FT NEWS

Unless you have a spare entertainment room, the big black screen is generally to be found in the living room, occupying centre stage and grabbing eyeballs, thus defeating the very purpose of said room – a space that is meant for meet-ups, conversations and hanging out with friends and family. For those who do not want the TV to be the focal point in their living space, here are some ideas on how to separate the TV area from the main sitting area.

Break up the layout
With area rugs
A large living room can easily accommodate multiple activities.

Rather than designing this room as one large living space, the owners have designed it as two distinct areas – a formal living area and a more casual TV-viewing space. Visually separate the two ‘zones’ by using different area rugs. This will help the two spaces feel connected, yet distinct.

Use a sofa to define the space
Separate the TV-viewing area from the living room with the help of a large L-shaped sofa. The corner thus formed can also be turned into a kids’ play area where they can hang out with their friends and watch TV, while adults can continue to entertain in the living area.

Create a fake wall
Make a faux wall in your living room to give an impression of two independent spaces. This ensures complete privacy to people on either side.

Tuck it in a corner
Put nooks and crannies to good use – corners tend to be some of the most under-utilised parts of a room. Mount your TV on a corner wall or place it on a TV stand in a corner. That way you won’t risk it overwhelming the room.

Use lighting cleverly
Lighting is a great tool to use as a demarcator, especially within the same common space. If the TV is placed to the side of the room or tucked away in a corner, control the mood in that particular space via lighting to create a cosy nook where you can relax and watch your favourite shows – without subjecting others in the family to do the same.

Allow the TV to swivel
Mount the television on a pivot so that it can be turned to opposite sides for viewing. So, not only does the screen get shared between two different spaces but watching can be done separately and independently. This arrangement is perfect for a studio apartment to distinguish two living spaces, say the dining and living spaces within a living room itself.

Make your TV mobile
A great trick to ensure non-interference for both, the watchers and non-watchers, is to mount the TV on a mobile contraption, such as a trolley with wheels. This way you can wheel the screen to whichever part of the room you like. Given current wifi technology, this tactic would work like a charm for those wanting to separate TV-watching from other activities.