Maggie Evans 
For most people, having an AC unit in their home is non-negotiable, especially for those that live in warmer climates. Although while they’re great for keeping you cool and comfortable all year round, they do very little when it comes to the design and decoration of your home, because let’s face it, AC units are ugly.
Some people spend thousands of dollars carefully designing their dream home, only to have a big clunky AC unit step in and ruin the feng shui. And yes, while they are an essential element to your home’s functionality, AC units don’t have to be front and center affecting the aesthetics of your home.
Fortunately, there are plenty of creative ways to cover up your AC unit and bring the beauty back out in the home, and in this article, we’re going to give you seven ideas on how to do just that. Some of these ideas are great for people who enjoy a spot of DIY, while others offer a more delicate and subtle touch to make your AC unit a little less imposing.
But before we begin, it’s important to note that not all of these ideas are suitable for every type of unit. Some of these suggestions may cause a hazard depending on your AC unit’s model and design, so bear that in mind before you get started.
Build Wall-mounted Cabinet
A wall-mounted cabinet is a great way to hide your AC unit while keeping its functionality. For this one, you’ll need to be well versed in DIY, or at least know someone who can do the job for you. All you have to do is install a cabinet over the unit with lockable doors. When the unit is turned on, open the doors. When it’s turned off, shut them – simple.
It’s advised to install a well-ventilated cabinet, so if you forget to open the doors while it’s turned on, it will still function without issue.
Recess the Unit Into a Wall or Beam
Again, this one takes some elbow grease and a bit of hard work, but once it’s done, it’s worth it. If you have the privilege of being able to alter the walls and beams in your home, you can position your AC unit so it’s recessed into architectural space in your home (such as the walls and beams). When done right, it looks great; just make sure the unit protrudes from the hole just enough so that the airflow still reaches the main space.
Inside a Bookcase
One genius way of hiding your AC unit is by integrating it into your bookcase. The best way to do this is by building a bookcase around the unit so it has its own dedicated housing shelf at the top. If positioned correctly, the unit should still be able to provide adequate ventilation to the rest of the room as long as you remember not to obstruct the vents with books.
Inside a Tv Stand or Entertainment Unit
Like the bookcase method, you can store your AC unit above your TV stand or entertainment unit. These days most people have an entire wall or a section of a wall, dedicated to the television. If that sounds like you, you’ve just found your perfect place to stash your AC unit.
Providing there’ ample space, try and install the AC unit just above the TV stand/furniture. If you can set up a dedicated housing shelf, even better!
Paint Your Wall to Match Your Unit
Sometimes the best way to hide your unit is to camouflage it right in plain sight. One way to do this is by painting your wall to match your mini-split unit’s exact color. This is an excellent option for those that don’t want to go through too much effort to hide their unit away, and it looks awesome too!
Note: It’s generally not advised to paint your AC unit as this will probably void your warranty and could present a safety hazard.
Decorative Panels
There are all kinds of ways to get creative with decorative panels. You can install custom-built panels made out of wood or metal to fit the design and style of your home. This is a great way to turn what was once an ugly eyesore into a beautiful feature of the room.
A great idea is to set the panels on sliders so they can be closed or opened depending on whether your AC unit is turned on or not. Additionally, this presents an excellent opportunity to hide other eyesores behind the panels that you’d rather not be in plain sight too, such as radiators or fuse boxes.
Custom Pieces of Wall Art
Last but not least, let your artistic flair come into play by putting up a piece of art on the unit. If you think you’ve got what it takes, why not design your own piece of art to place over the mini-split unit? That way, you can make sure it’s the perfect size to cover it up. If not, any picture frame or poster will do the trick.
Important Things to Note
Before you go off and implement one of these ideas we have just shared with you, it’s essential you remember never to block the airflow of the air conditioning unit. After all, the whole purpose of the device is to regulate your home’s temperature, and if you block the vents or the airflow in any way, you’re not only preventing it from doing its job, but you could be causing a safety hazard in the process.
Finally, remember to leave ample room for future air conditioning repair and maintenance. It’s all well and good hiding your unit away, but it needs to remain accessible at all times in case anything goes wrong or if you need to change the air filters.
Thanks for reading!
