You can make a TV wall look far more expensive without a renovation by focusing on a handful of changes: choose a well proportioned TV unit with clean lines, hide every visible cable, paint the wall in a deeper or richer shade, add wall panelling or moulding, frame the screen with art and wall lights, and style the unit with a few quality objects rather than many small ones. None of these steps involves knocking down walls or hiring a builder, yet together they create the tailored, considered look associated with high end interiors.
The single most influential piece is the furniture itself. A long, low unit with a quality finish instantly lifts the wall, which is why many people start with one of our modern TV units UK before turning to paint and accessories. Below, we go through each idea in turn, explaining why it works and how to apply it in a typical British living room.
It helps to understand what makes a wall feel luxurious. In most cases, it is not the cost of individual items but the sense of intention. Expensive looking rooms tend to share a few qualities: generous proportions, a restrained palette, visible quality in materials, careful lighting, no clutter and a feeling that everything has been placed on purpose.
A TV wall often lacks these qualities because it develops over time. A screen is bought, a stand is chosen separately, devices accumulate, cables multiply and accessories gather. The result can feel accidental. Bringing back a sense of intention is the key to lifting the wall.
Furniture sets the tone for everything else. Look for a unit that is wider than your screen, so the arrangement feels balanced and generous. Low, long proportions tend to look more refined than tall, narrow ones, because they create a calm horizontal line across the wall.
Quality is visible in the details: neatly aligned doors, smooth drawers, solid handles or handleless fronts, even finishes and good edges. Closed storage helps enormously, because hiding devices and clutter is one of the quickest ways to make a wall feel calmer and more upmarket.
Think about how the unit relates to the rest of your room too. Choosing it alongside other pieces from our living room furniture UK sale collection allows you to repeat finishes and create a coordinated look across the space.
Nothing undermines a polished TV wall quite like a visible cable. Even a short loop of black wire draws the eye and makes the arrangement look unfinished.
Bundle cables with fabric sleeves or reusable ties, route them through cut outs at the back of the unit and fix power strips inside a ventilated cupboard. If the screen is wall mounted, a paintable cable channel running down to the unit hides cables neatly. For an invisible result, in wall routing can be considered, though any work involving mains power should be carried out by a qualified electrician.
Reducing the number of devices helps too. Remove anything unused, and choose wireless options where possible.
A television hung too high is one of the most common reasons a TV wall looks awkward. It breaks the relationship between the screen and the furniture below and makes the wall feel top heavy. It is also uncomfortable to watch.
Aim for the middle of the screen to sit close to eye level when you are seated, and keep a modest, consistent gap between the bottom of the screen and the top of the unit. When the screen and unit read as a single composition, the whole wall looks planned. If your screen is already mounted high, lowering it is often a small job that makes a striking difference.
Visible equipment pulls a wall back towards the ordinary. Routers, streaming boxes and small speakers are best kept inside the unit or on an open shelf partly screened by a book or a plant. A slatted or cane fronted compartment lets signals through while keeping the devices out of view.
If you use a soundbar, choose one in a colour that blends with the unit or wall, and position it centrally so it reads as part of the arrangement rather than an afterthought.
Paint is one of the most effective ways to transform a TV wall. A deeper, more saturated shade instantly adds depth and makes the wall feel deliberate. Dark colours such as navy, charcoal, forest green and aubergine are particularly effective behind a screen, because the black of the television blends into the background when it is switched off.
If you prefer lighter rooms, soft, warm neutrals such as putty, mushroom or stone can still create a richer effect than plain white. Choose a matt or flat finish, which absorbs light and looks more refined than a sheen.
For an extra sense of quality, consider colour drenching: painting the skirting boards, and perhaps the ceiling, in the same shade as the wall. This creates a cocooning effect seen in many high end interiors.
Wall panelling and decorative moulding add architectural interest without major building work. Simple picture frame moulding, painted the same colour as the wall, creates a tailored, classic look that suits both period and modern homes. Vertical slatted panels in wood add warmth and texture, and they can also help to hide cables running down from a wall mounted screen.
Many panelling kits are designed for DIY installation. Plan the layout carefully so the panels frame the screen and the TV unit symmetrically. If you rent, look for lightweight options that can be fixed with removable adhesive, and check your tenancy first.
Lighting is one of the clearest differences between an ordinary room and an expensive looking one. Layered lighting, with several sources at different heights, creates depth and atmosphere.
Wall lights either side of the screen add symmetry and a hotel style quality. Our range of modern wall lights UK includes designs in brass, black and chrome that work well flanking a television. A table lamp at one end of the unit gives soft light at a lower level. LED strips behind the screen or along the back of a floating unit create a gentle halo that reduces eye strain while watching.
Choose warm white bulbs for a relaxed evening atmosphere, and add dimmers where possible.
Art makes a TV wall feel curated rather than functional. Large pieces look more expensive than several small ones, so consider one substantial artwork either side of the screen, or a single piece above a low unit if the screen is mounted elsewhere.
Pieces from our collection of canvas wall art UK work well because canvas has no glass to reflect the screen or lights. Choose artwork in colours that echo the wall paint, the TV unit or textiles in the room. Abstract and textural pieces suit contemporary schemes, while landscapes and botanical prints sit comfortably in traditional rooms.
Another option is a frame television that displays art when not in use, which can be paired with real artwork either side for a gallery feel.
A crowded surface looks hurried, while a few chosen objects look considered. Limit the top of the TV unit to three or four items: perhaps a lamp, a plant, a small stack of books and one sculptural piece.
Choose objects with weight and presence: ceramics with an interesting glaze, a stone or marble bowl, a large vase with a few stems. Vary heights so the eye moves along the unit. Group items in odd numbers and leave clear space between groups.
Remote controls, chargers and clutter should live in drawers or cupboards, not on the surface.
Shelving either side of a TV can look wonderful, but it needs editing. Floating shelves loaded with small ornaments quickly become busy. If you add shelves, keep them few in number, align them carefully with the top of the unit or the edges of the screen, and style them with a mix of books laid flat and upright, a couple of larger objects and plenty of empty space.
Choosing shelves in the same colour as the wall makes them recede, so the objects become the focus. Contrasting wooden shelves against a dark painted wall create a warmer, more crafted effect. Either approach looks considered as long as the shelves are not overfilled.
Texture adds richness. A fluted or slatted TV unit, a textured paint finish, a wooden panel wall, a wool rug and linen curtains all contribute layers that make a room feel expensive. Contrast is important: pair smooth gloss with rough ceramics, or warm wood with cool stone.
Even small details count. Swapping basic handles for brass or leather pulls on a TV unit can change its character completely.
A TV wall looks more expensive when it connects to the rest of the room. Repeating a finish from the TV unit in a sideboard, coffee table or shelving creates harmony. Our guide to matching TV units with sideboards in UK homes explains how to pair these pieces without making the room feel overly matched.
Colour can do the same job. A shade from the wall paint repeated in a cushion, a throw or a vase draws the room together.
Dark TV units can look particularly sophisticated, especially against a deep painted wall. When the screen is switched off, it blends into the unit and wall, creating a seamless, tailored look. Black, charcoal and dark walnut finishes all work well.
If you are considering this approach, our article on choosing a black TV unit for a UK home covers the practical and stylistic points to think about.
Symmetry is a quiet signal of intention. Centre the screen on the wall or chimney breast, centre the unit beneath it and place matching lights, art or shelving on either side. Symmetrical arrangements feel calm and ordered, which reads as quality.
If exact symmetry is not possible because of a window or door, aim for visual balance instead. A tall plant on one side can balance a lamp and artwork on the other.
A large rug in front of the TV wall grounds the seating area. Good curtains, hung high and wide, make windows look larger and add softness. A mirror placed to reflect light, but not the screen, brightens the room. Fresh flowers or a large branch in a vase add life.
Finally, keep things tidy. The most beautifully styled wall loses its effect if it is surrounded by clutter. Regular, quick tidying keeps the look polished.
You can explore TV units, lighting, art and accessories to bring these ideas together at Furniture in Fashion. We provide free delivery to most UK mainland postcodes, and Returns are available up to 30 days.
Hiding cables and decluttering the TV unit make an immediate difference. Adding a table lamp and one or two quality objects completes the effect.
Deep shades such as navy, charcoal and dark green help the screen blend in when switched off. Warm neutrals also work well if you prefer a lighter room.
Yes. Many panelling and moulding kits are designed for DIY installation, and some can be fixed with adhesive, which suits rented homes.
They do. A pair of wall lights either side of the screen adds symmetry and soft evening light, which instantly makes the wall feel more finished and relaxing to sit in front of.
Either can work. Art either side of the screen creates symmetry, while art above a low unit suits a room where the screen is positioned elsewhere or wall mounted lower.
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