Don't split up with your mini-split just yet
A mini-split air conditioner comes with a long list of perks: it's energy-efficient, budget-friendly, and cuts out less-than-attractive vent work winding around your home. On the other hand, you’ll end up with a mini-split unit perched on top of the wall, in the ceiling, or right where you'd prefer to put the couch. Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to maintain a sleek and stylish home while keeping yourself cool and comfy at the same time. Here are some tips on how to camouflage a mini-split unit and maintain your home’s aesthetic.
If you've yet to start the mini-split installation process, keep in mind that you have options. In some homes, your local HVAC company can install the unit right in the ceiling. The unit will sit nearly flush with the ceiling itself and look more like a traditional ductwork vent. While this could increase the cost of your ductless mini-split AC, you won't have to worry about a rectangular unit perched at the top or bottom of the wall.
Functional fixtures like a mini-split unit look best when they're making an attempt to stay out of sight. If there’s nowhere to "hide" your unit, keep it close to the corner of your room to avoid pulling focus from your decor or interrupting the flow of the wall. You’ll just need to make sure the AC unit has a clear path in front of it so that it can cool your home efficiently.
Even if you're not a minimalist home design fanatic, take a page out of the book to help your mini-split blend into the background. Paint the wall of the room that your unit will be on with the same or close to the same color as the mini-split unit. You can also opt for gentle and natural colors that don't make the bright white unit stand out too strongly.
Similar to your ceiling option, tuck your mini-split system on the wall down low and very close to the floor. If you do so, this tip comes with a big caveat. You won’t be able to place furniture or curtains closer than 4 feet in front of the unit when in use. That being said, if the unit is in a large and static space like the dining room, you may never have an issue with this.
You'll find a wide range of covers designed specifically for hiding indoor mini-split units and for protecting the outdoor condenser. Covers range from wood-slatted cabinets to vinyl that matches the color of your space. You can even find covers with enough open space to allow airflow during the warm season.
If you live in a home with unique architectural features like recesses, ceiling beams, and reading nooks, use them as an opportunity to camouflage your mini-split unit. As before, the unit needs to have a clear runway for sending out its cool air, but in some cases, the unit will look like it belonged there all along.
There are plenty of utility and storage areas in even the most stylish spaces. Consider adding the mini-split over an entertainment center, a large bookshelf, or even by a set of floating shelves. Not only does this tactic work for new mini-split units, but it's also a great way to camouflage mini-split systems that you inherited from the last owner.
Go one step further than shelves and install a fully functional cabinet around the unit. It goes without saying that you’ll need to either be able to open the cabinet doors or include enough space in the slats to encourage airflow. However, similar to shelving, you can incorporate the unit into the top of an existing cabinet to make it look like a natural extension of the room.
Take a simpler approach to hide your mini-split by adding more lush, natural elements to the area. You'll need to choose resilient plants that are right for the specific room of your home, as well as ones that can stand the stream of cold air. It's also best to avoid placing plants too close to your unit in order to avoid airflow issues. However, setting plants several feet below or to the side of your unit can draw the eye toward the plants instead of the small AC unit jutting out of your wall.
You don't necessarily need to make structural changes to camouflage your AC mini-split unit. On a simple note, it all comes down to distraction. Use vibrant artwork, rugs, and accent walls to pull the viewer's eye away from the mini-split and back to what really matters in the room. At the same time, remember that the mini-split is still there and will not go totally unseen, so take it into account when hanging artwork to retain symmetry.
One of the more overlooked tips on how to camouflage a mini-split unit is to utilize the windows. If there’s no obvious place to tuck your unit away, go with the flow of your space based on the window placement. Adding a mini-split unit right above a window frame can create balance and cohesion. Most importantly, the unit will look deliberate instead of random while still taking up less space when compared to a window AC unit.
