Most of the daytime, we are in the living room. Therefore, it’s crucial to ensure it’s not only comfortable but also functional. The TV wall, a central piece of both decoration and utility, can make or break the room’s ambiance. From design to finish, this guide covers everything you need to build a stunning and functional recessed TV wall.
Sitting a large screen on an IKEA cabinet is probably the most affordable and classic approach for a TV wall. While you may think your life is missing some excitement, or it is a bit too budget-friendly.
A custom wall-mounted console anchoring a large flat screen is a top choice for classic or contemporary family TV walls.
A TV wall can be styled using everything from paint and wallpaper to wall trim, plasterboard, solid timber shelving, and custom joinery cabinets. And you can also embellish the TV wall with custom lighting, framed art, or wall decor. A more complex or functional TV wall can also be an electric fireplace heater wall.
Supahandy has crafted a recessed TV wall, complemented by a recessed electric fireplace heater and six recessed display niches, perfect for showcasing tasteful design elements. Even if the prominence of a large flat-screen TV doesn’t bother you, subduing its presence can create a more harmonious living space.
Before designing your own TV wall, it is better to take the overall style of the house into consideration. What’s more, you can also add personalized elements according to the needs and preferences of your family. From integrated electric fireplaces to bespoke cabinetry, these custom features elevate the TV wall into a true design highlight.
The Most Popular TV Wall Styles
Classic TV Stand
By pairing traditional craftsmanship with essential storage, a solid timber entertainment unit introduces a sense of rich warmth and premium comfort to any living zone.
At the Supahandy workshop, we can custom-make all styles of solid oak or oak veneer classic TV stands. Contact by our online Free Quote and email us a picture or drawing, and we will bring your perfect TV console to life.
Recessed TV Wall
Create a slightly recessed TV wall box to inset the flat-screen television flush with the plasterboard line, creating a clean and uncluttered space.
The recessed TV wall box in the wall can prevent the TV from protruding into a smaller living room, which is why many homeowners prefer this design. This recessed TV wall box is a simple and modern style that is especially suited for a young family looking to maximize their living space.
Wall mounted TV Unit and Wall
Limited on space? A modern wall-mounted flat screen with concealed cabling above a floating TV cabinet (wall mounted TV unit) keeps things simple and saves valuable space.
Wall mounted tv unit has been another most popular choice for young family with limited living space. Each year, the Supahandy workshop custom-crafts a wide range of solid timber wall mounted TV unit for Sydney homeowners, offering the perfect space-saving solution for young families living in units.
TV and Electric Fireplace Wall
The TV and electric fireplace wall (often built as a false chimney breast) is the ultimate feature for a modern family home. It seamlessly combines entertainment, ambient heating, and high-end design into one compact footprint.
The arch profile has grown significantly in popularity across modern architecture and living area feature walls over recent years. The arched TV feature wall, with its striking and prominent silhouette, has quickly emerged as one of a premier design choice across the Sydney new build market throughout 2025 and 2026.
Multifunctional TV Wall
Merge the TV wall with bookcases and cabinets to cater to storage and decorative needs while optimizing space utilization.
A custom large-scale TV feature wall with built-in bookcases and custom cabinets remains a timeless choice for big families with grand living spaces. Styled with premium solid timber shelving, this classic layout effortlessly elevates the warmth and luxury of your home.
LED TV Wall
Whether installed vertically or horizontally, flexible LED strips can be seamlessly integrated inside cabinets, bulkheads, under floating consoles, or within recessed niches to add stunning architectural depth.
Other Styles TV wall
- V-Groove (VJ) Shiplap Panel Wall: Vertical tongue-and-groove timber cladding panels installed across the entire wall add subtle line work without cluttering the space.
- The Venetian Plaster / Concrete Look Wall: A textured, hand-troweled plaster wall finish behind the TV that mimics polished concrete or natural stone.
- Under Suspended Ceiling: Use a suspended ceiling to distinguish the TV area from other zones, adding depth to the room.
- Glass Partition: Create a visual separation with a glass partition that offers privacy without compromising transparency.
How to Build a Recessed TV and Electric Fireplace Wall
To build a custom recessed TV and electric fireplace wall from scratch, Supahandy usually needs three to four days. And you don’t need a designer (nor to be a designer).
Here’s how you can make your TV wall the centerpiece of your home decor, enhancing your lifestyle and comfort: what you need to do first is to search the internet for designs that really attract your eyes, and draft a plan in a non-professional way, like the one that follows.
Or mostly, you only need one TV picture download from the internet if you want an experienced builder team to help.
Step 1: Measurement, Planning, and Procurement
The first question when planning a TV wall is, ‘What are the dimensions of the recessed cavity?’ In reality, it all depends on your available room space, design style, and budget.
Measure the size and location of your TV wall, and consider the affordable sizes of your recessed TV wall box, electric fireplace, socket location, and other factors.
It means during this step, it is necessary to purchase the TV and its wall mount bracket, and an electric fireplace heater.
This is the most important step for your entire TV wall project: measure the existing wall, and draw a scale plan based on the exact dimensions of all your purchased appliances.
For a fixed wall mounted TV installation, we recommend leaving a 20mm clearance gap on the left and right sides of the TV opening, and a 40–60mm gap at the top and bottom. 20mm side clearances. Leaves an intentional margin that allows you to comfortably reach your hands behind the TV when extending or retracting the television from its recessed niche. A bigger gap at the top and bottom (40–60mm) not only improves the visual balance but also provides the necessary room to lift and drop the TV onto its mounting rail during installation.
However, please keep in mind that the clearances on both sides, as well as the overall depth of the niche, may need to be even larger — particularly when pairing your screen with a heavy-duty, full-motion swivel bracket from Bunnings.
A generous margin ensures the TV doesn’t scrape against the plasterboard when adjusting the viewing angles.
How deep does a TV recess need to be? Regarding the depth of your niche, we recommend 100mm to 150mm for a standard fixed TV bracket. While 200mm to 350mm is recommended when using a full-motion swivel bracket. A deeper recess ensures your screen remains flush, preventing the TV from protruding into your living space.
We also recommend a 5–10mm margin around the electric fireplace cavity for easier fitting. (Look out for my detailed breakdown on this in another upcoming blog post: Electric Fireplace).
Step 2: Demolition and preparation for the New Recessed TV wall
Remove furniture, protect the floor, and do necessary demolition, like the skirting, cornice, etc. As shown in the following photo, we have cleared the room, cut out sections of the cornice and skirting board, and protected the floors and remaining furniture with drop sheets.
Step 3: Build Recessed TV Wall Frame
According to the owner’s draft, we assembled the structural timber (and Rondo steel) frame of the TV wall to ensure solidity and flatness. And then, we left the appropriate recesses for the TV, fireplace, and niches.
When framing out a recessed feature wall, precise layout measurements are critical for a high-end, flush-mount look.
Step 4: Finish the Surface of TV Wall
Finishing the surface of plasterboard recessed TV wall normally includes:
- Install external corner beads;
- Complete the gyprock installation, joint taping;
- Install cornice, like the most classic 90mm Cove cornice;
- Install timber skirting, like a 67mm Colonial style;
- Sand and paint to finish the TV wall face.
How to Choose Your favourite TV Wall
You may like many TV walls showed on internet. For example, you might like the 34 TV Wall Ideas That Are Both Functional and Stylish.
Choosing the perfect TV feature wall depends primarily on your lifestyle, alongside your budget and room dimensions. Normally one TV wall acts as the main focal point of your living room. And selecting the right layout can instantly upgrade your life quality and increase your property’s value.
How can you have a TV wall idea that exclusively matches your own aesthetic?
The TV backdrop of your house should be closely related to your own daily life.
A black electric fireplace and flat screen paired with a Dulux Lexicon white feature wall is the ultimate layout for a clean, cool, and modern living zone.
For book lovers, merging the TV wall with a bookshelf and storage cabinet can be both functional and aesthetically pleasing.
If you prefer to have a TV in your little bedroom, you may happy to build a recessed TV wall box above a chest of built-in drawers on a wall of bedroom closets and clothing storage that can house your TV.
Functional aesthetics is based on functionality. If the functionality is not included well, the TV background wall can never be what you want.
Here are four most functions of a TV wall:
- Display and Furnishing: Showcase your hobbies with open grids, display racks, and ornaments;
- Hierarchy and Lighting: Create a sense of depth and set the mood with strategic lighting;
- Wiring Concealment: Enhance the aesthetic by hiding TV-related wiring;
- Storage Space: Ensure ample storage for organizing frequently used living room items.
Your TV wall is more than just a backdrop for entertainment; it’s a reflection of your lifestyle and taste. With careful planning and customization, it can be the heart of your home, enhancing both form and function.
Frequently Asked Questions of Custom TV Wall
What is the most budget-friendly way to style a TV wall?
Like what we showed at the beginning of our blog, placing a large screen directly on an IKEA TV cabinet offers a highly cost-effective and timeless layout for a TV wall.
To achieve a premium look on a budget, sitting your large screen on a floor-standing solid wood console introduces instant warmth and stability.
What are the ideal dimensions for a recessed TV wall box?
There is no single standard size because the cavity dimensions depend entirely on the specific layout plan of your room and the appliances you have purchased. However, the universal trade rule is to build the niche 20mm larger than the television frame to allow for installation access and system ventilation. You can find additional clearance gap recommendations in our main blog post above.
What paint colors work best for a modern, high-contrast look?
Since most fireplaces and TV screens are matt or satin black, it is best to paint your backdrop feature wall in a neutral white, such as Dulux Lexicon Quarter. This creates a stunning contrast that makes your appliances pop. Alternatively, a warm white like Dulux Natural White™ offers a more classic and cozy aesthetic. Our another blog: The Most Loved Dulux White, must can help your to find the right colours for your TV wall.
Can I put a big size TV, like 65 inch, or 85 inch, on a normal dry wall?
As a standard internal lining, plasterboard is classified as a non-loadbearing material. For this reason, manufacturers such as CSR Gyprock do not publish a maximum load limit for the sheeting alone.
While I can say, Yes, you can absolutely mount a 65-inch or 85-inch TV on a plasterboard wall, but you must never hang it directly onto the plasterboard sheeting alone.
A 65-inch television, such as a Samsung Vision AI Smart TV, typically weighs between 20kg and 30kg. Although standard 10mm Gyprock plasterboard is non-loadbearing, the timber or steel wall studs behind it will support the TV and bracket safely, provided the mount is screwed securely into the underlying framing.
If you have the need for a TV wall, feel free to consult with us through our online quote!
Reference
34 TV Wall Ideas That Are Both Functional and Stylish.
Editor’s Note
- This post was published on 13 July 2024 based on the experience of the 1st plasterboard TV wall installation.
- This post was updated in May 2026 with most popular TV walls custom made and installed by Supahandy in last couple years.