Tips to Blend AV Into its Surroundings

If you are getting new audio visual (AV) solutions in your office or healthcare facility, you are probably excited about the positive impacts they will have. But, have you considered a possible downside to new tech? Sometimes, the equipment can be incredibly unsightly and difficult to conceal. To help you enjoy all the benefits of AV systems while still maintaining attractive aesthetics (in addition to simply hiding AV cords), here are some tips. 

Consider The Context 

First, make sure you are not thinking about hiding a piece of equipment that needs to be accessible. For example, a check-in kiosk in your front lobby should not be camouflaged at all. On the contrary; such equipment should be highly visible so visitors can identify it and use it upon entry. 

Second, is the equipment interactive? Interactive TVs in patient rooms at a hospital, for instance, need to be handy and within easy reach of the bed. In such scenarios, do not worry about whether the solutions are beautiful or not; their job is to be functional. 

Determine Whether It’s Major or Minor

Other pieces of equipment, though, can certainly be placed behind the scenes. Before you figure out  how you want to do this, though, make sure you have considered the scale of the need. If you will be bringing in sophisticated clients who are used to being wooed and wowed, your conference room technology design should reflect this level of sophistication. In this case, it might be worth taking more drastic measures (like actually cutting into your walls or building bespoke units) to keep aesthetics your focal point. 

If you are designing outpatient surgery rooms for a healthcare facility, your approach will likely be quite different. In fact, your patients will likely be under anesthesia and not even aware of the space they are in, so you can plan to be more conservative with your AV equipment camouflaging efforts. 

Decide On The Best Option 

Once you have discussed the importance of your equipment’s aesthetics, which might range from “extremely” to “not at all,” you can evaluate the different choices you have. At PIVIUM, we can help you design the best systems based on your end goals. For example, if you are planning for a minimalist design, you might want all your technology to be wireless so dealing with hiding AV cords is not even an issue. Either way, we can guide you to find the optimal solution for your needs. 

Here are a few creative ways we can keep AV equipment from turning into an eye sore:

• Cutting into the wall and feeding wires through
• Using rugs or other floor coverings to conceal cords
• Building a box or crate that does not have a back, where the equipment can be out of view
• Installing invisible speakers that are actually put into the wall itself 
• Installing entertainment cabinetry (e.g. a cabinet that a mounted TV can be pushed into when not in use)

Interested in working with an experienced AV design partner on your next project? We would love to help!