Young House Love

Home Decorating & DIY Tutorials

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TV In The Bedroom? We Say Yes.

We’re bringing someone else into the bedroom. And it’s… gasp… a TV.

After Straight On

We were originally anti-TV-in-the-bedroom, so we know it’s not for everyone (and it’s downright sinful to some) but we only have one TV in our entire house – in the living room – and this guy was just sitting unused in the playroom (ever since we upsized the living room one since he wasn’t large enough to actually see from the sofa)… so we’ve gone and changed our minds. Haha. There’s actually a real reason behind the decision: more and more we’ve been thinking about how we have issues with work/life balance and it’s hard for us to “shut off.” Which is why we always end up working on the couch with our laptops and the TV on in the background. But a TV in the bedroom could become a no-work-and-no-multi-tasking spot – so we wouldn’t allow any laptops or work to take place in the room and we could actually concentrate on our favorite shows.

Just pure relaxation and zombie-apocalypse/Dexter viewing. What can I say, that’s our idea of a hot date. And I know there’s an old saying that a TV in the bedroom might keep you from… ahem… other activities. But we figure if things like caring for a toddler, renovating rooms, writing a book, and maintaining a blog don’t get in the way, that’s nothing a little TV in the bedroom could change. Aaand, now I’m blushing. Moving on.

After2

Not gonna lie, it sounds downright heavenly to wake up on a lazy Sunday and watch a movie in bed with the bean instead of sitting on the sofa and immediately snapping into “we should be working” mode and grabbing our laptops.

And let’s just say a wall with a dresser and a TV are straight up spa-like when compared to this ridiculously cluttered before:

Before2

So I returned from all of our tour flights with a fire burning under my buns to whip the wall that we stare at every. single. night. into shape. The first step was just putting things where they actually belonged (books we had read went under the built-ins in the dining room with the rest of our collection, empty boxes got broken down and stashed in our recycling bin, the lamp moved back to where it should be, etc).

Bedroom Before

Then I moved our mid-century side tables (remember we phased them out here?) into the guest room. Now that we yard-saled the old dresser that was in there we have a completely bare wall – and two of them next to each other actually look like a console against it. I owe you guys a picture, but it definitely works for now. We don’t know if we’ll eventually use them in Clara’s big girl room, so we’ll have to keep you posted.

Mid Point

Anyway, once those were out of the way we could properly center the dresser (which was one of the only secret book projects that we paid for and kept since we were so in love with it – you might recognize it from this video). It sits directly across from our bed – for our prime viewing pleasure – and then we just plopped the old too-small leftover living room TV on the top.

After1

So far, it totally works for us. Wait, except not literally. It’s not actually hooked up to cable or anything yet, so… womp-womp. Nothing to watch. Maybe I’ll “dude, get on that” in a week or two (returning from tour stuff + Thanksgiving week = too much going on to sit on hold with Verizon). Perhaps I’ll have the patience next week?

Oh and I’ve heard that it’s bad feng shui to sleep across from a TV or a mirror, but we actually slept facing a giant floor length mirror for a few years at our first house and didn’t have issues sleeping or anything like that- thank goodness. So maybe we’re immune? Haha.

After Top1

Honestly, my favorite thing about the dresser actually being centered and cleared of clutter is that I get to put cute little jewelry dishes up there (which tie into the color of the rug, you know, because I’m coo-coo-for-stuff-like-that).

After Top2

Also hanging out up there: wood blocks in our initials and our favorite number. Oh yeah, this stuff makes my day, guys. #noshameinmygame

After Top3

So that’s where we are. Slowly inching towards a bedroom that looks less blank-wall-here, cluttered-junky-wall-there. We’ll let you guys know how the whole TV thing goes once it’s up and running. Who knows, we might end up never using it, hating it and removing it, or pretty much deciding we should never leave our room! Mostly I’m just excited that we can share photos of one of our favorite book projects on the blog. Yeehaw.

After Detail Front

Do you guys have TV’s in the bedroom? I’m dying to know the breakdown (is it 50/50? way more than not? very rare indeed?) but the last time we embedded a poll it crashed our site, so we’ve cobbled this tiny poll together over on Facebook so if you feel like playing along or checking out the tally, click here. Can’t wait to hear where you guys land!

Psst- Have you guys seen baby Weston yet? It was so exciting getting the call in the middle of the night that he came into the world safely and all was well with Katie and the fam. Clara loves him already – and after I showed her a picture in the morning she lovingly said “I want to bother him.” Cute, right?

Comments

  1. Anele @ Success Along the Weigh says

    We’ve got one in the bedroom too. Usually I just have Frasier on long enough to get me settled down but since Hallmark channel is running every unentertaining Cmas movie they’ve made at the time of night, it’s Craig Ferguson and last night I might’ve woken the Mr up trying to stifle my laughter by shaking the bed. Maybe a TV isn’t such a great idea.

    Oh yeah and HELLO could Dexter be any more sloppy this season!?!

    Reply

    • Brooke says

      I’m glad I’m not the only one who likes to watch Frasier on the Hallmark Channel! I have a newborn and it’s what we like to watch during night feedings. :) I can’t wait until the Christmas movies stop! Oh and we have a TV in our bedroom and it doesn’t affect anything…. If ya know what I mean. ;-)

  2. annabelvita says

    We don’t have a tv in the bedroom (never have) but we do watch our shows on netflix on the laptop or ipad so no judging here! It does kinda look like that TV was made for that spot… could you hook it up to a laptop for DVD viewing until you get it sorted? We got a cable that links my macbook to the TV. And the bonus is that then you CAN’T use the laptop for work!

    Reply

  3. Julia @ Chris Loves Julia says

    Hahahaha. This line: “we wouldn’t allow any laptops or work to take place in the room and we could actually concentrate on our favorite shows.” has me cracking up!!!! I am guilty of laptopping while watching tv and you know, concentrating on my shows sounds wonderful!!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Haha, doesn’t it? So novel, right? Remember when ten years ago people just did one thing? Like if the TV was on they watched it instead of being on their smart phones and their laptops at the same time?! Oh, those were the days!

      xo
      s

  4. Sarah | The Accidental Okie says

    I’ll admit it, I’m not a huge fan of the TV in the bedroom, but that’s just because I’m a mega introvert and need place to have total quiet. However, as far as TVs in the b-room go, this is the classiest. Love the pantone dresser! I just got some vintage printing press plates too! Can’t wait to make a duogram with them on our yet-to-be frame wall.

    I hope Dallas pulled out all the stops for you. I wish I could have gone, but I couldn’t. Sadface. Although I did see some friends on FB post pics at the signing. Y’all rock!

    Reply

  6. Melanie @ Mailbox Journey says

    Watching The Walking Dead in bed is 35892384389 x’s better, than watching it on the couch. You get to cuddle easier and hide under the blankets easier during certain scenes :P Plus, it’s usually on past my bedtime, so as soon as it’s over I can pass out. Win-Win

    Reply

  7. Liz O says

    We put on in our bedroom last Christmas. One of our fave things to do is cuddle in bed and watch a movie. We actually ended up getting on of those netflix equiped bluray players and just use that, no cable or anything. This way we kind of limit what we can watch in there but we still have it. Plus it helps the hubs fall asleep at night when he has some background noise! I was against it for a long time but it’s not bad at all! Enjoy!

    Reply

  8. Katie says

    Love the ombre dresser! And we could not live w/o Dexter, Homeland and Boardwalk Empire in our bedroom :)
    On a side note, 10lb 3oz OMG! Go Katie!

    Reply

  9. Steph says

    I would be in love with that dresser too. It’s soooo pretty.

    I’m in the Pro-TV-In-Bedroom camp. I love laying in bed and watching TV on a lazy day. :)

    Reply

  10. Morgan says

    I used to have a TV in my bedroom, and then it just became too cluttered since it was one of those huge tube TVs. It now resides in the guest/TV room. I don’t even have one in the living room. This weekend I am going out and buying my very first flat screen (5 years overdue, right?). But I like the idea of not having a TV in the bedroom. I definitely sleep better. Happy Thanksgiving, guys!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      You know me, I’m just a chatty over-sharer! A few years ago we were in the anti camp, so maybe I was just analyzing myself since this is just where I share various brain dumps? Hah!

      xo
      s

  12. Shannon says

    We have two tv’s in our home too: living room and bedroom. We actually don’t watch it much but sometimes it’s nice to have the tv on for background noise when I’m folding laundry upstairs or cleaning our bedroom, etc. :) I absolutely LOVE that dresser in you room, looks great! :)

    Shannon

    P.s. We’re almost done with our bathroom remodel! :) I’d love for you to take a look! :)
    http://fabulouslyvintage.blogspot.com/2012/11/bathroom-update.html

    Reply

  13. Ashleigh says

    It’s a good idea for you guys to get some work life balance. Shut it out to the rest of the house but for us it’s not something we want. I struggle enough getting out of bed as it is, if there was a TV in there I would never leave!!

    I had one as a teenager though and thought it was the coolest thing ever!!

    xox

    Reply

  14. Chelsea @ Riding Escalators says

    Oh my gosh – I just LOVE that dresser! I’m going to keep my eyes peeled for a similar one in our thrift stores. I’m just dying to get my hands dirty on a similar project!

    As for TV in the bedroom – not here. We only have the one TV in our living room and that’s plenty. If we want to watch a movie in bed we just bring one of our laptops up there and watch it on that. Even if we wanted a TV we don’t really have the room for it up there since our ceiling is sloped. It would have to be a pretty tiny TV to fit on top of the dresser without hitting the ceiling!

    And isn’t Weston ADORABLE?! I was following along on Instagram. Katie is way impressive. 10 lbs? Ouch!

    Reply

  15. Jennifer W says

    I have one in my bedroom, but it’s rarely on. I turned it on one day while I folded laundry and my four-year-old came in, gasped, and said, “I didn’t know that thing could turn on!” lol. I don’t watch much tv.

    Reply

  16. Kara says

    I used to always have a TV in my bedroom, but I haven’t had one in there for the last two years and I have to say that it’s been really refreshing for me! But I can see it working out for you because you really do have to set up your “play” zones versus your “work” zones. Plus there’s a buttload of doctors that will drone on about how the blue light of the TV can screw up your sleep habits, tricking your brain into thinking it’s daylight. (but they also say the same about anything with a blue screen = phone screens, iPods, iPads, computer monitors and TVs.)

    Maybe down the line, you could mount the TV on the wall, with some cool trim work to frame it out, and that way you get more surface space on that gorgeous dresser (that ombre = awesome.)

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      That could be fun! And yeah, either way we were in front of the TV and on our laptops until midnight or one and then would crash in bed, so putting the laptops down and at least laying in our beds and unwinding with the TV on is less intense than all that technology at once… we’ll have to see how it goes!

      xo
      s

    • heather says

      Sometimes we all need breaks from technology (social media/sharing burnout) and all of the electricity that is constantly running through us/them as they surround us (something I never once thought about until I saw a holistic doctor). If having that down time means having a TV in the bedroom to force you to put away the laptops and give your brain a break, then more power to you! Do it up! I say we’ll never have a TV in our bedroom again, but I’ve been known to prove myself wrong over time. So I guess I should say I “prefer” at “this time in my life” to not have one haha. It would keep me up way too late!

  18. Brenner says

    Where did you get the art behind the chair? I have been thinking about DIYing something similar, but I am still on the fence.

    Reply

  19. Jess @ Little House. Big Heart. says

    I’m so glad you kept that dresser! It’s gorgeous!!

    We have the same navy West Elm initial catch-alls on our night stands (a J & K, respectively). In fact, other than our lamps, that’s all the accessories we have in the bedroom right now… I didn’t realize how hard accessorizing was!

    Reply

  20. Thais Bessa says

    I am really against TV in the bedroom, not because it gets on the way of… stuff, but because I think it gets on the way of sleeping well. From other people and my own experience having a TV in the bedroom as a teenager, I know it is very easy to get absorbed into cool shows and films and ending up sleeping less each day. Maybe I have little self-control, lol. So here we have a no-TV-in-bedrooms rule for adults and children.

    Postman JUST delivered my copy of your book. Believe me, it is taking every ounce of my little self-control to dump work and read it for the rest of the afternoon (I work from home). But tonight I have a hot date with it! :)

    Reply

  21. Monica says

    We have a TV in the bedroom, but it rarely gets used. We’ll turn it on once in a awhile if we’re really tired but not quite ready to call it a night, but that’s about it. Oh, and like you guys we only have one other TV in the house.

    Reply

  22. Kate says

    Very nice! No TV in our bedroom. We had one for awhile but never used it so I put it away.

    Also – loving One Canoe Two which I just noticed as a sponsor! Some great christmas gift ideas there!

    Reply

  23. Sara says

    We put a tv in the bedroom after I swore I never would. My hubby had a gift card from work (free on our part) and our 9 mo old is a “go to bed at 8pm right next to momma” baby. So, it’s the only way I get to enjoy my shows!

    Reply

  24. Paula says

    I am a master at falling asleep while watching TV – so having the TV in the bedroom just makes sense for me! =) After trying it both ways (our first apartment we had one, second apartment moved it to a guest room, new house moved it back to our bedroom) I have decided I am definitely a fan.

    Plus – I love folding laundry in the bedroom, so I can just put things away as I fold them – and having a TV makes folding laundry way less horrible =)

    Reply

  25. Emma says

    Golly that dresser is awesome! I love the MCM side tables too! (Yes – MCM – that’s what the cool kids say…yeppers). Your bedroom looks great. I have a TV on a dresser at the food of my bed too and I like having it there. My husband and I “only” have TVs as well so I can watch a movie or a show on the DVR in the bedroom to avoid any TV wars. Enjoy the holidays!

    Reply

  26. Clare says

    Hey guys!

    I’m totally with you on the Tv in the bedroom thing! Also I know this post was about the Tv but I literally cannot stop staring at that dresser, I am obsessed!

    -Clare

    Reply

  27. Anne @ Planting Sequoias says

    Love baby Weston already!

    As for the TV in the bedroom topic–We hardly ever watch our only TV in our living room (we’re more of a reading family), so a bedroom TV would probably just be a major dust collector and I HATE dusting. :) So it’s a no-go for us at this point. Not promising it will be that way forever though!

    Reply

  28. Sarah says

    Good for you guys! My boyfriend and I both have TVs in our bedrooms and it’s never a distraction. I like watching exactly one episode of Law & Order before bed every night. I also never had a TV in my room growing up, so having one makes me feel decidedly more adult-like.

    Reply

    • Erin says

      I completely agree with you Sarah! I used to tell my mom that when I grow up, i’m going to have a TV in my bedroom and buy white american cheese instead of the yellow american cheese that my mom used to get at the deli counter.

      I’m really living the life now that I have my own TV and cheese! #beinganadultisnotasexcitingasithought

  29. Mari says

    We are thinking seriously about putting a TV in the bedroom. Our 3 year old’s bedroom is just off the living room so it is hard to watch a little TV at night right after we put him down. So if we want to watch TV when he is in bed we frequently end up watching something on the laptop in the bedroom anyway so adding a TV really wouldn’t be that much of a change. (And yes, there are so many other things that we should be doing with our time, but seriously, sometimes an evening veg fest is just what the doctor ordered.)

    Reply

  30. Maureen says

    That dresser looks amazing in there. Your room looks so cozy now compared to how it used to look! I totally NEED to do a gradient piece. Once again, you guys are awesome! Hope to see you guys when you come back for the Soho book signing (If I don’t chicken out like I did for the NJ one. :))

    Reply

  31. Kim S. says

    We have a TV in our bedroom, right across from the bed. It doesn’t cause any problems. It was also an old TV, after we upgraded to a flat screen. I’d love to upgrade it to a flat screen, right now it lives in a huge armoire with all our sweaters.

    Reply

  34. MegS says

    Hey, John and Sherry!
    We actually don’t have a TV at all. Crazy, right? We never have (4.5 yrs of marriage!), because we use our iMac to watch our favorite shows online and have attached an antenna so we can watch local TV. PBS rocks! ;) lol. We loved the idea of being purposeful in our viewing, and not just zoning out for hours as we/our families did during our formative years. We don’t have kids yet, so things could certainly change, but I’m proud of our decision and the thought we have put into our home– especially since it makes decorating so much easier!!! :) Can’t wait to see you guys in AUSTIN! Keepin it weird for ya ;)

    Reply

  35. leah says

    we have a TV in our bedroom and I love it! A lot of nights if I am at home alone I just like to curl up in bed and watch a movie instead of sitting on the couch for the exact same reasons you listed. I work from home so it’s really hard not to just “work and watch tv” out in the living room, but I never work from our bedroom!

    Reply

  36. Tracie@MiddleClassMod says

    We have a television in our room and love it. There’s nothing better than turning on the Daily Show and snuggling/laughing. It’s such a fantastic way to decompress. And no, um, bad impact on other bedroom activities.

    Reply

  37. Amanda says

    I am very firmly in the no tv in the bedroom camp. I actually told me fiance about a month into us dating that I would never ever let a tv come into my bedroom in case it was a deal breaker for him – luckily it wasn’t! Interestingly enough when we annouced our engagement several different people included “no tv in the bedroom” on their marraige advice lists.

    My parents have a tv in their bedroom and it has become an issue for them due to the fact that my dad likes to fall asleep to the tv and my mom does not. There is really no way to compromise on it. So, my adivce would be (if you have to keep a tv in the bedrom) to come up with guide lines together for when using the tv (and what content) is acceptable.

    Reply

  38. Lindsay B says

    I’m totally for having a TV in the bedroom! I love flipping on the Today Show when I’m getting ready in the morning, or catching up on some shows at night. Hubby and I were at Target the other day, looking at the teeny tiny TVs and joking that it would be perfect for the bathroom or kitchen…we may have a problem :)

    Reply

  39. Roo @ NiceGirlNotes says

    I had to re-read that line about learning about the breakdown, because my first reaction was… 50% television watching, 50% “bedroom activities”???

    HA! And then I understood. No TV in our bedroom, but we also sleep across from a mirror.

    If one of us is sick, we do pull an iPad into bed and watch a movie with earbuds in or something.

    Reply

  40. AnnMarie says

    Girrrrrrl, you do not need to defend that decision (but I get it, I was anti-tv for awhile too). We love having one in our room and it certainly doesn’t….”interfere” hehe Plus it looks great, like it belonged there all along!

    Reply

  41. Alice says

    We have a television in our bedroom and it isn’t a problem. It gets two main uses … watching Sunday morning news shows while we read our newspaper in bed … and sometimes we are just tired and will finish watching a long show in there. And I LOVE that dresser!

    Reply

  42. Kara says

    We moved a TV in our bedroom recently. It’s great for the kids on Sat/Sun mornings when we’re trying to squeeze in some more Zs. That’s really the only time we watch it (it’s old and tiny and not HD and hard to see).

    Reply

  43. Hayley says

    We are a TV in the bedroom kind of family. Well, in our room only. And it’s the old school big hunk o’box one. Falling asleep to The Office or Friends reruns has become our thing.

    Reply

  44. Leah says

    We have a TV in our bedroom and I lurve it. I’m not embarrassed to admit that sometimes when my son wakes up during the ungodly 5:00 hour, I flip on Sesame Street and sleep for another half an hour. Keeps me sane.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      That’s cute! We do that sometimes (watching something on the computer) and actually did that a lot when we were touring and the hotel room had terrible TV on! Haha!

      xo
      s

  46. Jeanette says

    I’ve had a tv in our bedroom for years now…I don’t watch it very often (we don’t have cable), but I love a good movie right before bed (vhs for the win!). And the best part is, you don’t have to worry about falling asleep on the couch halfway through. Plus, we only have one other tv in the house so it’s nice to have a back up for the few times there’s a clash of interests ;-)

    Reply

  47. Emma (Broke Ass Home) says

    We do not have a TV in our bedroom, as much as Nate would love one I am very convinced we’d never get to sleep with one in there. We have a hard enough time not dinking on our phones at night (even though we placed their chargers across the room to try to prevent it) Plus, there’s only 2 of us, so in my mind, 1 TV is enough for 2 people (though I’m sure Nate would put one in every room if I told him he could ;])

    Reply

  49. Ashley says

    I’m so proud of you guys! You definitely need a stopping point in your day to just relax and unwind. We have a TV in the LR and a smaller one in the BR. I know that sleep experts say it’s a bad idea to have a TV in the bedroom but for us, being able to sit up in bed and watch a movie or favorite show is a great way to relax into slumber or to just spend a lazy morning enjoying a second cup of coffee!

    Reply

  50. Hanna says

    Not to sound skeevy, but I always thought people had TVs in their bedrooms to *add* to certain activities. Aaaand now my blush just made my hair catch on fire. /erasefrommind

    By the way LOVE that dresser!!!

    *slinks away*

    Reply

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