Ding dong, the bare spot above the TV is dead.
Remember how it used to look like this for a few years?
And then we graduated to a bigger tv and kept an eye out for the right media cabinet for another year or so.
And then we finally got here with the help of a $59 cabinet that we found at a thrift store…
Whew. So glad it’s NNM (nekkid no more). Don’t mind that power strip on the ground, I’ve since shoved it behind the media cabinet to hide it.
Dang it feels good to be a gangsta have a shelf there.
We actually debated a bunch of options for above the TV (hanging frames/art, something 3D in the “wall decor” category, hanging a ready-made shelf, making one of our own so we could pick the length, depth, and the brackets, etc). The last idea won out thanks to keeping an eye out for anything in any of those categories for the last few years, not finding anything that worked/we loved, and finally taking matters into our own hands and making something that fit the wall perfectly.
The good news? It only took us a few hours and around $20.
As for how we made it, we picked up a 10″ wide poplar board from Home Depot and just cut it to length and supported it with some store-bought brackets, also from Home Depot. Oh and the overall finished shelf length is 56″ since the media cabinet under it is 60″ (we thought that was a nice compatible length).
When it came to the color of the shelf and the brackets, we primed and painted them both white (the brackets were originally silver), just because we didn’t want the shelf to be bold/contrasty (we wanted it to layer into the room like the white frames over the sofa, the white mirror over the desk, etc).
We also decided that putting the brackets on the top of the shelf instead of under it would keep everything on the same plane – instead of having potentially distracting brackets poking out from the bottom of the shelf and encroaching on the TV. It’s totally one of those to-each-his-own things, but we like the brackets up top in here since we have brackets under the shelves in the kitchen (Ikea sells some shelves with brackets on top, so it’s apparently a pretty common thing).
We just didn’t want the shelf itself stealing any attention from any zombies, white walkers, or dignified Brits that we might be watching on the TV below it (feel free to guess what three shows we just referenced). #nerdsforlife
Then we just used heavy duty anchors that were guaranteed to support a lot more weight than we’d ever put on that shelf to secure each of the brackets. We also added some extra strength adhesive to the bracket bases before screwing them into the face of the shelf for added insurance. Many people screw and glue things from above and it holds nice and firmly, so it’s not necessary for the brackets to be under the shelf in order to support it. Let’s just say that at least three Clara’s could theoretically hang on it…
Oh man. Could you lick these flowers, or is that just me? They’re called rhinocerus ranunculus.
I can’t tell you how much better it is to sit on the sofa without having weird “ugh, this wall has been blank for years! Dude GET ON THAT!” thoughts.
Now I can just sit with my feet up and dust my shoulders off, Jay-Z style.
As for what’s living it up on our new shelf, I leaned a few frames that we already had up there (and even used poster putty on the base of them to keep them nice and secure). Inside of them we have:
- a “squeeze the day” page from an old Boden catalog that I’ve always loved
- a blue botanical print from Ikea a while back
- a polaroid of John and I at one of our book signings (we realized we didn’t really commemorate those in any way – and I even used some Clara art to make a cheerful yellow mat behind it)
Of course there are also those pretty fresh flowers that’ll die in a week or two and then I’ll find myself sitting on the couch thinking “ugh, those flowers are dead. Dude GET ON THAT!” – but the good news is that I’m now the proud owner of pretty West Elm paper flowers (more on that here) so those’ll hopefully pick up where the real ones left off.
And then I’ll just get to sit on the sofa and concentrate on the zombies. As it should be.
Oh but before I go, blam:
Can you believe that’s how this wall of the living room looked on the day that we moved in?
Now it’s all “look at me now.”
What do you guys have over your TV? A mirror? A plant? A zombie action figure (you know, to complement the real ones on TV)?
Ali says
I love that idea! Might have to do that in our family room, as we definitely have dead space above the TV and I wasn’t sure what to do. :)
Autumn Beach says
Oh wow…I love the before and after pics on this one. SUCH a dramatic difference. And I have adored that dresser/media cabinet from day one. On a totally unrelated note, I have to say that I’m always a little taken aback you receive comments from people questioning your decisions and/or stating that something is not in line with their own style. Ha! I don’t know why. People are totally entitled to their own opinions and completely free to share them on the internet. In fact, I’m thankful this is the case. God bless America! But just want to throw this out there: One – you guys always do such a great job gracefully handling the naysayers, two – I’m glad there are a million more positive comments than negative ones, and three – I’m SO glad you guys keep doing what you’re doing despite! I’m sure it’s a small price to pay for this awesome gig, but I still just wanted to recognize. Uh oh…was that a rap reference? Probably not. I’m just a country music girl from Kansas. But that’s off the subject. I have three white floating shelves from Ikea on my media cabinet/TV wall. I love them, but I’m realizing as I read these comments they’re probably so what-everybody-else-would-do. And I also paid way more than you guys did as I had to pay shipping since there is not one Ikea within driving distance from Kansas City. I digress. Love the new shelf!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, thanks Autumn! After 5.5 years of doing this, we’ve learned that even though this is a blog about two non-experts just sharing whatever they’re doing in their own home (the good, the bad, and the ugly), it’s definitely common for some people to weigh in and tell us what they would do different if this house/blog was theirs. We’re completely used to it and don’t mind it a bit :)
xo
s
Diana says
Love the Cougar Town on your tvs. =)
Emily says
Brackets on top are totally growing on me! I think you guys are right – it would have looked goofy if they were underneath.
I was sad about some of the items being sold out on the J&M sale – but I found them on Amazon for less $$. Hooray! Proud new owner of your book (finally!) & Clara’s blue clock. :) I have a giant wall of frames and I think the blue will pick up the color in some of my art pieces nicely and add something non-framey to the mix.
kiki says
I love the brackets on top! It’s unusual and refreshing. I’ve been wanting to also add a similar shelf in my living room, but I grew up in an earthquake zone so I’m completely paranoid about everything crashing down. It looks stable in your living room though, so maybe I’ll try it :)
YoungHouseLove says
Aw, good luck Kiki!
xo
s
JMay says
Stop the presses, I see changes. Where’d the “Our House Blog” shortcut go?
YoungHouseLove says
It’s up in the header (the link that says “Our Family Blog” on the green line under our logo) so we didn’t think we needed it in two places :)
xo
s
Sena Dees says
Ahh, Walking Dead and Game of Thrones. So. Good.
I love this idea! Above the TV is such a weird zone.
JoDi says
Oh wow, I LOVE this for so many reasons!!
The brackets on top are awesome. I hate the way shelf brackets look below – just hanging out there interfering with the nice clean line of the shelf! I built a floating shelf for above our couch just because I couldn’t find one in the right length that didn’t have the hated brackets. The brackets on top is such a nice idea for the right space. You hardly notice they’re there.
And those orange flowers are to die for! I love ranunculus, and orange flowers of all kinds are my absolute favorites! And yes, they do look good enough to lick, like the best orange sherbet ever!
Sarah Prasky says
Ugh, you’ve totally inpsired me to take care of a very similar blank space above our tv. I have that same conversation with myself when I sit down to watch anything and a year and a 1/2 is long enough! One question, how high on the wall is the top of your tv? I struggle with whether a shelf can be “too high” on the wall. I just measured ours and the top of the tv is at 50″ from the floor. Thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
The top of our TV is actually 57″ from the floor! Hope it helps!
xo
s
Marcia says
I have this same problem, but with a twist!
Our tv is in the corner on this Target corner media stand:
http://www.target.com/p/avington-corner-media-tv-stand-dark-tobacco/-/A-13301744#prodSlot=medium_1_1
So there are TWO bare walls above the tv.
Any suggestions / thoughts on how to deal with that?
YoungHouseLove says
Hmm, could you hang something pretty like a driftwood wind chime or something?
xo
s
Marcia says
Oh, great idea! Adding something vertical would definitely help break up the space. I have a neat fabric hanging lamp thing I’ve been wanting to put up…I’ll try it! Thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
Good luck!
xo
s
Lee Ann says
Great idea to use a shelf! I’ve found myself using one several different places in our house where I just couldn’t find art, etc., that I really loved for THAT spot. One place is above out headboard in the master bedroom. My husband is into photography and I can switch out large prints for a smaller one with a vase or piece of art glass, etc. So versatile. I love the variety and colors of your ‘shelf’ items!
Jennifer says
I probably would have just hung a few pictures, but I love the functionality you’ve built into the space. Shelving is definitely a better addition.
Emma H says
I hadn’t realised the void above my tv until now. May the shelf shopping commence!
Sarah E. says
I absolutely love this and am totally going to do it. Our TV is a bit smaller so I think it might need something on both sides… any ideas? It’s a 32″ tv and our console/dresser is about 54″. Anyway… I love love love the shelf idea… I guess I can try it and see if it looks out of balance. I don’t know if I should hand something on the sides or put something on the dresser next to the tv. Any suggestions?
YoungHouseLove says
Hmm, maybe some art or some candle sconces on the side if it’s looking bare after you add the shelf?
xo
s
Holly says
Random question but what do you have in the baskets on both sides of the tv? I’m thinking about getting something similar for my family room and am wondering how practical they’ll be. Thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
They’re both for Clara (one with books, one with toys) and we love being able to just toss things in there.
-John
Tahlia says
I just wanted to say that I love how you kept the natural finish of the TV sideboard. Its exactly what I am looking for and yours makes me want to lick it through my laptop screen…which i totally haven’t done… :D
Tonya says
You know what? I thought John was funny in the hoodie, but when I saw the video with Clara in the hoodie,I fell out! Didn’t know Clara could be gangsta. :)
Michelle says
I’ve been staring at the same space over our TV, along with two still-in-the-package shelves that are propped up next to the TV cabinet, wondering what to do with them all. Where should in the world should those shelves go? Duh. And thanks!
Meg Sluyter says
I tried hanging a shelf above our TV, with the brackets on the bottom, and I must have used the wrong anchors or something cause it fell. Not good. I love the way it looks with the brackets on top, I might just try hanging that shelf again that way, well once I patch the holes that are currently above our TV.
Carrie says
What size are your frames on the ledge? Are they from ikea? And where did you get that beautiful flower jug? I am in love with it! Thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks! The frames are Ikea and the flower jug is from World Market.
xo
s