The dreaded TV. My husband and I added the TV package when we bought our house so that we could hide the cords in the walls (YAY). We did however debate for awhile on what wall to put it on. He of course wanted it front and center and I did not! I finally caved but I was determined to find a solution to hide the TV when I wanted to. (And don‘t tell my husband but I am so happy we put it where it is so he was oh so right). So the search began!
I started searching everywhere on the internet to find an easy stylish solution for hiding our giant black box. I finally came across one photo of a map and the description was talking about maps in front of a TV. Brilliant right!? I started searching and couldn‘t find anywhere that someone had actually tried this. Only that one small mention. It is so simple I was shocked that no one had really tried it! I was definitely game. I searched for awhile for a map that I liked. It had to roll up and down, I wanted something with subdued colors with an antique feel (or of course an actual antique). It also had to be big enough to cover the entire TV. I finally came across this one on ebay, a 1958 Denoyer-Geppert pull down cloth map, and I bought it immediately! Ahhhhh so excited! I couldn‘t wait for it to come in! I loved it immediately when it came. Now I just had to wait for the house to put it up. Did I mention I have no patience when it comes to decorating!? Waiting was torture.
As soon as we got the house it was one of the first projects we tackled (because I just didn‘t want to wait haha). Seriously, this was so easy! We bought a 2×4 from Lowes and I painted it with Annie Sloans Graphite chalk paint so that it would look like a part of the map. We had to mount it on a piece of wood so that it would stick out from the wall far enough to pull down over the TV. I painted it and waxed it. After that my husband measured, leveled and screwed it up on the wall. Once that was done it was super easy to screw the map up straight into the wood.
So that is it. An easy and great way to hide that big black box when you don’t want to see it! It turned out exactly how I wanted.
Here is a few pictures of my living room decorated for the Fourth of July with the map front and center!
Karen,
I think you have come up with probably the most creative and lovely idea I have seen in awhile.
I am loving it.
Great idea!
Sandy
Thank you so much! That is so sweet of you to say
SO beautiful. I love everything about this space and the creative ay to hide the dreaded TV.
Thank you very much!
I love that idea! I think maps are great to begin with but to have it also work as a TV coverup is brilliant! The rest of your room is pretty awesome too!
Don’t you just love maps!? And thank you for your kind words!
I LOVE your room, Karen! And using the map to hide the tv was a really great idea. Beautiful, beautiful space!!!
Awww thank you!
How clever! Love your room.
Thank you!
I could not love this any more. Everything is perfect and THAT MAP! I love it. Thanks for sharing!
You’re welcome and thank you! I am pretty obsessed with the map haha!
I love your entertainment center. Where did you get it or what brand is it?
Thank you! It’s from Urban Home. They have some great pieces for a very reasonable price!
LOVE this idea. I also feel comforted by the fact that I’m not the only woman out there that hates the big black box. Thanks for sharing this clever idea!
You definitely are not the only one! Its been a big struggle for me and I am so glad to finally have found a solution!
What an amazing idea! I’ve been trying to come up with something and this is really brilliant!
It works great!! And thank you!!
Oh so clever Karen! I really love this idea and it’s execution. Your room is lovely and has so many interesting layers. I so enjoyed this visit to your home. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Thank you very much!!
Karen, I just noticed the small picture on the coffee table. Is there a family connection to the military?
Yes! That’s my husband and I during his fourth deployment homecoming. He has been in the Navy 11 years and has been on 5 deployments. The flag on the entertainment center was actually flown in Iraq when my husband was deployed there so it has a ton of meaning!
How very special! I am Canadian and part of my family are American. My uncle served in the American army during the Korean war. I have great respect for those in the military and thank you and your husband for your service. Canada and the USA are great allies and your service also affects us here in Canada.
This is a beautifully executed idea! There is one thing driving me crazy, where have you placed the other black boxes? Ie: DVR/DVD player etc? I don’t see them anywhere, and I’m hoping you’ve found a creative way to camouflage them as well! Thank you!
Well we got the TV package so the cords go through the walls so you don’t see all the cords. The DVR box is nicely hidden behind that galvanized bucket and botanical picture! I only want to see pretty things haha. Hope this helps!!
I’m with Naomi! 🙂 Where are all the cords and the cable box? I must know so that I can replicate this amazing idea!
Haha I don’t like to look at cords and black boxes so when our new home was built we added the TV Package so that the cords went through the wall. On top of that I hid our DVR box behind the bucket and botanical picture so I didn’t have to see it. You just have to have the certain kind that doesn’t need line of sight! Hope that helps with your own!! =)
I love your solution! As a teacher I’ve inherited a bunch of those maps in my classroom! I have to laugh because one year we were completely broke and I needed a new window covering — so I mounted one of those maps and used it as a roller blind!! It looked funny from the outside (the map was double sided) but it was a fun and stylish alternative that we kept for a year or two. Ultimately we didn’t like it because it would randomly spring up — had we kept it we would have needed to create a latch under the window. You might watch out for that with your TV! Yours is super cute. 🙂
Love this idea! I’m thinking of doing the same to cover our newly mounted flat screen. In the end, how far did your map + 2×4 stick out from the wall? Mine is about 4″, so I’m wondering if that would cover it…
Thanks!
Sorry for not replying until now! We used a 2×4 to mount the map to so it would stick out far enough! I think it ends up being about 4 or 5 inches!
Curious if you notice the TV underneath when you are looking at the side of the map? I am really inspired by your clever solution, but my TV area is in the middle of a large room. I’m wondering if the map sticking out over the the TV will look funny from the side. Hmmm….
Sorry to find your post so late after you posted, but I’m so glad I did!
That is such a lovely idea. I would love to be able to hide away the big black box.
Awesome idea! Love it. Sometimes the TV just needs to hide!
Karen……one word for this idea…..PERFECT!!!!
This is such a lovely idea and your home is so very cozy and nice. It is so very pretty!
Hi Karen. Love the TV coverbidea and love maps too. So clever. ? I have a question but it isn’t about the TV. It is about your white couches. Are they the Rktops from IKEA? Are the covers washable? And….do you find them easy to care for? On and BTW saw your tutorial on shiplapping. It was great!
Mary
They ARE the ektorp couches! They have a cover on them and the cushions and its pretty easy to pull off and wash. I have two dogs and a cat and find them pretty easy to care for over all! If anything does get on them it comes right out in the wash (so far). I would definitely recommend!
Do you know if there are more of the map that you purchased available? If so, could you please share the link! I LOVE your idea!!!
Such a great idea. I found a map shop on Etsy and they have also designed a shelf for their maps for this purpose. So, if anyone is like me and just needs a little help this store is wonderful! https://www.etsy.com/transaction/1163800648
Your blog gave me the idea!
Can I ask how much you paid for the map? I’ve been looking but have no basis on what is a “reasonable” price for something I’ve wanted for so long.
Hi Karen, what a beautiful room you have !
I was looking for a solution to hide my TV and found your blog, this is a wonderful idea !
Thought i’m french and I’m not sure I understood everything you say on how to do it : what is a 2×4 from Lowes? Where did you get the stuff to pull down the map ?
Thank you so much for your reply!!
Karen this is sheer brilliance
I NEED to do this! Can you show a photo from the SIDE? I want to see the depth and what that looks like because where I want to do it people will walk in to the room from the side ….I want to know if they can see the tv from that angle.
Thank you!!!!
We love the map idea to cover the flat screen tv! But what did you do with the cords?
What size is the map and how has it held up being pulled up and down? Looks fabulous, love this idea.
I love this room please tell me where you got your sofa and love seat. The style and I have been wanting a white sofa for ever but may I saw looked stiff and not inviting. Please where did you get yours and the name of it.
Hi Karen,
Would you be willing to share where you purchased your map from?
Thanks so much,!
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Hello, I am inspired by your tv room make over. I was curious if you have a link for where you bought the map. It seems to be the perfect size for what I am looking to do, I am unable to find that map thou. Thanks for the inspiration!