As our homes become more technology-driven, blending devices into our living spaces is increasingly important. A soundbar can significantly improve your TV's audio, yet it also represents another piece of equipment vying for space in your living room.
While soundbars enhance the viewing experience, many of the top soundbars may not always match your decor. Consequently, homeowners are looking for innovative methods to integrate them into their living room design, making the area feel less cluttered and more cohesive.
To uncover the best strategies, I consulted three reliable experts in technology and interior design. They provided two straightforward methods for concealing your soundbar, requiring no custom renovations or intricate cabinetry.
Two Methods to Conceal Your Soundbar for a Cohesive Living Space
"Integrating a soundbar into the living room's decor helps eliminate visual clutter, making the space appear larger and more balanced," says Allen Liu, a technology consultant and content expert at FreSound.
"When technology doesn't dominate the room, guests can focus on the beautiful design elements, like artwork, bookshelves, or unique furniture collections that showcase their style."
Here are two effective ways to hide your soundbar, enhancing the room's elegance without sacrificing audio performance.
1. Conceal Within a Cabinet
Use cabinets with sliding doors or full-width shelves to hide your soundbar while allowing sound waves to flow freely into the room.
When considering TV design ideas for your living room, the best approach for concealing your soundbar is to place it in a cabinet. However, it's crucial to ensure this is done correctly to avoid compromising sound quality.
"Soundbars can be tucked away inside custom built-ins or credenzas, provided you use a mesh material on the cabinet door that allows sound to pass through," explains Chad Hogan, an interior designer and co-founder of Chandler Farms.
While a mesh panel may not be the most visually appealing choice, Chad emphasizes the importance of sound transmission. When a soundbar is hidden behind cabinet doors—whether they are paneled, louvered, or perforated—sound waves can bounce back into the cabinet rather than projecting into your living space or media room.
Fortunately, there are simple solutions to this common soundbar placement error. A broad cabinet featuring a sliding door works perfectly: it accommodates any future soundbar upgrades (for instance, the Sonos Arc Ultra measures 46 inches wide), and you can slide the doors open to ensure optimal sound quality.
This Burrow Opera Media Console is an excellent choice. Offered in walnut, oak, or blackened oak finishes, this TV cabinet features sliding doors that reveal a 70-inch-wide shelf, accommodating any soundbar, along with two additional shelves for subwoofers or extra speakers, fulfilling your storage needs.
Alternatively, this Arcadia Media Console from Pottery Barn is designed specifically for soundbars. It may not be completely out of sight, but it eliminates the need to open cabinet doors whenever you watch something, ensuring your soundbar delivers clear audio while being neatly positioned beneath your TV. This cabinet also includes a hole for power cords and drawers for additional storage.
The Everly Quinn Camylle TV Stand from Wayfair is a budget-friendly choice, featuring an open shelf that can accommodate wider soundbars.
When placing your soundbar inside a TV cabinet, remember to position it as far forward as possible. This allows up-firing speakers (essential for Dolby Atmos and surround sound) to project sound effectively around your space.
2. Mount Below Your TV and Conceal the Wires
Mounting your soundbar below the TV prevents it from occupying valuable cabinet space.
Another option is to mount the soundbar beneath the TV using brackets, like the popular Mounting Dream Soundbar Mount available on Amazon, or opt for a floating shelf, like this inPlace shelf from Home Depot that's spacious enough for a soundbar along with any additional speakers.
This method allows your soundbar to remain off surfaces or out of cabinet space, creating a unified look between your TV and soundbar.
"The ideal way to conceal a soundbar is to mount it directly beneath the TV. This approach minimizes space usage and ensures a cohesive appearance between the TV and soundbar," advises Tanner Fischbeck, a technology consultant at Automated Environments, a company specializing in home theater installations throughout the US.
While this method doesn't completely hide the soundbar and requires drilling into the wall, it effectively keeps it out of the way, creating a sleek look in your living area.
Tech expert Allen Liu concurs, stating, "Brackets or floating shelves offer a clean aesthetic and help manage unattractive cords, especially when paired with cable management solutions."
If your TV and soundbar are mounted together, they'll seamlessly integrate into your environment. If you desire a more unique appearance, there are numerous alternatives to traditional media walls that can enhance your setup.
To find mounts and floating shelves suitable for your soundbar and TV, check out the best options at Home Depot, Walmart, and Best Buy.
For those who choose to mount both their soundbar and TV, an in-wall cable management system is a must-have to prevent visible wires. This highly-rated kit includes everything you need for a safe and tidy installation.
Next, discover how to organize a music room and soundproof a room to experience uninterrupted entertainment.
