The best TV wall decor ideas treat the TV as one element of a composition: a wide canvas above the console, tall pieces beside the screen, and warm light behind it. Match the art to the TV's width, keep 6 to 10 inches of space around the screen, and pick dark, low-glare scenes that suit a screen turned off.
- A 55 inch TV is about 48 inches wide, a 65 inch about 57, a 75 inch about 65 and an 85 inch about 74, so art beside or above it should be sized from those numbers.
- A 60x20 inch panoramic canvas above a 65 inch TV's console echoes the screen's width without competing with it.
- Portrait pieces such as 12x24 or 20x40 inches stand beside a TV and add height to a wall that is mostly horizontal.
- Dark TV accent walls are current: Benjamin Moore chose the deep espresso brown Silhouette as its 2026 Color of the Year.
- Black and white art keeps a TV wall calm, because a dark screen and monochrome pieces share the same tones.
What Are the Best TV Wall Decor Ideas?
Six ideas cover almost every room: a wide canvas above the console, a pair of tall pieces beside the screen, floating shelves, a gallery wall, a dark accent wall and lighting behind the TV. Pick one main idea and add one supporting layer, so the wall has a single clear story rather than six small ones.
Start with the wall's proportions. Most TV walls are wide and low, so pieces that add height or a strong horizontal line balance the screen. Our guide to living room wall decor ideas covers the rest of the room.
How Big Should Art Be Next to a TV?
Size the art from the TV's width, not from the wall. Leave 6 to 10 inches between the screen and any piece, hang pieces beside the TV with their centers 57 to 60 inches from the floor, and keep a panoramic above the console no wider than the console itself.
| TV size | Screen width | Console width | Art above or around it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 55 in | 48 in | 54 in | 48x16 panoramic, or 12x24 portraits on each side |
| 65 in | 57 in | 60 in | 60x20 panoramic, or 20x40 portraits on each side |
| 75 in | 65 in | 72 in | 60x20 panoramic, or 24x48 portraits on each side |
| 85 in | 74 in | 84 in | Skip art above; use 30x60 portraits on each side |
Pro tip: Cut kraft paper to the size of each piece, tape it beside the TV and watch a show from the sofa. If the paper pulls your eye away from the screen, move it 3 inches farther out.
A 12 foot wall (144 inches) holds a centered 65 inch TV that is 57 inches wide, which leaves 43.5 inches on each side. Hang a 20x40 inch portrait 6 inches from each screen edge, so it spans 17.5 to 37.5 inches from the wall end. With the center at 57 inches, each piece runs from 37 to 77 inches high, which frames a screen that sits between 26 and 58 inches.
Should You Hang Art Above a TV?
Yes, if the TV is mounted lower than usual or the wall above it is bare. A 60x20 inch panoramic canvas above a 65 inch TV fills the empty space and gives the wall a focal point when the screen is off. Leave 4 to 6 inches between the TV's top edge and the bottom of the art, and choose a calm scene, since this piece sits in your eye line during every movie.
Skip the idea above a very large screen. An 85 inch TV is already 74 inches wide, and art above it pushes the top of the wall past 7 feet, which pulls the eye upward during viewing. Use the sides instead. Our panoramic wall art is built for the wide format above a console.
Watch out: A clear front on any framed piece can reflect the TV's glow. Choose a canvas print for any piece within 3 feet of the screen, since canvas has no front cover to catch it.
How Do You Style a TV Accent Wall?
Paint the TV wall a darker color than the rest of the room, then add pieces that echo it. Benjamin Moore's 2026 Color of the Year, Silhouette (AF-655), is a deep espresso brown with notes of charcoal, and a dark wall like that makes the screen blend in when it is off. Sherwin-Williams chose a mid-tone tan, Universal Khaki (SW 6150), for people who prefer a softer accent.
On a dark wall, choose art with light areas, so it reads clearly. Black and white art looks sharp on charcoal or brown, and a skyline at night repeats the screen's glow. Browse skyline wall art if you want a city view that holds its own beside a screen.
Gallery Wall Beside the TV
Keep a gallery wall to the side of the screen, not around it. Use 5 to 7 separate pieces on one side, with 2 to 3 inches between them, and let an odd number of items sit on the shelf or ledge below. Interior designers often call the odd-number habit the 3-5-7 rule, and it works because uneven groups look collected rather than lined up.
Shelves and Books
Floating shelves above and below the TV hold books, plants and a few small objects. Leave at least a third of each shelf empty, and rest a small canvas or framed print against the wall so the shelf carries art as well as things.
How Do You Hide Cords and Add Light Around a TV?
Cord covers painted to match the wall make cables nearly invisible, and a cable channel set behind the TV hides the rest. Add light with a floor lamp 18 to 24 inches from the wall and a warm 2700K bulb, which keeps the screen from sitting alone in a dark room.
- Mount the TV so the center of the screen sits at or slightly below seated eye level.
- Run power and HDMI cables inside the wall or a paintable channel.
- Add a lamp or wall sconce on one side of the screen.
- Hang art last, once the TV and lights are fixed, and check it from the sofa.
What Works on a Small TV Wall?
On a small wall, use one piece and leave the rest bare. A 36x24 inch landscape beside a 55 inch TV or a 48x16 inch panoramic above its console is enough. Add a tall plant on the other side, not a second frame, so the wall does not feel full.
A small room also suits a skyline or an abstract in two or three colors, which stays calm beside a screen. Our abstract wall art gives that effect, and the guide to family room ideas shows how the TV fits the wider room plan.
Every piece is printed to order and ships free across the US. Choose a shape that suits your TV's width, then a scene that stays calm beside a screen.
Quick answers
Common Questions
What is the 3-5-7 rule of decorating?
The 3-5-7 rule says to group objects in odd numbers, usually three, five or seven. On a TV wall that means three items on a shelf, five pieces in a gallery or seven objects across a long console. Odd groups look more natural than even ones. Vary heights and sizes within each group.
What can you put on the wall behind a TV?
Keep the wall behind a TV simple. Paint it a darker color, add a light strip or sconces beside the screen, and hang art on the sides rather than directly behind. A mounted TV covers the wall behind it, so decorating that space adds nothing. Spend the effort on the sides and above.
How do you decorate the wall beside a TV?
Hang tall portrait pieces 6 to 10 inches from the screen, with their centers 57 to 60 inches from the floor. A 12x24 or 20x40 inch canvas suits a 55 or 65 inch TV. Add a floor lamp and a plant on the far side, so the wall stays balanced when the screen is dark.
How do you make a TV wall look nice?
Give the wall one focal idea and keep the screen's neighbors quiet. Use art sized to the TV's width, a dark or warm accent color, hidden cords and one lamp. Remove anything that crowds the screen within 6 inches, since clutter at the edge makes a TV wall look unfinished.
How high should a TV be mounted?
Mount the TV so its center is at or slightly below your seated eye level. Higher mounting strains the neck over a long movie, and many people mount too high above a fireplace. If the TV must go high, tilt it down and choose a smaller screen, then place art at standard height beside it.
