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Original poster

Those people with a computer in the living room - how do you make it look nice/unnoticeable?

48 replies

redadmiral · 05/02/2008 12:41

Want to put one in the living area for the children, but hate having the TV around, let alone more screens and tecchie stuff. Don't really want a laptop either as they are too fragile and fiddly for the children IMO, plus we already have a Mac mini that I'd like to use.

Anyone got any ideas for hiding it or blending it in????

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TheHonEnid · 05/02/2008 12:44

no I dont stress about it

get a very quiet one though otherwise its a complete pain having the hum

we have a nice funky widescreen and the tower thing is in a box (ikea), it sits on an old wooden desk with wooden chair, it doesnt look too awful

Original poster
redadmiral · 05/02/2008 12:47

I'm just being fussy. To me a PC looks like work, and I want the living room to be as relaxing as poss.

Toying with the idea of some kind of bureau, but haven't seen any I like...

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ShinyHappyPeopleHoldingHands · 05/02/2008 12:49

Well I suppose you could hurl a pleasingly-coloured throw at it??!

Ours just sits there looking... like a computer! I don't really care tbh but that's me.. interior design not my thing.

charliebearsmum · 05/02/2008 12:51

Next have a double doored cabinet with a pull out shelf underneath. It's got no back to it so you can put the keyboard and the mouse on the shelf, the hard drive and the printer on the bottom and shut the doors. All you need to see is the monitor on the top. They are about £150

TheHonEnid · 05/02/2008 12:51

god my living room is so not relaxing! tv, toys everywhere, pc, kids all over the place

karen999 · 05/02/2008 12:51

Ikea have really good furniture for this kind of thing....have things like desk/unit thingies where you can close the dooor.

TigerFeet · 05/02/2008 12:59

we have a laptop that we stash down the side of the sofa

How about something like this. I have friends with something similar and it works really well for them.

Mistymoo · 05/02/2008 13:01

We have a laptop here too and to be honest they are not that fiddly for kids. Both my 7yo and 4yo use it and they seem fine with it.

Original poster
redadmiral · 05/02/2008 13:05

I do sound precious don't I? If you could see my living room you would laugh...

Think I just don't like computers from working with them for so long.

Will check out everyone's suggestions so far, and keep them coming!!

(Enid, looks like you could fit the kids in Tigerfeet's option - that would make your room more restful.)

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3missys · 05/02/2008 13:05

Laptop - This is the reason why we changed from PC to laptop as we can then put it in corner hidden out of the way. We only use the laptop for internet but if we did want to print we just attatch said cable to printer.

luvaduck · 05/02/2008 13:05

tigerfeet
we've just bought that and are going to paint it white
its fab - loads of space for storing odds and sods too and all that bloody paperwork

you can nice bureau too try dwell or ikea or john lewis (ikea do cheaper versions) if you don' want a full height one - then you can put photo frames etc on top

Vacua · 05/02/2008 13:07

we all have laptops that are stowed away in their cases - except mine is up on a docking station that I sometimes fold away but more often leave perched on the dining table

and the children have been known to leave theirs balanced precariously on arm of sofa or open, ready to have a drink knocked over them

there's a pile of casualties somewhere in the house

Vacua · 05/02/2008 13:09

one of my friends has an enormous cupboard thing that supposedly shuts it all away but looks like wardrobe when closed so the whole 'office' actually is better when on display

Vacua · 05/02/2008 13:10

you know it's possible to monitor and track their activity remotely? so they could have them in their rooms?

AdamAnt · 05/02/2008 13:11

How about something tasteful

Vacua · 05/02/2008 13:11

also get wireless print server so that can be stashed away somewhere in another room without need for cables etc

Botbot · 05/02/2008 13:12

I don't. It just sits there. It's a Mac though, which looks nicer than a PC anyway.

TigerFeet · 05/02/2008 13:12

My friend's doesn't have doors all the way down - it's more of a bureau with a fold-up front with shelves above with doors on.

Perfect for storing children all sorts of crap

Nymphadora · 05/02/2008 13:14

I have a lap top and my 2 (6&8) have been using it for a while with no probs. DD2 just uses a mouse.

Brangelina · 05/02/2008 13:17

Ditto here Botbot. It's a glaringly beautiful piece of machinery, why hide it?

Original poster
redadmiral · 05/02/2008 13:17

You Mac users....

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Original poster
redadmiral · 05/02/2008 13:18

AA - opened your pic expecting something tasteful

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Joash · 05/02/2008 13:21

Buy a nice cupboard that completely shuts it away - or if you can afford it, have one made so that it blends in with your other furniture.

Original poster
redadmiral · 05/02/2008 13:21

Off the subject, but am I the only person who thinks their DP looks terribly effete using a laptop? I can hardly bear to look at him when he's sitting on the sofa hunched up over it. Something to do with the twiddly one-fingered mouse action...

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CatIsSleepy · 05/02/2008 13:21

how about a computer cosy?
would look v. tasteful