No fireplace - how to make sure the TV isn't the focus of the room

[potplant]

We don't have a chimney breast in our living room (thanks to previous owners). We put in a large-ish fire surround with an electric fire which looks has served us well - when you first look at it you wouldn't know we didn't have a chimney breast. It is the focus of the room rather than the stupidly large TV.

So we are about to redecorate and DH has decided he's not that keen on the fire surround anymore and wants to take it out and put the TV in its place. I don't want the TV to be the focus of the room (even though it is) so suggested we look for a cabinet which could house the TV, and provide more storage space. The only ones I've been able to find look like Joey's cabinet from Friends, which is not what I had in mind.

Does a 'nice' feature cabinet really exist? Anybody got any ideas about how to shift focus away from the TV?

I think a fireplace with hearth, etc is the focus of a room if you have one. You don't need a chimney breast for this, jsut a fireplace.

We have our (large flatscreen) TV on a long wall in the lounge. Their is a sofa below it and one opposite plus comfy chairs at one end of the room and a sofa at the other end. Basically the furniture is laid out so that its all around the edges and when lots of people are over its like a big circle of friends. The TV being on the wall means that all the furniture isn't focused/ directed at it so when its off your eye isn't drawn to it.

There are nice cabinets that exist but if everything points towards a closed cupboard the cupboard will still be the room focus.

Move the TV into a corner and create a nest of chairs so that although the TV can be viewed easily, some of the chairs face each other and aren't only positioned for watching the television.

Cabinets are hard to come by, I think (and a bit of a nuisance. Have you considered shelves and then putting lots of other things on them to "soften" the presence of the TV?

We have a big bookcase and that is definitely the focus, tv is in the corner. Where we lived before we had the tv on the bookcase, surrounded by books

Another one to suggest the TV goes on the wall (if it's possible). We did this and there's a lot more space in the room now as there is no need for a cabinet/table for the TV. We've put it in the corner, on the same side as the door to the living room so it's not the first thing that hits you as you walk in to the room (not really planned that way, just where the arial cable was).