I love an all-night binge session as much as the next Squid Game fan, but I’m not thrilled about the television becoming the focal point in the living room.
My hubby and I are thinking about getting one of those CanvasTV™ things or something similar.
But this secret TV hack from Eléonore Magni (@montoutmontoit) is another cool option that does even more than hide the TV.
It frees up your wall for art, shelves, or a projector setup when movie night rolls around. It’s the kind of smart, stylish solution you’ll wish you’d tried sooner.
What You’ll Need
- 3 IKEA IVAR cabinets
- Motorized TV lift
- Multi-tool
- Lumber similar to IVAR for the TV stand
- Timber for support braces
- Basics — drill, screw gun, tape measure, pencil, saw, etc.
Hide Your TV Fast With This Hack
1. Assemble and Prep the IVAR Cabinets
Put together the three IVAR cabinets. Remove half of the back panel of the cabinet you plan to use for your components. This opening is so that you can hide cables and pass them through to the TV, etc.
2. Time for the TV Lift
Install your TV on the motorized lift according to the instructions that come with your model.
The hacker secured a wood panel to her wall using heavy-duty adhesive. She mounted the TV stand to this panel.
You may or may not need to do this, depending on your wall. Therefore, just pay close attention to the recommendations that come with your mount.
3. Customize Your TV Lift Cabinet
Eléonore wanted her cabinets to have a bit more of a custom look. She spaced them apart with two IVAR units on one side and one on the other, creating a narrow shelf between them.
The extra shelf also enables the cabinets to reach wall-to-wall. The shelf is the same height as the IVAR cabinets and as wide as the space between them.
As a final touch, she created mini shelves.
4. Create a New Top for the Hidden TV Unit
Since the cabinets sit out from the wall to leave space for the TV, you need to create a new top that spans the gap.
Eléonore added support braces to the side walls and cut wood to fit from the front of the IVAR units to the rear wall.
She cut a piece out of the top that goes around the TV and attached it to the top of the TV stand.
Then, when the TV is hidden, the top of the cabinets looks like one finished piece instead of having a weird rectangular cutout.
What We Love About This Hidden TV Hack!
The hacker’s main purpose for this DIY was to free up wall space so they could use their projector for movie nights.
Honestly, I love this because we also enjoy watching movies with our projector, and having a big blank wall at the ready would make things a lot easier.
The lift system lowers the television out of sight when not in use in no time, so setting up for movie night is a breeze.
Eléonore says, “We keep the option of taking the TV out when we need it, but honestly, we watch it a lot less since it’s hidden away.”
Something to Keep in Mind
If your current TV setup has your TV mounted on the wall, make sure to have a plan for the wall. You’ll end up with holes left behind from the old mount, cables, etc.
You may need to patch or repair your wall, or maybe you’ll just hang a piece of art there for the time being. Just something to be prepared for if you decide to tackle this project.
The creator said this project took her just under five and a half hours to complete. Think you could do it in the same amount of time?
Get a closer look at the hack, and follow Eléonore Magni (@montoutmontoit) for more stunning transformations and design inspiration.
Have a hack to share? We’d love to see it! Maybe you’ll be featured next!