For many years I’ve been used to finding inventive ways to seamlessly introduce technology into my home. Having contended with a myriad of TV’s, computers, control pads and tablets that have passed through my front door over the years, I’ve learned that tech doesn’t have to be tricky when it comes to styling the home. So I teamed up with Logitech to shoot their new K830 Living Room keyboard and show how tech can easily fit into people’s everyday lives. Read on for my three top tips to invite tech into your home without impacting on style:
1. COORDINATING COLOURSGiven technology is now so entrenched in our daily lives, it’s ironic that we often consider tech last when it comes to decorating. Whether you already own a TV or decide to invest in a new one when you move into a new home, it’s a good idea to consider upfront where it will be placed in the room, and how it will sit alongside the surrounding decorating scheme.
With some clever pre-planning, you can make a TV an interesting style statement in a space, without having to hide it away behind closed doors. For example, if you have a black TV, pick a wall to hang the TV from and then pick a dark wallpaper or paint for the wall behind. Alternatively, if you have a white TV, you could go for a stylish monochrome scheme and hang a white TV against a black wall to create striking contrast.
Hanging black and white prints in white frames around the TV will help blend it into the gallery wall. This approach will not only stop the TV from overpowering a room, but it will open up valuable floor space, too.
2. BOXED BEAUTIESTablets, keyboards, remotes, phones – the living room can quickly become a paraphernalia playground for tech if left unattended, as people increasingly use integrated tech, such as keyboards, to make Smart TVs even more interactive. But the good news is you can clear the clutter by introducing strategically placed storage across your space.
A docking station placed upon a side table is great for keeping charging cords and leads hidden away, without having to continually open and close a unit to use a remote or wireless keyboard; something you would no doubt quickly tire of.
Consider a sleek white lacquered or marble box for a modern, contemporary space, or a jute-lidded tray for a more organic, country-meets-coastal look. Simply pull the wires up through the back, or drill a hole to slide the cables through, and then place your tech on top. You’ll have stylishly streamlined your tech into the space without impacting on practicality. Hanging black and white prints in white frames around the TV will help blend it into the gallery wall. This approach will not only stop the TV from overpowering a room, but it will open up valuable floor space, too.
3. HERO HUEAs technology becomes an ever-greater part of our lives, the colour options available are increasing. The benefit of this means you can now often match your tech to the colour palette of the room. One approach is to opt for a co-ordinated feel between the scheme and the technology by choosing tech designs in the same, or a similar, shade to the main colour in the room. Alternatively, you could switch things up by opting to use colourful technology as the elements for introducing accent colour into a scheme. Simply pick tech items in a contrasting hue to the surrounding scheme and watch the space soar in the style stakes.
Ultimately, the key to successfully blending tech into the home is to consider technology as an element of the decorating scheme in it’s own right. Alter your decorating approach from the outset so that you consider the role and position of tech in a scheme, and you will find it easier to marry technology with other parts of the space. Taking time to invest in these stylish solutions will streamline how you use and store tech in the home, paying dividends and resulting in a more stylish space.
How do you seamlessly add tech into your home? I’d love to hear your ideas!
// Location owned by Kate Watson Smyth | Posted in partnership with Logitech but all views are my own.
12 Comments
Great tips! Thanks for sharing, I’m feeling inspired.
@Bea – Thank you for reading, glad you enjoyed it! 🙂
Love seeing these shots, you are so talented. especially like the idea to put the TV on a wall surrounded with art.
@Jules – I am really temped to try that idea as well! Thanks for the kind comment. 🙂
Love your living room wall colour, Will – unexpectedly dark compared to your last place but it really works with the colourful cushions! xx
@Lucy – Thank you! Although it’s not my living room! All the accessories, art and cushions are mine though as I styled it up. I love the yellow against the dark wall colour, too!
I’ve never really thought about matching tech to the interior! Iv’e always thought of it as something you couldn’t really do, as TV’s always look pretty similar to me! I love the idea of matching the wall behind the TV to it, and making it a feature though! I will definitely consider this when I redecorate my living room – thank you!
@Gemma – My pleasure! Good luck with the living room redecoration!
Great tips! Technology can be so unappetizing to the eye sometimes and add (but increasingly necessary) clutter. The ideas of color coordinating and incorporating it into the room is a great idea!
@Rebecca – Thanks for stopping by and for the lovely comment!
Hi Will, I just started my own blog and uploaded a photo of my home decorated around the TV. Hope you can pop over one day and see the post. I decorated this room 5 years ago. At that time I thought I was daring with my gray wall paint but it looks like your friend has an even more dramatic gray color in her home, I love it! Thanks for starting a conversation for me, I need lots of inspiration for my posts too. You are a great mentor! Mary Beth
@Mary Beth – Heading right over to your blog now, I’m excited to see! 🙂