Kitchen Design
Decorating Guides
Glued to the Tube: 14 Ways to Put a TV in the Kitchen
If you must, here's how to work a flat screen into your kitchen design
There’s no denying the fact that some of my clients simply must have a TV in the kitchen. I can fight it all I want, but I won’t win. So if I can’t beat them, should I join them? Maybe not, but I can at least consider some acceptable options for how to design a TV into the most popular room in the house. You might think I’m crazy, but I’m not a fan of the wall-mounted TV on a movable arm — it just reminds me of a bar or a hospital room, and neither create the feel I want in a newly designed kitchen. There are other options, though. Take a look:
1. Treat the TV as an appliance. When the TV is treated as one appliance among many on a wall, it almost becomes invisible. I love the idea of an appliance wall anyway. It just makes sense as compared to having them spread out all over the kitchen. None of these particular appliances are main tasking ones, so it's fine for them to be outside the main work triangle.
3. Tuck it into a shelf. There's no reason you can't put a small TV on a shelf the same way one might deal with a microwave. In a more traditional kitchen it would be strange to treat it with a modern solution anyway. Sometimes the simplest solution is best.
4. Hang it high. One issue with finding a less conspicuous place for a TV in a kitchen, is that it may end up a little higher than is ideally suited to viewing. Still, a taller height can work for viewers who may be standing or watching from across the room.
If a higher placement works for you, it can go over the refrigerator or over the pantry, take your pick. And if it still offends you, add some pocket doors that can be closed when not in viewing mode.
6. Make it viewable from the island. Where you put the TV really depends on the kitchen layout; whether or not it can be easily viewed by the cook and the kids or guests. This layout works well since it's got seating on two sides of the island.
The location of this TV is perfect for someone prepping at the peninsula or for whoever is sitting there eating or hanging out.
7. Add it to the message center. Electronics are just a fact of modern life, so consider having your TV, phone charger and music in one spot.
8. If you have a lot of dishes to do... Not sure about the TV behind the sink idea — I'd be a little worried about water splashing, but I couldn't help but include this clever one. I do like the fact that the color of the TV's frame blends in with the tile.
9. Ah, the wall mounted pivoting arm option. At least this one is tiny and inconspicuous. Since there are no wall cabinets in this sleek kitchen, it works well with the overall design.
For some reason, if a wall mount is the only option, it looks better when it's flush up against the wall rather than at an angle on a mounting arm...I think it has something to do with it referring to the way art is hung rather than a bar or hospital setting thing again.
10. Tuck it into a corner. As I mentioned before, sometimes the simplest solution is the best. A small TV in the corner can be the least noticeable option.
Funny enough, I don't mind things like mixers, toasters or small TVs on the countertop. Especially in a more traditional kitchen, designing the TV into a cabinet can put a real damper on the design. The corner is often dead space anyway, so it's the perfect spot.
11. Drop it down. There's always the airplane-style flip-down solution. If you can tuck these away behind a light valance it can be a great option, though the sizes are more limited.
I don't mind the flip-down TV mount mixed in with other small appliances. The mix of metal makes it work.
12. Borrow a family room wall. If you have the good fortune of a larger space with the kitchen and family room as one, you're dilemma may be solved with a larger TV in the family room which can be seen from the kitchen.
13. Add it to the breakfast nook. A clever niche in kitchen banquette area is a great solution, even better if you can build in shelves to conceal it a bit more.
14. Hide it in the island. The end of an island can be a great spot to hide a TV in a kitchen open to the family room. Because this one is on the large side, it's a bit low to the ground, but there are often trade-offs in design and remodeling. If you went with a slightly smaller screen, you could put it up on a shelf to get it off the ground a bit — and I wouldn't mind pocket doors to hide it when it's not in use.
Confess! Do you have a TV in your kitchen? Tell us where!
More:
Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down: TVs in the Bedroom
Where to Put the Flat-Screen TV
More tips for designing around a TV
Confess! Do you have a TV in your kitchen? Tell us where!
More:
Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down: TVs in the Bedroom
Where to Put the Flat-Screen TV
More tips for designing around a TV