8th October 2026 | IN DESIGN TECHNOLOGY | BY SBID Share Tweet Pinterest LinkedIn Guess what? Clients love to watch stuff. A necessary evil that, when it’s on, can earn its place. When it is off, however, it often becomes that ubiquitous large black rectangle dictating the layout of an otherwise carefully considered room. But it does not have to be this way. The most interesting technology projects today are not really about making screens more visible. They are about allowing them to disappear altogether. While some of these solutions have been with us for a while, they are sometimes forgotten and client awareness remains surprisingly low. At Wakefields, we increasingly look at television design in the same way an interior designer might look at lighting, joinery or artwork: as something that should work with the room rather than dominate it. The television as part of the architecture One of the most elegant approaches is to incorporate the screen into bespoke joinery. A television can sit behind a wall panel that moves vertically into a concealed pocket, leaving behind a completely uninterrupted wall surface when the screen is not in use. The same idea can work laterally. Panels can move left or right, sometimes temporarily covering adjacent shelving as they reveal the television behind. It means the wall has two different characters: one as a beautifully detailed piece of joinery, the other as a media wall. This can be particularly effective in living rooms where the television is used regularly but should not become the visual focal point of the space. Photo credits: Future Automation Furniture that changes when you need it to The end-of-bed television lift is perhaps the most familiar example of concealed AV, but the same principle can be used almost anywhere. Large screens can rise silently from sideboards, cabinets or purpose-built furniture and disappear again when viewing is finished. The advantage is simple: the room can be arranged around the people using it, rather than around a permanently visible screen. For bedrooms, open-plan living spaces and rooms with beautiful views, that can completely change the design conversation. Photo credits: Future Automation When artwork is actually artwork Another option is to physically conceal the television behind a piece of art. This is different from a television displaying a digital approximation of a painting, that’s always ‘on’. Offering a far more tactile experience, printed canvas or artwork can be mounted within a chosen frame and mechanically moved to reveal the television behind. Depending on the installation, the artwork might roll upwards as part of the TV frame itself, move vertically or horizontally as a panel, or split into two sections. When closed, what you see is a genuine decorative surface rather than a screen pretending not to be one. That distinction matters in rooms where the artwork itself is part of the interior scheme. Photo credits: Future Automation Mirrors, ceilings and disappearing screens There are other possibilities too. Mirror televisions allow the display to virtually disappear into a framed mirror when switched off, with a wide choice of frame styles making them particularly useful in bedrooms, dressing rooms and more traditional interiors. Screens can also be concealed within ceilings and fold down only when required. In other spaces, televisions can retract completely into wall cavities or purpose-built furniture. The technology behind these solutions is clever, but ideally you should never really notice it. That’s the point. Design the room first The best concealed television is not necessarily the most complicated one. It is the solution that makes sense for the architecture, the furniture and the way the room is actually used. Sometimes that means a screen behind artwork. Sometimes it means a beautifully detailed sliding panel. Sometimes it simply means allowing a television to disappear into a cabinet. And sometimes it means no television at all. The key is to make these decisions early enough that the technology can be integrated properly, rather than added once the room has already been designed. Because great technology should enhance an interior, not announce itself within it. Photo credits: Future Automation Technology for living beautifully If you are designing a space where the screen needs to be there — but you would rather it disappeared when not in use — get in touch and we can explore what is possible. About Wakefields of London Wakefields works in partnership with interior designers, architects and homeowners to ensure technology is seamlessly integrated from the outset. Our approach protects and enhances the design vision, avoiding compromise and unnecessary visual impact. From lighting control and automated shading to audio, cinema and whole-home systems, every element is carefully considered to support how a space looks, feels and functions. We simplify complexity, guide decisions and deliver systems that are intuitive, reliable and discreet. The result is a home where technology doesn’t compete for attention, but quietly enhances wellbeing, connection and everyday living. Visit Profile If you’d like to feature your news or stories on SBID.org, get in touch to find out more. If you’d like to become SBID Accredited, click here for more information.