More and more, a high-def TV is becoming a part of the average American home. Unfortunately, most homes are not really designed to accommodate these often-huge sets, and they wind up being in the way rather than an enhancement to the home decor. However, with creativity and a little bit of sweat and cash equity, you can make your High Definition Televisions add value to your home.

Creative Living Room Enhancements

Start with your living room, the destination for most high-def televisions. Wall mounts for Plasma Televisions and LCD TVs are expensive to install and often difficult to place exactly right; because you need studs in strategic places, you may find that some homes are not suited to them at all.

So instead of a wall mount, which can be unstable even in the best of situations, install a special space just for your LCD TV: a cavity in the wall designed to hold your television in exactly the right place for perfect viewing. You’ll have to tear out some drywall to do this right, which is a great excuse for your next step: wiring your living room for surround sound. In non-custom setups, cabling for good surround sound must be run across the floor, creating a hazard for humans and equipment alike. If, however, you install good wiring from your wall mount or cavity over to the perfect spots for your surround sound stations, you conceal your wiring completely, make a more secure environment, and add some real value to your home.

Don’t Forget the Bathroom

When I was a kid, I always thought the ultimate in luxury was having a television in the bathroom. This is more feasible today than ever. Run cabling into your bathroom to the blank wall that is ideal for your high-def TV, then install your wall mount. If you have a properly-designed bathroom, you may find the acoustics great not just for shower singing but for natural surround sound; otherwise, you should consider the same solution you used for the living room.

As a final touch, put a mirror screen over your bathroom high-def TV. This clever screen disguises your LCD or plasma TV as a useful mirror, but when you turn it on, the screen is as clear as if nothing were there at all.

The Media Room Addition

The ultimate home value enhancement today is the dedicated media room. With perfect acoustics (often including wall carpeting) and full wiring as well as ideally-situated wall outlets and LCD Televisions screen friendly lighting, this room is a perfect add-on or renovation.

If you’re considering major home renovations in the near future and you love your high-def TV, consider one of these enhancements for your home. You might be surprised at how much value they can add to your home – and even when they don’t add straight value, they can ensure your home sells faster, if you should choose to move in the future.