The TV wall is usually the first thing people see when they sit in a living room. In many Bangalore homes it has become the room's feature wall: panelled in wood, fluted boards or stone, with hidden wiring, a floating console and soft lighting.
A TV panel is the cladding behind and around the television. A TV unit is the storage below it. The two are designed together, but they are different jobs: the panel is about the wall, the light and the wires, and the unit is about storage.
This guide covers the panel materials and designs that work, the right size and height, how to hide wires, lighting ideas and costs in 2026.
Why a TV panel helps
It hides the wires. A panel built a few inches out from the wall gives space for cables, sockets, the set-top box and a soundbar connection.
It frames the TV. A large black screen on a plain wall looks like a hole when switched off. A panel around it makes it part of the design.
It adds texture and warmth. Wood, fluting and stone soften a room with plain painted walls and hard floors.
It improves sound. Panels with some depth and texture reduce echo in rooms with hard surfaces.
Panel materials
Laminate on plywood or MDF is the most common and affordable. Wood-grain laminates look convincing, are easy to clean and come in many shades.
Veneer looks like real wood because it is a thin slice of real wood. It needs polish and some care but gives the richest look.
Fluted panels, with vertical grooves, are popular in modern Indian living rooms. They come in MDF with a painted or laminated finish, WPC, and PVC.
PVC and WPC wall panels are cheap, light and moisture proof. They install quickly and suit rental homes or budget projects, though they look less refined up close.
Stone and stone-look panels, including marble, quartz slabs and thin stone veneer sheets, give a premium finish around the TV. They are heavy and cost more.
Charcoal and louver panels are slim slatted panels that create strong vertical lines. They suit contemporary rooms.
Design ideas
A full-height wooden panel from floor to ceiling, with the TV mounted in the middle, makes a small room look taller.
A partial panel, with wood or fluting only behind the TV and plain paint on either side, costs less and still frames the screen.
A two-material panel, with a stone or marble slab directly behind the TV and wood or fluting on either side, gives contrast.
A panel with open niches or floating shelves on one side for books, plants and decor softens a large screen.
A panel that wraps around a corner to form a reading nook or display shelf ties the TV wall to the rest of the room.
Size and height
Mount the TV so the centre of the screen is at eye level when seated, usually 40 to 45 inches from the floor for a sofa of standard height.
The panel should be wider than the TV by at least 1 to 1.5 feet on each side. For a 55-inch TV, a panel of 7 to 8 feet wide works well. For a 65 or 75-inch TV, plan 9 to 10 feet.
The viewing distance should be about 1.5 to 2.5 times the screen diagonal. A 55-inch TV suits a distance of about 7 to 11 feet.
Get a layout plan for your room.
Hiding wires and planning points
Plan the electrical points before the panel goes up. You need at least four sockets behind the TV, a cable TV or set-top point, an HDMI conduit from the TV to the console, and a network point if the TV uses wired internet.
Run a 1.5 to 2-inch conduit inside the panel from the TV to the console below, so new cables can be added later.
Leave a removable section or a small access panel behind the TV for future changes.
Lighting the TV wall
A soft cove light behind the panel edges, or an LED strip along the top or bottom of the panel, adds depth and reduces eye strain when watching in the dark.
Profile lights in the grooves of fluted panels give a modern look.
Avoid strong spotlights pointed directly at the screen, which cause glare.
The console below the panel
A floating console, fixed to the wall 8 to 12 inches above the floor, keeps the floor clear and makes the room look larger.
Keep the console 15 to 18 inches deep to hold a set-top box, speakers and a games console. Use closed drawers for remotes and cables, and an open section for devices that need ventilation.
Common mistakes with TV walls
Mounting the TV too high is the most common one, often because the panel was designed to look balanced rather than to be watched. Sit on the sofa and check the eye line before fixing the bracket.
Choosing a very glossy panel opposite a window is the second. Reflections on both the panel and the screen make daytime viewing difficult.
Planning the panel before the TV size is known is the third. A panel built for a 55-inch screen looks wrong when a 75-inch TV arrives a year later. If you plan to upgrade, design for the larger size.
Forgetting ventilation for the set-top box and router inside closed consoles is the fourth. Leave a vent or an open section so devices do not overheat.
What a TV panel costs
In 2026, a laminate TV panel in Bangalore costs about Rs 600 to Rs 1,200 per sq ft, so a 7 by 9-foot panel costs roughly Rs 38,000 to Rs 75,000. Fluted MDF and veneer panels cost Rs 900 to Rs 1,800 per sq ft. PVC and WPC panels cost Rs 250 to Rs 600 per sq ft installed. Stone or marble feature slabs cost Rs 1,500 to Rs 4,000 per sq ft and more. A matching floating console adds Rs 20,000 to Rs 60,000.
Book a free consultation with YellowDot Design Studio. We plan the TV wall, wiring, lighting and storage together, with 3D views before anything is built.
Design the TV wall with the whole living room