How to Make a DIY Frame for TV - genesistecnocasa.com

The easiest and cheapest way to make a DIY frame for your TV to look like artwork

Every time I say this is the last project I end up coming up with another one but…

For now this is the very last project before our complete bathroom is revealed!

You might be thinking adding a frame to a tv in the bathroom is a strange project or maybe you think having a tv in the bathroom is weird, period but don’t knock it till you try it.

Adding a tv to the bathtub area was part of the plan since the beginning of this bathroom renovation. Our old setup already had an electric switch installed on one of the bathtub niche walls for an old jacuzzi tub so we figured mine as well make use of it.

We swapped the switch to an outlet and installed a Frame TV. The only problem with the Frame tv’s is that the frames themselves are kind of expensive…

So for less than $20 I decided to whip up my own DIY TV frame.

DIY TV Frame Supplies:

Chair Rail
Outside Corner Piece
1/4″ Plywood (if you want the sides enclosed)
Staples and Glue
Paint and Clear Coat

How to Mount a Frame TV

Since we had trouble even mounting our Frame TV I figured I would cover this really quickly before I jumped into the actual project.

We originally bought a mount for the Frame TV but the holes did not even remotely line up. After a quick google search we learned this is a common issue with this brand of TV’s.

So we mounted our frame TV using the French cleat method. For a French cleat you need a 2×4 board ripped length wise at a 45 degree angle.

To rip a 45 degree angle I recommend using a table saw. Then we mounted one of the cleats to the wall and the other to the tv.

For a more in-depth tutorial on how to make a French cleat you can check out this tutorial.

How to Build a TV Frame

This is not our first TV frame build, we built a large version for our living room TV about a year ago. This TV frame will be a little different because we wanted the sides, top, and bottom enclosed so that it looks like a thick picture frame.

We did however go with the same chair rail molding to create this frame. I love these molding pieces because the details are so pretty and they are cheap!

Start by measuring the length and height of your TV, these measurements will be your short side cuts. The TV frame cuts are very simple 45 degree miter cuts.

It is important to make sure you are moving the saws miter setting to make each end of the cuts and not the piece of molding itself. Keep the top of the molding piece against the saw fence for each cut.

If you don’t keep the top of the molding piece against the saw fence the corners will not match up correctly.

Attaching the TV Frame Pieces Together

There are a lot of ways to attach the frame pieces together but this method has always worked best for me.

Start by adding adhesive to the frame ends and use a square to make sure each corner is perfectly square. Add tape to hold the pieces in place while the glue dries.

For added security I also staple the corners together. This might be unnecessary but I like the tv frame to be as secure as possible.

Adding the Frame TV Mount

To mount the frame onto the TV once it’s all put together I use a piece of outside corner molding glued onto the back of the frame.

Start by dry fitting the frame onto the TV and marking where the corner molding will need to go on the back of the frame.

Cut the corner molding to the length of the frame and attach it with adhesive to the back of the frame on the marked location.

Let the adhesive fully cure before actually mounting the frame to the tv.

Enclosing the TV Frame

This TV frame is a little different than the original one I made because this one will have the sides, top, and bottom enclosed. So it will look like a thick picture frame.

To create the side pieces I used leftover 1/4″ plywood I had from our bathtub skirt project cut down to the length of the frame.

Next I ripped each piece down to 2-1/2″ wide, this width will make the tv appear completely enclosed.

To attach these pieces to the outside of the frame I used more adhesive followed by tape to secure the pieces while the glue dried.

Finishing the TV Frame

After everything is dry, it’s time for the fun part, finishing the frame!

I started by painting the entire frame with a satin black spray paint, this is my base color.

Once the black paint dried I rubbed on Antique Gold Rub n Buff. This is my favorite method for achieving a rich, beautiful gold finish.

After the Rub n Buff was dry I sprayed the entire frame with a chalky matte sealer. This sealer gives the frame a nice finish and will also lock in the color.

Adding Artwork to the TV

As you probably know the Frame TV itself comes with art and you can also pay for a subscription to give you even more art work options.

If you don’t have an actual frame TV though and just a regular flatscreen TV like our living room TV, there are two easy ways you can add art.

The first way and one I use a lot is to use art screensavers from YouTube. I like to search vintage art, landscape art, watercolor art, etc. These options are all free and there are a bunch of good ones.

Sometimes though I want something more specific and buy TV art off of Etsy for pretty cheap.

Both options are great ways to display art on your TV.