The Samsung Frame TV is all the rage right now. It also comes with a hefty price tag of around $2,000 depending on which size you plan to purchase. As much as I would love to splurge on one, there’s really nothing wrong with our current flat-screen TV. I decided to make a decorative frame and give our existing TV a frame TV look, without the hefty price tag.
SUPPLIES NEEDED TO MAKE A DECORATIVE FRAME FOR YOUR TV:
- Large PVC Molding
- Small PVC Molding
- Flat Moulding
- Power Grab Adhesive
- Black Spray Paint
- Rub n Buff, in gold leaf color
- Elastic Bands
THE PROCESS FOR MAKING THE DECORATIVE FRAME
The process for making the frame will be very similar to the outdoor canvas I made over the summer. These are the three pieces of molding we’ll be using to create the frame. Once these three pieces of PVC molding are combined, they will create a nice, substantial frame, as well as a lip for our TV to sit in.
I found it easier to glue two of the pieces of PVC trim together first before making my cuts. You can do this with some power grab adhesive and clamps. I’d recommend adding a shim under the smaller piece of PVC molding to create the “lip” of the frame.
Once the pieces of molding are adhered together you can make your 45-degree cuts to frame out you TV. I used a little power grab adhesive again and some finish nails to assemble the frame.
The last step is adding that third flat piece of moulding to the outside perimeter of your frame. This will add some depth and also help to cover the sides of the TV. I just propped my frame up on some scrap wood so it sits off the ground and then used power grab adhesive and some finish nails to attach the thin moulding.
I’ve decided to go gold with my frame. To do this, you’ll want to give the PVC moulding a light sand so the paint adheres better. Wipe down the frame and use a black spray paint for the base layer. After the frame is completely coated and dry, you can go over the entire thing with rub n buff. I used the gold leaf color of rub and buff and applied it with this round paint brush.
ATTACHING THE DECORATIVE FRAME TO THE TV
Get ready for the fun part! I’ve seen this done several ways, but I decided to use elastic bands to hold my frame onto the TV. Our TV is rather high since it is above our fireplace. I was trying to think of a way to attach it, yet still be able to tilt the TV down so it’s a more comfortable viewing experience. These elastic bands worked beautifully!!
I just used some short screws to attach the elastic bands. Just make sure you choose the correct length screws, you don’t want them to pop through the front of your frame. You’ll want to pull the bands tight, but still loose enough to stretch around your TV. I just did two bands, ran them vertically, and made sure they won’t interfere with any cords/cables on the back of our TV.
You’ll also see some white spacer blocks at the top of my frame on the backside. This was just to raise it up a little so that the lip of the frame sits perfectly centered the whole way around the TV.
THE FINISHED DECORATIVE FRAME FOR THE TV
Do you like the frame TV look? I am curious if this frame would work on an actual Samsung Frame TV? Let me know if you give it a try.
I also get questions about the TV remote sensor. We didn’t have any issues with our remote and sensor. If you do, then you can drill a small hole in the frame right where the sensor is and that should fix the problem. They also make infrared remote extenders that you can try too.
Project supplies
Large PVC Molding | Small PVC Molding | Flat Moulding | Power Grab Adhesive | Black Spray Paint | Rub n Buff, in gold leaf color | Elastic Bands
Room sources
TV | Battery Operated Candles | 10″ Antiqued Brass Candle Holder | 12.5″ Antiqued Brass Candle Holder | 15″ Antiqued Brass Candle Holder | 24″ LED Battery Operated Picture Light | TV Artwork | Floor Lamp | Rug | Ceiling Fan
*This post contains affiliate links*
81 Responses
This looks great! Thank you for posting the detailed instructions. I definitely want to do this at my house. How do you get the “artwork” on the TV?
You’re welcome! I hope you give it a try! I use Apple AirPlay to cast an image from my phone to the tv. I’ve heard YouTube has artwork slide shows that play on the tv too.
I am wondering about the ‘picture’ on the screen. I don’t see that mentioned. Thanks for the tutorial. It is an awesome idea.
If you don’t have a frame tv how does the art download work? It
I use Apple AirPlay and cast an image on the screen.
Brilliant!
Thank you!
Thank you Jackie! Here is the link:
https://rstyle.me/+xz_l5boTY8Pf43d_Tk2oDA
Thank you for posting this! How do you avoid the frame blocking the sensor for the remote?
You’re welcome! We haven’t had any issues with our sensor, but if you did, you could drill a small hole in the frame right where the sensor is.
It is beautiful but I was wondering how far does your TV stick out from the wall?
Only maybe 3 inches
Why is there a picture light above the frame?
Just for pretty! And I like that it balances it out
where is the light from?
Here is the link:
https://rstyle.me/+ES0yKkzNTIW3CytcKBmL7Q
That was fantastic!! You are very skilled. Question I really like your ceiling fan. Can you tell me the brand, style name and where you purchased it? Thank you so much
Thank you! Sure thing, here is a link to the ceiling fan:
https://rstyle.me/+R3UtAxVrOdfSa-tqzN8xqw
Where do you hide the cords for the tv shown in the first photo? Or How?
We just coil them up with zip ties and shove them behind the tv.
Please post information on the elastic bands. How wide? Brand? Where to purchase?
They are linked above. These are the exact bands I used:
https://rstyle.me/+GCsUqE1tEXqCj1_0rKthfw
Looks so good! Could you so this for a wall mount that you pull out to swivel? We like to angle our
Tv
Yes! Our tv is on a mount as well. We always have our tv tilted down. No issues with the frame
What color is your fireplace? I love it!
Aw thank you! It’s a roman clay product from Portola Paints in the color Piano Room.
For years I have been trying to duplicate the mirror frame over the fireplace in the living room of my grandparents house in Queens New York for my use. The house was built by my grandfather in 1918, WOW low and behold, what a beautiful job.
Aw thank you! I hope you give it a try!
How many tubes of rub n buff did you use to cover the whole frame?
Probably less than one tube, a little goes a long way!
This is genius! I’m wondering about the side view. Is the elastic band visable?
Thank you! Nope, not visible
Curious if you know about how much the supplies ended up costing. Sorry if I missed it in the post.
I am so sorry I don’t have a final cost. It was not too expensive, but would vary depending on the size of your tv and how many pieces of trim you would need.
Thank you! I was just contemplating making the frame from lightweight poly trim as well and was unsure how to attach it to the tv itself (am mounting mine on a floor art easel) Those straps are genius!!
Right?! The straps worked out soooooo well! And would be perfect for your application too. Good luck with your project!
How big is the gap between your tv and the wall? I want to do this with our tv but afraid the frame will look silly being so far from the wall. Also, what color did you other in the picture light to match the frame? I understand it’s battery operated but is it also hardwired into the wall? I do not want to run electrical if I chose to do this. Thank you. ????
We’ve go a couple inches between our tv and the wall, enough that our cable box fits and we can unhook wires, etc. from the tv. We also tilt our tv downwards since it sits up high, so there is enough room to tilt it too. The picture light is painted with the rub n buff paint in the gold leaf color just like the tv frame. The light is battery operated, no hardwired.
Your frame looks great and love the detailed instructions! My TV has a large soundbar that hangs off of our mount and just below the screen. I’m curious to get your thoughts on what I can do to make it blend into the design (at first that’s what I thought you had above your TV until I realized it was a picture light).
Thank you! So if we were to put our soundbar back on, I think I would have painted it to match the color or our fireplace. I have no idea if that would screw up the soundbar, but I’ve seen it done before and it’s definitely something I would have tried. So do at your own risk 🙂
Hi
Looks beautiful! Can you let me know what size TV and fireplace you show? I would like to do something similar – TV over fireplace with frame.
Thank you!!
Thank you! This is a 55″ tv, here is the link: https://rstyle.me/+NVmivB9UqHLwPAbbN5DNqQ
Thank you for the quick reply! I love the size of the TV with frame as it looks in proportion to your fireplace. I’m in the process of putting in a fireplace – can you let me know the width of the fireplace?
Thanks!!!
Lisa
The overall width of the fireplace is 66″ and the wood mantel is 79″
Looks beautiful. What TV mount do you have?
Thank you! Here is a link to the mount we have:
https://rstyle.me/+ALdL5PTd0OCpgDzUdqxFdg
I love this! Would you mind sharing links to the molding you used? Or at least the kinds/sizes, I’m disabled and it’s hard to pick out the molding from websites. Thanks so much!
Thank you! Yes, the three moldings I used are linked right in the post. Here are the direct links if that makes it easier for you to shop. They are all from Lowes, so it should be easy to find in store when you pull up the links
https://rstyle.me/+iY6oo9f6oW9Yi84B_1OXig
https://rstyle.me/+PDx-_veb32G7sYu2pmLJmQ
https://rstyle.me/+sWZmnzWQPo0TOGC3BxUnjQ
Can I pay you to make me one.??!?????
Aw I wish I had the time! Sorry I am not currently doing any client work.
Hi! I love the the idea of a framed tv. I’ve been looking at options & they are expensive. Just curious is your tv screen just black( like any tv when not in use) with the reflection of art work from your LR or do you have a picture on your tv.? My issue is that I want to do the exact same as you but want it to be a piece of art when not in use not just a black screen
Our tv screen usually is just black most of the time. I occasionally put the art screen saver on. You can definitely just have the art screen saver on all time. I have heard there is a risk of image burn if you have the same image on all the time, for long periods of time. I don’t know if there is any truth to that, but you could also have rotating artwork on the screen.
Necesito un marco para mi smartv 55″
This would be perfect for that!
How did you hide the wires?
We have a plug behind our tv
I love the picture light over the t.v. I checked out this light on line. Do you have a remote to turn on the light since the switch is on the light and would be difficult to turn on. The description for the light did not say it comes with a remote. I would like to use this light in our bookcase we are building to hang over a large picture that will be centered in the middle section of the bookcase. I would not be able to reach the switch to turn it on.
Unfortunately it does not come with a remote, just the switch. It was more for “looks” over our tv, so I hardly ever have it on. It does cast a beautiful light!
Where did you get the art that’s on the screen?
I just added the link to the blog post, here it is:
https://rstyle.me/+c0D3UY43XuUo9SyrUB7Gvw
It looks fantastic! Where do you get the image that displays as a proctors-artwork
Thank you! I just added the link to the blog post, here it is:
https://rstyle.me/+c0D3UY43XuUo9SyrUB7Gvw
Does this effect the signal to the remote??
We didn’t have any issues with the remote, but if you did you could drill a small hole in the frame where the sensor is or use an IR extender
Is there a picture in the frame? If ao how ia that done?
It is just an artwork screen saver
Thank you so much for this helpful tutorial. We made the frame (for our Frame TV) in just a day. I would send pics but I’m waiting for the Rub N Buff to come to put the finishing gold touch on it. We did everything exactly as you did; however, because the Frame TV is so thin, we didn’t need the third piece of molding on the outside.
Look forward to copying your next fun project!
Aw thank you Diane! I absolutely love hearing that— so glad your project turned out well and it was easy it do! I bet it looks amazing!
How about I send you some cash and the measurements and you send it to me!!!
Think about it, because I’m SERIOUS.
Aw I’m so sorry! Wish I had the time to make these frames
Do you make these for other people too?
I’m sorry I don’t at this time.
Hi is the band glued, nailed, or screwed to the frame
I just used screws to hold it in place. I think you could use a staple gun too
Hi, I last idea of the picture frame TV. I have a 76 inch TV how wide is the frame should be
And what is your frame size?
Thank you
I think our tv is smaller, so you would just need to take exact measurements based on your specific tv size.
Hi The TV frame looks amazing
I’m planning to do a frame to my TV. It’s 76 inch.
The wood frame size will be 5.3 inch
Do you think will be too thick / or wide for the TV?
I like to take her opinion for that
Thank you
I’m sorrym it’s hard to say without seeing it in person?
Hello! Where did you get your end table? Thank you! Great post!
Thank you! I actually had someone local fabricate the steel base and then I added the wood top