Nate Berkus Weighs In On Whether You Should Have A TV In The Bedroom Or Not

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One of the most common debates in the world of interior design is whether or not TVs belong in the bedroom. While some people appreciate having a comfortable space to curl up and watch their favorite movies and shows, others argue that it can disrupt the room's aesthetic and throw off the overall design. There are also conflicting reports about the effects of having a TV in the bedroom — some say it can improve your sleep routine, while others insist it does the opposite. If you ask HGTV star Nate Berkus, though, he believes that the decision to have — or not to have — a TV in your bedroom simply comes down to personal preference.

"My answer as a designer — do what you want," Berkus shared in a recent Instagram post, after revealing that he and his partner, fellow interior design expert Jeremiah Brent, do in fact have a television in their bedroom. He also touches on one of the most controversial design choices in his new book, Foundations, where he explains why it works for their family. "I think television in bed is one of life's great pleasures," he admits. "Jeremiah and I have a TV in our room that we use mostly on weekends, when the kids want to watch cartoons, or if one of us (me) is home with a pretend flu." For Berkus, the most important thing, however, is making sure the TV doesn't become the focal point of the room — and luckily, there are plenty of ways to prevent that.

If you'd like to turn your bedroom into an occasional cozy movie spot but are worried about the TV becoming the focal point of the space, consider placing it in a more discreet location. If you want the TV to be visible only when you're watching it, a great option is to hide it inside a piece of furniture with a motorized lift — like this VIVO Walnut TV Cabinet with Motorized Vertical Lift Television Stand from Amazon. You could also have a custom one made to better suit your decor and style preferences.

Another option, according to Berkus — if you don't mind the TV being on display — is to place it off to the side of the bedroom rather than in the center. He suggests mounting it in the corner so it's "less noticeable" when you enter the room. However, if having it off to the side will make it hard to see from the bed, and you'd rather have it in the center of the room, you could opt for a framed TV that disguises itself as a mirror or piece of art when not in use. Alternatively, a clever hack used by Canadian designer Jillian Harris — known for HGTV's Love It or List It Vancouver — is to hide the television behind a large mirror or artwork. This trick works best when the TV is mounted above a mantel, where you can successfully master the art of leaning and layering art and mirrors to stylishly hide the television.