Being able to reconcile style and entertainment is one of the biggest challenges every interior designer face in doing his or her job. Clients may ask for a sleeker style for their homes, but they’re not always willing to do away with their favorite music and movies. Because of this, companies have developed newer AV product technologies supporting subtle entertainment. From in-ceiling speakers to TV mirror technologies, interior designers now have a wide range of solutions to their problems.
Hidden TVs are one of the best-selling products available to incorporate entertainment with style. When switched off, a TV mirror completely becomes a framed mirror and serves as a decoration to your bedroom or living room. When it’s switched on, it offers a very dynamic image, which allows you to watch your favorite TV shows and movies. But how can you use this technology at home?
Whenever new technologies are developed, it requires us to learn more about it, so we can use them properly. The TV mirror technology has just been developed recently, hence, it’s important that we understand how it works, to know how we can use it for our homes. Continue reading to understand how you can use TV mirrors at home, and why you need them.
What are the most common applications for TV mirror?
Homeowners set up a TV mirror in their living rooms, bedrooms, bathrooms, and guest rooms. A TV mirror accentuates the design of the room, especially when it’s switched off. Most homeowners place it in family rooms and bedrooms for stylistic purposes. They often use framed TV mirrors to achieve the stylish look.
Whenever they place them in their bathrooms, it’s for the purpose of achieving a stylistic look, and, at the same time, being practical with the space. Bathrooms don’t always have enough space for TVs, but the use of TV mirrors can make it possible. Homeowners are able to watch TV in their bathrooms without introducing a bulky equipment. And, most importantly, since mirrors are abundant, it’s a new strategy for a naturally hidden TV look.
Below are some of the things you need to know about TV mirrors:
- How big should a TV mirror be?
A TV mirror typically has a size that ranges from 19 up to 65 inches. Obviously, the smaller its size is, the lesser space it consumes. Homeowners build smaller-sized TV mirrors into larger bathroom mirrors, or even in kitchen applications. They use large-sized ones as a part of the entertainment center in media rooms and bedrooms.
- Do they have to come with frames?
Yes, but it’s up to the homeowners to decide on how they want the frames to look like. You can choose the style, colors and the finish of the frames. You can also decide on how big or small you want them to be. For the purpose of decorating and styling, it’s better to use a thick frame so you can hide the TV better. You can also opt for a custom frame, just in case you don’t like the ones your TV mirror company provides you with.
- Do TV mirrors have built-in speakers?
TV mirrors provide the same audio quality just like what traditional flat screen TVs have. But, if you want to improve the audio quality of your TV mirrors, you can try adding surround sound, a soundbar, or linking your TV to your audio system. These will get you the highest-quality sound for your TV mirror.
- What mounts should you use?
If you want to get the full hidden TV effect, then it’s best to use a flat wall mount. Using this allows you to hide the areas of the TV behind your mirror. It will be easier for you to maintain the illusion that it’s only a mirror without using a frame, if you flush-mount it against the wall.
- Are TV mirrors waterproof?
Big companies offer TV mirrors specifically for bathrooms so they can handle humidity and water. These types of TVs also have waterproof remote controls you can use whenever you want to switch channels and adjust the volume. However, not all TV mirrors are designed to withstand humidity and water, so never assume any TV mirror can operate outdoors or in humid environments.
It will only reduce the life of your TV and may void the manufacturer’s warranty. To be safe, always ask your technology consultant first, especially if you have questions about TVs for these uses.
- What’s the image quality of TV mirrors?
Typically, TV mirrors nowadays offer the latest 4K, ultra HD technology. And because they’re encased in a mirror, they’re susceptible to glare. Because of this, you need to make sure that you dim the lights, or perhaps use blackout shades. Doing these will help you get the best image quality.
These are just some of the things you need to know about TV mirrors, which can help you in case you decide to get one for yourself. But do you really need one?
Why do you need a TV mirror?
In many homes, TVs are the central gathering place for entertainment, leisure time, and meals, in general. Homeowners may consider these TVs enriching, but we cannot deny the fact that they can have damaging effects to us. How? They encourage some of our worst habits. Hiding your TVs with a TV mirror technology can be the best solution to this problem – by becoming a mirror when it’s not being used. This can help you reduce the negative impacts of having your TV sets at home.
Below are some reasons why you’ll need TV mirrors:
- To hide your TVs. We all love televisions, and perhaps, we love it too much. Did you know that the average person watches TV nearly three hours per day? That means we’re spending three hours of our day every day, not being productive, when we could have spent those hours on quality time with loved ones, doing home improvement projects, working out, etc.
With our TVs displayed at the central part of your homes, it makes it difficult for you to avoid it. It has become a default activity. And since it’s a better alternative to all the other activities which may be less pleasant, they enable you to be less productive.
Having TV mirrors at home can help prevent this, and help you become more productive. Having a TV inside the bedroom has its negative effects, but if it can transform into a mirror when it’s switched off, it can make a difference. It’s safe to say that your relationships with your televisions can be improved when they’re hidden.
- To reclaim your living space and have family rooms back.One of the reasons why TV mirrors were created is to turn TV rooms back into your family rooms and to reclaim your living space. Since TVs won’t be the central element anymore, it gives you an opportunity to emphasize the other uses for the extra space. The main concept is that if it’s out of sight, then it’s out of mind.
- To incorporate your TVs into unconventional parts of your home.TV mirrors are just the realization of what was only a science fiction before. This technology allows homeowners to transform their TVs into mirrors. For instance, you can watch your favorite TV show in the bathroom mirror as you brush your teeth, or perhaps you can watch the weather forecast on the countertop of your kitchen island as you prepare meals.
By bringing televisions into those spaces, it gives you the opportunity to be more productive. Instead of a centrally-positioned television that begs you to sit down and watch in front of it, it becomes the secondary activity.
- To improve the interior design at home. Traditionally, TVs have always been an obstacle in terms of interior design, than an asset. That’s because a large black screen is difficult to incorporate into an appealing and interesting design. However, it isn’t true anymore, especially today, now that TVs have transformed. Because of their dramatic shift in form, it eliminated the need for heavy console TVs and massive footprints.
They continue to become thinner and thinner, which makes them easier to incorporate into your space, and less obtrusive. This paved the way to the use of TV mirrors, which can disguise themselves as mirrors when they’re not in use. Instead of disrupting the design of your room, they can now seamlessly blend into it. This allows you to give your homes a more elegant look and design.
Whether you buy your own TV mirrors or build one yourself, this technology helps you reclaim the living space by changing how you interact with both the TV and the people you share it with. Don’t just spend your time sitting on your couch while watching TV. Instead, be more productive by doing important tasks, making it as your secondary activity. You’ll be surprised how many things you can do.
