All you need is a smart TV and access to YouTube – it works best for flat screen TVs hung on a wall
For anyone who enjoys decorating their home to give it a relaxing feel and entertaining guests, this hack could become your new favourite thing to do. I discovered it myself last night and have been trying it ever since. All it involves is a flat-screen smart TV and access to YouTube, which most smart TVs have.
It instantly makes your room look ten times more expensive, creating the illusion of a large piece of artwork in your living room. Given how costly artwork is, especially if you buy a large canvas, this trick helps enhance your room to give it that ‘luxury’ feel for free.
It works best if you have a TV hanging on your wall, but I still think it looks great if you have a TV on top of a stand or cabinet. All you need to do is use YouTube’s wide variety of arty ‘screen savers’. By putting one on your TV, you can turn the screen into an expensive-looking piece of art. There are so many to pick from – from famous paintings by Van Gogh and Monet, to colourful landscapes and close-up flowers.
The “YouTube wall art TV hack” is a technique for turning an ordinary smart TV into a display that looks like framed artwork, typically by using certain YouTube channels and videos. This method replicates the “Art Mode” feature available on certain Samsung Frame TVs, but it doesn’t require you to buy that particular model.
Although I’ve only just discovered the trick, it has been around for a while, and several people have already posted about it across social media. One TikTok user, LaraJoannaJarvis, took to the video-sharing platform to give homeowners a glimpse of what the hack looks like when used in her living room.
She said, “I saw this hack online, and I want to see if it works and if you can use it, too. If you want one of these really aesthetic-looking TVs but you don’t have one, this is a free trick to get it on your television. We’re going to search here for framed Christmas TV art.” Putting one example up on her screen, she added, “How freaking cute is that?”
She continued her demonstration, saying, “Let’s choose another one—isn’t that just so cute? I love that you can choose loads of different frames and lots of different pictures within the frames as well. I really hope that was helpful. Let me know if you guys try it and maybe share this with someone who might like it, too.”
In the comment section, one viewer replied: “THAT’S SO CUTEEE.” Lara wrote back: “Thank you! It looks so sweet, doesn’t it?” Another said: “Clever! Those ambient jazz YouTube videos with beautiful scenery are my daily go-to. I love the decorative picture, soft music, raindrops, or fire crackle, as I can’t have a fireplace myself.”
How does the YouTube wall art hack work?
First, you have to search for the art you want on YouTube using keywords like “framed art,” “TV art slideshow,” or “TV artwork.” There are several channels to explore that specialise in providing free digital art for TVs, including those offering rotating art pieces or specific themes like vintage art or landscapes. Some also play music at the same time, which is great for creating a relaxing ambience.
If your smart TV doesn’t have YouTube, you can download it from the TV’s app store. If you have the YouTube app on your phone, you could always cast it. Alternatively, you can use a streaming device (like a Fire TV Stick).
If you really want to achieve that ‘luxury’ look, you could even attach a wooden frame around the edge of your TV. This can be done using Velcro, elastic straps, or other methods that allow for easy removal.
To enhance the picture, consider art mode settings. If your TV has an Art Mode feature, explore its options for adjusting display settings, such as brightness, contrast, and sleep settings. Some TVs allow you to display photos or artwork from your own collection via apps like Google Photos. This “hack” allows you to enjoy a visually appealing art display on your TV without the need for a specialised “Frame TV”.