  35. Will @ Bright.Bazaar says

    September 2, 2010 at 6:37 pm

    Thanks for this inspiration, Emily. It’s great to learn of a new way to soft technology items within the lounge area. An art wall seems to do this with ease and style.

    Reply
  36. keely @ luxe + lillies says

    September 2, 2010 at 6:38 pm

    I have a gallery wall around my t.v. and I love it… i would like to think that it somewhat masks the t.v…. but, lets be honest thats not completely true hehe!

    Reply
  37. Wigal Family says

    September 2, 2010 at 7:16 pm

    I love it! You entire room is so inspirational!

    Reply
  38. Michaela Noelle says

    September 2, 2010 at 7:47 pm

    It looks so fabulous! I love gallery walls. You did such a good job combining small and large frames and mixing in black and white. It’s perfect!

    Reply
  39. Helena - A Diary of Lovely says

    September 2, 2010 at 8:19 pm

    looks great Emily!!! Love art walls!

    Reply
  40. Rhoda @ Southern Hospitality says

    September 2, 2010 at 9:43 pm

    Emily, that looks great! I saw another blogger do a whole series of botanicals stacked around her flatscreen & that was a good look too.

    Love this!

    Reply
  41. Rhoda @ Southern Hospitality says

    September 2, 2010 at 9:43 pm

    And I’m putting this on my Tumblr page to save!

    Reply
  42. The Redhead Riter says

    September 2, 2010 at 10:44 pm

    It’s very beautifully arranged. I love the peacefulness of having black and white.

    Reply
  43. jrbaker24 says

    September 2, 2010 at 11:13 pm

    I LOOOOVE this Emily! I’ve been wanting to get rid of my armoire forever, and this inspires me ; )

    Reply
  44. journeychic.com says

    September 3, 2010 at 1:32 am

    This looks awesome! I’m on above-the-TV arrangement #3, and am still not satisfied. Actually, I think my living room decor has gotten quite busy and now I must think of a way to edit it somehow.

    Reply
  45. Jemsmom says

    September 3, 2010 at 2:55 am

    That looks amazing and you won’t even miss a beat of the Real Housewives!!! What do you think about the DC group? They are an interesting bunch!

    Reply
  46. Amber says

    September 3, 2010 at 3:19 am

    Ever since your last post about a gallery wall around the tv, I have been tooling with this idea in my own house. Thanks for the inspiration! I can’t decide if I should do all one color frame like you did (which I love) or do two or three different tones. Any suggestions? My walls are Sea Salt by SW. My wood tones are dark and I’m going to paint my side tables creamy white. I also have some light wood tones and medium hard wood floors, tan couches and drop cloth curtains. I was thinking I would use black frames and champagne (metallic) frames.

    Reply
  47. Megan {Honey We're Home} says

    September 3, 2010 at 5:03 am

    It looks great! The t.v. kinda just looks like a larger frame and fits right in. Thanks for sharing that site to print photography- great idea! I’m going to have to play around there.

    Reply
  48. Fran says

    September 3, 2010 at 11:42 am

    Emily, sweet!! It’s looks awesome – I love how you spray painted the sea fans!!

    Reply
  49. Beth at southernfriedliving says

    September 3, 2010 at 8:02 pm

    Thank you for doing this post!!! Love it!
    We are in the process of buying a flat panel TV and wanted to know how to decorate around it. I had just asked a decorating friend about it and she was stumped too!

    Reply
  50. Sweet Carolina Wife says

    September 4, 2010 at 6:11 pm

    I’m obsessed with gallery walls…what a great idea for behind your TV! The black and white is very chic, love it!

    Reply
  51. Alaina @ Live Creating Yourself says

    September 6, 2010 at 2:39 am

    Wow!! Fantastic!! I have a big ole’ wall like that around my TV. This looks so great! Very inspiring.

    Sorry we haven’t chatted much recently – I’ve been so so busy with Rue and everything. Hope all is well!

    Reply
  52. Adam and Natalie says

    September 7, 2010 at 11:26 am

    GREAT idea! Beautiful home.

    Reply
  53. LindsB says

    September 8, 2010 at 8:01 pm

    What a difference a few frames make- I love the wall you have created here!

    Reply
  54. [email protected] says

    September 9, 2010 at 12:46 pm

    Wow this looks great. I’ve been wanting to do the same thing, but my TV is hung on a masonry wall so it makes the whole process that much more difficult. Love what you did with the sea fan. I have one too… may try it!

    Reply
  55. Katie @ On the Banks of Squaw Creek says

    September 28, 2010 at 11:52 pm

    I love this. I also have an off center TV (because of our DVR box) AND a super awkward vent in the wall above the TV. When I saw this picture on Nester’s website, I knew this what I needed to do!!! It will help balance the TV AND help disguise the vent.

    http://onthebanksofsquawcreek.blogspot.com/2010/02/b-living-room.html

    I’d love if you took a look at my living room! I’m a new follower!

    Reply
  56. Tanya @ Dans le Townhouse says

    January 18, 2011 at 3:12 pm

    Your gallery wall turned out fantastic. I love it, even for a room without a t.v.!

    Reply
  57. I'm Busy Procrastinating says

    January 2, 2012 at 9:34 pm

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    Reply
  58. I'm Busy Procrastinating says

    January 2, 2012 at 9:35 pm

    We used to have a tube TV on a dresser in our bedroom, and I had a large piece of art leaning against the wall next to it. When we switched to a flat-screen TV, it was too wide for the art to lean against the wall next to it. I’ve been hemming and hawing about doing a gallery wall around the TV, and I think I’ve finally decided to do it. Now to find the art to include as part of it!

    Reply
  59. Erin C. Young says

    March 7, 2012 at 4:18 am

    how tall are your ceilings? i love those drapes from ikea and want them so bad, but they aren’t long enough. :(((((
    erincyoung (at) yahoo.com

    Reply
  60. Carla Stewart says

    February 7, 2013 at 5:22 am

    This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    Reply
  61. Jennifer Jolive says

    June 13, 2013 at 1:47 am

    You really gave us inspiration and make our room become elegant.Great idea!Thank you for sharing this post.

    Reply
  62. Kate Henry says

    August 7, 2013 at 6:43 am

    Incredible Design ! I love that kind of Frame Design very realistic and creative design .. It’s look Simple & Classic ! I am Interested in your Model Frame just in case . But if you consider the Standard Classic of Frame Your TV as your Frame mirror tv screen
    in your up coming blogs . Have a Great Day ! :)

    Reply
  63. Simply Put Sincerely Us says

    July 22, 2014 at 2:31 pm

    This is beautiful! I love the how the black and white photos and frames won’t distract the eye while the TV is on. You’ve inspired us @ simplyputsincerelyus.com !

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Design Inspiration: Bare Walls, No More! | nicole denae melton says:
    February 4, 2014 at 7:05 pm

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