TV antennas are still a valid way to receive HD channels for free. Both indoor and outdoor antennas are affordable, but not particularly attractive. So how can you hide them?
To hide indoor TV antennas, place them behind a painting. If you have a TV stand, mount a floating shelf behind the television where the antenna can sit. Outdoor antennas can be housed in a lattice box or garden structure. You can also place your antenna inside or outside a plant to disguise it.
If you want to add a TV antenna to your media collection but want it to blend into your decor, keep reading. We discuss the easiest ways to hide your indoor and outdoor TV antennas.
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Modern TV Antennas
Modern TV antennas are much sleeker than the “rabbit ears” of the 1950s, but they are not exactly works of art. Nowadays, TV antennas often come as a flat, black pad that blends flush with the wall. They look like a wall-mounted tablet but do not glow.
These TV antennas can easily integrate into your decor scheme, while outdoor TV antennas are a bit trickier. Outdoor units are much larger and typically have many metal parts that catch the light and make the device stand out. These are harder to hide due to their size, but it is still possible.
How to Hide Flat Indoor TV Antennas
If your TV antenna is a flat black pad, like the ones you must-have, then there are many ways you can hide this device in your home.
Hang a painting over the pad
One of the easiest ways to hide your TV antenna is to hang a painting over it. You can mount the TV antenna first and then hang a nail far enough above the antenna so that the frame of the painting does not touch it.
Also, be sure to choose a painting with a frame that is deep enough so that the antenna does not push the art away from the wall. The thick frame of this artistic path with abstract image on canvas is perfect for hiding indoor TV antennas.
Run the cable inside the wall
Whether you hang a painting above the antenna or not, running the cable behind the drywall helps conceal the antenna you are trying to hide.
Paint the antenna the same color as your wall
If you want to minimize the number of things you have to hang on your wall, simply paint the indoor TV antenna, it will blend in better immediately and not disrupt the signal.
Mount the antenna behind your television
Whether you have a wall-mounted flat screen or a standing television, you can easily hide the antenna pad by mounting it directly behind the television. Wall-mounted TVs usually have a few inches of space behind the back of the device and the wall, and the room antennas are slim enough to fit in there.
Build a decorative enclosure around the pad
If you want a more customized piece to hide your antenna, you can build a decorative wooden enclosure around the device. This can be a cabinet with wooden doors that open like a regular cabinet. It can be small enough to only accommodate the antenna or you can make it larger to hide other electronics.
How to Hide Standing Indoor TV Antennas
If you have a more traditional standing antenna, there are also many ways to hide it.
Place the antenna in a plant
Since you can easily move your standing antenna, hiding it in a lush plant is a great way to disguise it. This plant just needs to be close enough to your television so that the cables can still be plugged in, but otherwise, you can choose any plant that you like. If you are not a plant person, you can always place the antenna directly in a decorative pot or vase and place it near your television.
Mount a floating shelf directly behind your television
If your television is sitting on a TV stand, you have space behind it to mount a floating shelf. You also don’t need a large shelf; just a small 15-inch shelf will do, like this floating wall shelf from Vasagle.
Place the antenna in a decorative basket
Depending on your decor, a small wicker basket could be the perfect solution to hide your indoor TV antenna. A wicker basket goes well with traditional, rustic, and country-style interiors.
Place it in a wooden cabinet
You can place the standing antenna inside a wooden cabinet that you have near your television; whether you have a floor cabinet or a wall unit, your TV antenna can sit on one of the shelves and hide behind a door.
Carve out the pages of an attractive book
A hollowed-out book, a historic hiding place for precious goods, can also hide your TV antenna. Choose a book that is thick enough to hide the TV antenna and choose an attractive book that you wouldn’t mind looking at every day.
When it comes to hiding outdoor TV antennas, you have to think bigger as these antennas tend to be larger.
Place it behind a decorative fence
If your outdoor antenna is a wall-mounted unit, you can build a decorative fence along the wall to hide the antenna. You can position the fence further away from the wall for a larger antenna to leave more room for the device.
Build a garden structure around it
Many garden accessories can serve to hide your outdoor TV antenna. Whether you use a hanging basket, a small garden house, or a pallet planter, you can use some type of garden fixture to hide your antenna.
Hide it with lattice
Lattice fences are a versatile structure that can be used in many outdoor locations. You can even buy circular fences that can be placed directly around the antenna. This circular lattice fence from Master Garden can easily slide over an outdoor antenna and provide a subtle disguise for your device.
Place it behind hanging vines
Some outdoor antennas work best when mounted high up on an exterior wall. If you have mounted your antenna under the eaves of your roof, you can hide the device behind a curtain of hanging vines that extend over the roof. If you don’t want to deal with live vines or moss, you can always opt for artificial vines that will stay exactly as you want them to.
Place it in a beautiful birdhouse
A large decorative birdhouse is an elegant storage solution for your outdoor TV antenna. You can choose any birdhouse and mount it in the spot where you get the best signal for your television. Choosing a birdhouse with a removable roof or a large door makes it easier to place an antenna inside the birdhouse.
Summary
TV antennas are a suitable and cost-effective way to watch television in your home. Whether you opt for an indoor or outdoor TV antenna, you don’t have to deal with the electronic eyesore every day.
Wall-mounted indoor antennas can be hidden behind a painting or mirror; standing room antennas can be placed in a cabinet or embedded in a plant. Outdoor antennas can be disguised using garden accessories like lattice fences and birdhouses. A hanging planter or trailing vines can also be used to easily hide outdoor TV antennas.