Look at where you spend most of your time in the living room — chances are your eyes land on the wall with the television. That's why the wall behind the TV unit is one of the most popular surfaces for decorative panel at home. Done right, the wall becomes a design element in its own right, even when the television is off.
Idea 1: Full wall, calm texture
Covering the whole wall creates a strong frame for the entire living room. In this case, it's important that the texture isn't too busy — a dense pattern right behind the screen can tire the eyes while you're watching. Models with clear, regular horizontal lines, like Rayas, create a background that's both stylish and calm.
Idea 2: A vertical strip at screen width
Instead of the whole wall, covering only a vertical strip — floor to ceiling, at the width of the TV and unit — creates a more controlled effect. If the sides stay plain paint, the panel reads as a "frame." This works especially well in large living rooms and in rooms with a window on the side wall.
Idea 3: Stone and wood together
Covering the section with the unit in stone and the shelving or bookcase section in wood-look panel gives a modern, warm composition. For instance, Canyon on the stone section paired with Wood on the wood section creates two characters that balance each other.
Don't forget the screen when choosing colour
A television is a black rectangle when it's off. If you want that black surface to disappear into a very dark wall, choose anthracite or dark grey tones; if you want the screen to stand out as an object, light grey and cream tones work better. Both approaches are valid — the decision should follow the room's overall colour scheme.
Cabling and technical prep
Settling the following before installation avoids the hassle of removing and refitting the panel later:
- Whether the TV mounts to the wall or to the unit, and where the mounting bracket goes
- The height of the power, aerial and internet outlets
- Whether cables will run inside the wall or through a conduit
- A power point for hidden LED lighting, if you're planning one
Deciding these in advance lets the panel be installed with clean cuts around the outlets and fittings.
Finish with lighting
Indirect light placed above the unit or in the ceiling corner brings out the stone texture and provides a soft backlight in the evening that reduces eye strain while watching TV. You may also find our guide to lighting compatibility useful on this topic.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I mount the TV directly onto the panel?
The mount should be fixed to the wall behind the panel. Deciding the mount's position before installation is the safest approach.
Which categories are most popular for behind the TV unit?
Our stone wall panel and wood wall panel ranges are the most commonly chosen for this area. Concrete wall panel is also a strong alternative for an industrial-style living room.
Can I see a real application?
You can see different panel combinations on living room and unit walls in our mixed-material residential project in the project gallery.