Decoration for TV Unit Styling Ideas to Refresh Your Space

That space around your TV? It’s more than just a spot for the remote and a soundbar. Think of it as a blank canvas, a prime piece of real estate in your living room just waiting to show off your personality. Getting the decoration for a TV unit right is all about striking a balance between your own style and some classic design smarts, turning a purely functional area into something you’re proud to look at.

This guide is all about using your passion for motorsport to create a dynamic, sophisticated focal point right where everyone’s eyes are already drawn.

Why Bother Styling Your TV Unit?

Let's be honest, a lonely TV on a bare stand can make an entire room feel a bit... unfinished. The big black screen tends to dominate everything. By thoughtfully decorating the space around it, you integrate the television into your home’s overall look, making it part of a deliberate design choice rather than just an appliance. It’s your best chance to inject some warmth and character into the room.

But this isn't about just plonking a few things on a shelf and calling it a day. It’s about creating a sense of harmony. The key is to lean on a few core design principles:

• Scale and Proportion: Ever seen a tiny photo next to a giant TV? It just looks... off. Make sure your decor is sized appropriately for both your screen and the unit itself.
• Balance: It's all about visual weight. You can go for a perfectly symmetrical layout for a more formal, classic vibe, or an asymmetrical arrangement for something a bit more modern and dynamic.
• Theme and Cohesion: This is where the fun starts. A motorsport theme gives you a clear creative direction, guiding your choice of art and accessories to tell a unified story.

A well-styled TV unit really becomes the command centre of the room's design. Here in Australia, we love clean lines and neutral tones, which is brilliant news for us. Why? Because it creates the perfect backdrop for a real statement piece. In fact, recent surveys show that 65% of Australian households favour neutral palettes, which makes vibrant motorsport art pop even more.

This is your chance to turn that passion for the track into a stunning display. We'll walk you through everything, from mapping out the layout to picking the perfect complementary pieces, all anchored by premium art from collections like TrackNation. You can see just how powerful a single piece can be by checking out our guide on using auto wall art.

Before we dive deep, here's a quick cheat sheet to get you thinking.

Quick Guide to TV Unit Styling Elements

This table breaks down the key things to consider when you're planning your layout. It’s a great starting point to make sure you’ve got all your bases covered.

Styling Element	Key Consideration	Motorsport Art Example
Scale & Proportion	Art should complement, not overpower, the TV.	A landscape-oriented print of the Nürburgring above a wide, low-profile TV unit.
Balance	Distribute visual weight—either symmetrically or asymmetrically.	Two smaller, matching driver portraits flanking the TV for a symmetrical look.
Colour Palette	Use colours from your art to influence accent decor choices.	Pulling the iconic red from a Ferrari print to use in throw cushions or a vase.
Theme & Cohesion	Ensure all items tell a consistent motorsport story.	Pairing a classic Le Mans track print with vintage-style model cars and racing books.
Texture & Material	Mix materials like canvas, metal, and wood for depth.	A premium cotton canvas print combined with a sleek metal photo frame and a wooden tray.

With these elements in mind, you're ready to start building a display that’s not just stylish, but is also a true reflection of your love for motorsport. Let’s get into the details.

Planning Your Layout with Purpose

Before you even think about hanging a single print, let's talk strategy. A little planning goes a long way, turning a random collection of items into a cohesive display that makes a real statement. It’s the difference between just having stuff and creating a sophisticated feature that shows off your passion for motorsport.

The first thing to remember is that your TV is the undisputed star of the show. Treat it that way. Whether it’s sitting on the unit or mounted on the wall, everything else needs to work with it, not against it. Start by grabbing a tape measure and getting the dimensions of the wall space above and around the screen, plus the surface of the unit itself. Think of these numbers as your creative playground.

Visualising the Arrangement

One of my favourite tricks to avoid making a bunch of unnecessary holes in the wall is to map everything out first. It's dead simple: grab some paper or cardboard and cut out shapes that match the size of your framed prints. Use a bit of painter's tape to stick them on the wall.

This is your chance to play around without commitment. You can see what works, what doesn't, and get a real feel for the space.

• Symmetrical Layout: This is your classic, balanced approach. Think two matching driver portraits of the same size, placed on either side of the TV. It creates a clean, formal look that’s always a winner.
• Asymmetrical Layout: If you're after something a bit more modern and dynamic, this is for you. Try balancing a large item on one side with a group of smaller ones on the other. For example, a big canvas of your favourite circuit could be offset by a small stack of motorsport books and a detailed model car on the other side.

This hands-on method helps you nail the scale before you pick up a hammer. If you're looking for more ideas on how to group your pieces, our guide on creating a stunning car art wall is packed with visual inspiration.

Establishing Your Focal Point

Every great design needs a hero piece—something that immediately draws the eye. The space above the TV is prime real estate for this. A large, panoramic canvas of a legendary racetrack like Spa or Monza is a perfect choice. It instantly sets the motorsport theme and gives the whole setup a strong anchor.

Once your main piece is sorted, the smaller accessories can come in to play a supporting role. An F1-themed mug, a sleek set of coasters, or a favourite diecast model can be placed on the unit's surface to add layers and personality. They build out the story without trying to steal the spotlight from your main artwork.

This simple flow helps you move from the big idea to the final, balanced arrangement that really tells a story.

At the end of the day, a knockout display is all about being intentional. It’s about moving from a general concept to specific choices that work together to create something visually powerful.

Choosing Motorsport Art That Fits Your Space

Picking the right motorsport art for your TV unit is about more than just your favourite driver. It's about making sure the art’s size, style, and frame all work together with your TV and furniture to create a look that feels intentional and balanced. Get this part right, and your passion piece becomes a sophisticated design element, not just a poster stuck on the wall.

The first big question is scale. Do you go for one large, knockout piece, or build a more dynamic gallery wall with a few smaller prints? A single, large canvas of a track like Circuit de Monaco hung above the TV creates an immediate, powerful focal point. It’s a clean, minimalist approach that anchors the whole setup.

On the other hand, a gallery wall gives off a more collected, personal vibe. You could group smaller framed prints of iconic drivers, classic race cars, and abstract circuit maps. This works especially well if you’re looking to tell a broader story or have a big, empty wall to fill around the television.

Matching Frames to Furniture

The frame you choose is just as critical as the art inside it—it’s the bridge connecting the print to your existing furniture. For a sleek, modern look, you can't go wrong with a minimalist black frame. It gives the artwork a sharp, defined border and makes the colours pop without clashing with anything else in the room.

Think about the finish of your TV unit itself.

• Dark Wood or Black Units: A black frame creates a seamless, cohesive feel.
• Light Wood or White Units: Here, a black frame provides a stunning, modern contrast that adds real visual punch.
• Metal or Glass Units: Clean, minimalist frames are your best bet, reinforcing that contemporary style.

Coordinating these details is what makes the artwork feel like it truly belongs in the room.

A great rule of thumb is to make sure any art hung above furniture (like your TV unit) is about two-thirds the width of that furniture. This creates a really pleasing sense of proportion and stops the art from either overwhelming the space or looking awkwardly small.

Canvas Versus Framed Prints

The material you choose also plays a big part in the final look. Both canvas and framed prints have their own distinct advantages, so it really comes down to the style you're aiming for. A premium cotton canvas gives you that textured, gallery-like quality. It has a slightly softer, more artistic presence that’s perfect for a statement piece in a living room.

Framed prints, however, deliver a more polished, traditional appearance. The glass or acrylic protects the image and adds a layer of depth, giving it a crisp, defined look that’s right at home in an office or a curated fan cave. If you're building a collection of Formula 1 posters, mixing framed prints of different sizes can create a really engaging display. Ultimately, your choice here will shape the final character of your whole setup.

Balancing Decor Without Creating Clutter

Getting your TV unit looking just right is all about harmony. You're aiming for that perfect sweet spot where your bold motorsport art plays nicely with other accessories, creating a display that feels intentional, not just thrown together.

The secret? Think in terms of visual weight. This is just the perceived "heaviness" of an object. A big, dark-framed print of a racetrack on one side of your TV needs something to balance it out on the other side. But this doesn't mean you need another piece of art—the goal is to create balance without simply mirroring items, which can feel a bit sterile and predictable.

This is where your supporting cast of decor comes in. To balance those dynamic motorsport prints, you’ll want to mix in some softer elements that add texture and personality without fighting for the spotlight.

Building Harmony with Accessories

A great TV unit display is more than just art. It's about layering in different objects to build depth and interest. My go-to strategy is to introduce a mix of materials and shapes to keep things visually engaging.

Here are a few accessories that always work well:

• Small Plants: A bit of greenery, like a trailing pothos or a cool succulent, is brilliant for softening the hard lines of the TV and art. It literally adds life and a pop of natural colour to the setup.
• Automotive Design Books: A tidy stack of books on F1 history or supercar design doesn't just fit the theme; it also adds a bit of height and substance to the arrangement.
• Subtle Metallic Accents: Something as simple as a small brass tray or a sleek metal photo frame can catch the light and lend a touch of modern polish.

The whole idea is to use these items to tell a cohesive story around your main artwork. For instance, if you've got a framed print of a legendary driver on the left, a stack of two or three motorsport books on the right can provide the perfect visual counterweight. If you're styling a larger space and need more ideas, our guide on bedroom wall decoration shares some great principles on balance that work just as well here.

Using Colour and Height

To stop your display from feeling flat and one-dimensional, you absolutely have to play with varying heights. A long, flat surface can get a little boring, so creating different levels for the eye to travel across is essential. Try placing a taller, sculptural vase next to a shorter stack of books. It’s a simple trick, but it instantly makes the whole thing feel more dynamic.

Don't be afraid to pull colours from your artwork into your accessories. If your favourite TrackNation print features a flash of iconic racing red, echo that colour in a small decorative bowl or a book spine to create a subtle, unified look.

This technique is what ties everything together, making your decoration for a TV unit feel like a single, well-thought-out composition. The aim isn't just to fill the space. It’s to make sure every single object earns its spot, contributing to a balanced and engaging display where your passion for motorsport is still the undisputed star of the show.

Nail the Lighting to Make Your Display Pop

Even the most incredible piece of motorsport art can get lost on a wall if the lighting and mounting aren't right. These final touches are what separate a decent setup from a professionally styled display. Good lighting doesn't just make the art visible; it sets the whole mood of your space.

One of the easiest wins here is LED backlighting behind your television. These simple strip lights cast a soft, ambient glow that not only reduces eye strain when you're watching a movie but also makes the screen feel like it's floating. This subtle halo effect is brilliant because it stops your surrounding artwork from disappearing into the shadows when you dim the main lights.

If you want to get more specific, directional spotlights are your best friend. A small, adjustable picture light mounted just above a large canvas can bring out all the fine details of a racetrack or the slick colours of a race car. It’s a simple trick that draws the eye straight to your hero piece, giving it the gallery treatment it deserves.

Getting the Height and Spacing Just Right

How you hang your art is just as critical as the art itself. A badly positioned print can throw off the entire wall's balance. The aim is to create one cohesive look where the TV and art feel connected, not like they're fighting for attention.

Here are a few rules of thumb I always follow for perfect placement:

• Above the TV: The bottom of your frame should sit about 10-20 cm above the top of the television. This closes the gap just enough to link them visually without making it feel cluttered.
• Beside the TV: For artwork flanking the screen, leave a gap of 7-15 cm between the TV's edge and the frame. This gives everything some breathing room while still feeling like a deliberate arrangement.
• For Gallery Walls: When you're working with a collection of smaller prints, think of them as one big piece. Lay them out on the floor first to get the composition right, keeping the spacing between frames consistent—usually around 5-7 cm is perfect.

A super common mistake is hanging art way too high. You want the centre of your main piece or your whole gallery wall to be at eye level, which for most people is around 145-152 cm from the floor. This makes the display feel grounded and properly integrated with the furniture below it.

Mounting Your Art Like a Pro

Once you've sorted the lighting and layout, the last job is to get everything up on the wall securely and perfectly level. Nothing cheapens a great display faster than a crooked frame.

Always, always use a spirit level—don't just try to eyeball it. For heavier framed pieces or canvases, I’d recommend using two hooks instead of one. It helps distribute the weight evenly and stops the art from shifting out of place over time.

For lighter, unframed prints, you've got other options that won't leave holes in your walls. You might want to check out our guide on using magnetic poster hangers for a modern, damage-free alternative.

Taking those extra few minutes to mount your art with precision ensures your motorsport passion is displayed with the same care and attention that goes into every lap on the track.

Putting It All Into Practice: TV Unit Styling Ideas

To really see how these ideas work in the real world, let’s walk through three different styling setups. Think of these as blueprints you can adapt, showing how to play with balance, scale, and theme using pieces from the TrackNation collection. Each one is designed for a different room, proving just how versatile motorsport art can be when styling around your TV.

The Modern Living Room

First up, picture a sleek, modern living room. You’ve got a long, low-profile white media unit that keeps things clean and minimalist. The goal here is pure sophistication.

We'll hang a single, large-format canvas print of the Nürburgring Nordschleife right above the TV, making it the hero of the wall. Its panoramic shape works beautifully with the wide unit, while the minimalist black-and-white track design keeps the whole vibe uncluttered and sharp.

On the unit itself, we'll aim for a subtle, asymmetrical balance. Pop a small, sculptural succulent in a matte black pot on one side to bring in a bit of organic texture. On the other, a neat stack of two hardcover automotive design books adds a nice horizontal line. It’s a simple, refined setup that lets that incredible racetrack canvas do all the talking.

The Professional Home Office

Now, let's shift gears to a home office. Here, the TV might be a secondary monitor or just have the news running in the background. The space needs to feel professional but still show off your personality. We'll build a curated gallery wall around the screen, which is sitting on a desk made of warm-toned timber.

Instead of one massive piece, let's hang three smaller, A3-sized framed prints from TrackNation. You could choose:

• A classic driver portrait to add a human element.
• A detailed circuit map of a track like Monza.
• A retro-style print of a legendary race car.

By arranging them in a tight cluster on one side of the TV, they create a single, cohesive visual block. To balance it out, a sleek desk lamp can sit on the other side of the screen. And for a functional touch, a stylish F1 radio message mug works perfectly as a pen holder, tying the theme together without creating clutter. This whole arrangement injects personality while keeping the focus professional.

Pro Tip: Grouping smaller art pieces together gives them the same visual weight as one larger piece. This is a brilliant strategy for adding detail and telling a story in a more compact space like an office.

The Ultimate Fan Cave

Finally, the fan cave—the one place where you can really let your passion run wild. In this space, the TV is just one part of a much bigger, more immersive experience. We’re going to build a large, dynamic gallery wall that completely surrounds the television, turning the entire wall into a shrine to motorsport.

This layout is all about mixing different sizes and styles of art. A huge canvas of a legendary track like Spa-Francorchamps could hang directly above the TV as the anchor piece. Around it, you can place smaller framed prints of iconic F1 cars, driver helmets, and even a framed coaster set showing off different track corners.

You could even get creative and incorporate a diecast model car on a small floating shelf, nestled right within the gallery. The real key here is to keep the spacing between all the elements consistent so it feels curated, not chaotic. This immersive approach makes the TV feel like it's part of a much larger tribute to the world of racing.

Your TV Unit Styling Questions, Answered

Styling your TV unit with motorsport art is the fun part, but it can also bring up a few practical questions. Let's run through some common queries to help you nail that polished, professional look you’re aiming for.

One of the biggest hurdles I hear about is styling around a TV that isn't wall-mounted. If your screen is sitting right on the unit, it can feel like you've lost all your decorating real estate.

The trick is to think vertically and expand outwards. Use the wall space above and beside the TV for your main art pieces. A large, striking canvas hung directly above the screen still commands attention and acts as a brilliant focal point. You can then use the surface of the unit on either side for smaller, complementary decor.

Can I Mix Motorsport Art with Other Themes?

You absolutely can, but there needs to be a common thread holding it all together. Got other passions, like music or travel? Find a way to connect them visually.

For instance, you could build a gallery wall where a minimalist racetrack print sits alongside a black-and-white photograph of a city you love. The unifying element here is the simple, monochromatic colour scheme, which makes two very different subjects feel like they belong together.

Your decoration for a tv unit should tell a story about you, even if that story has a few different chapters.

A dead-simple way to blend themes is with colour. Pull a subtle secondary colour from your main motorsport piece—say, the green from a Rolex trackside banner—and repeat it in a small plant or a decorative bowl nearby. It’s a subtle link, but it ties the whole look together beautifully.

How Do I Hide All the Ugly Cables?

Nothing ruins a slick, well-styled display faster than a mess of visible cables. It's the one detail that can undo all your hard work. Luckily, sorting it out is pretty straightforward.

• Cable Management Boxes: These are a lifesaver. They’re basically stylish little boxes designed to hide those chunky power strips and all the plugs.
• Cord Covers: If your TV is mounted and you have cables running down the wall, these plastic channels are brilliant. You can even paint them to match your wall, making them practically disappear.
• Adhesive Cable Clips: These are perfect for running wires neatly along the back edge of your TV unit, keeping them totally out of sight from the front.

A clean, cable-free setup keeps the focus right where it belongs: on your awesome motorsport art and carefully chosen accessories. It’s a small effort that makes a massive difference to the final result.

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Ready to build a display that truly shows off your passion for motorsport? Dive into the premium collection of racetrack art and accessories at TrackNation and find the perfect statement piece for your space. Check out the full range at https://tracknation.au.