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Be Gone! Clever Ways to Disguise Your Air Conditioner

Whether you have built-in ducts or multi-split units, the look isn't always ideal. Hide your AC with these nifty tricks

Louise O'Bryan 14 April 2017

Houzz Contributor with over 15 years as an interiors writer, stylist and content producer for digital and print media. Specialising in house tours, room renovations and decorating solutions, my previous clients include Inside Out (Aus), Ideal Home, The Times weekend supplement and Sainsbury's magazine. I never tire from the thrill of discovering a jaw-dropping, inspirational home to feature and having an insight into other people's spaces. Call me curious or just nosey!

Houzz Contributor with over 15 years as an interiors writer, stylist and content... More

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There’s no denying the appeal of air conditioning for maintaining comfortable temperatures, but there’s a price to pay for this convenience, and we’re not talking about dollars. Whether it’s wall-hung split units or a built-in ducted system, we often have to sacrifice style when it comes to including an AC unit in our rooms. However, with some careful planning and creative thinking you can integrate these systems seamlessly, inside and out, without disrupting the overall look and feel of your home.

Hood River reDesign

How to disguise multi-split wall-hung units
One way of integrating a wall-hung AC unit into a room’s scheme is to have custom-built cabinetry fitted around it, so it becomes a part of the design. Open display shelves will distract from the bulky rectangular box, while a bespoke cover with gaps that offer good ventilation will hide the unit from view yet enable it to be remote controlled.

Tip: Check the manufacturer’s recommended distance between the unit and a cover if you’re covering up an AC unit.

Recessing the unit into an existing or specifically built bulkhead will also help it disappear into the background. Leaving a gap around the unit will give it space to breathe and allow hot air to be vented, while ensuring you can access the cover so it can be removed when needed.

Kate Hansen Photography

This a great tip for anyone, particularly renters, who can’t create recessed areas or fit bespoke cabinets. Simply turn the wall around the unit into a captivating gallery of intriguing artwork, and you will draw attention away from the bulky box. For obfuscation purposes, the more eclectic the wall display the better.

See more spaces designed for the art lover

Minosa | Design Life Better

How to integrate ducted systems
It’s fair to say that ducted systems don’t stand out as much as wall-hung units, as the vents can be streamlined into ceilings, floors or walls. However, it’s still important to consider the position of the vent and the effect it has on a space. Will the vents dominate or distract from any important design features such as pendant lighting, for example?

Tucking the vents behind a ceiling bulkhead will disguise them completely while maximising their output. Popping a light up there also tricks the eye into thinking there’s natural sunlight flooding in and creates an appealing effect.

MR.MITCHELL

In this space, a slimline vent sits quietly above storage space and becomes part of the architectural design, allowing the unique lighting to stand out and the vent to disappear into the backdrop.

Contemporary Kitchen Contemporary Kitchen

If the wall or ceiling vents cannot be concealed as discreetly as you’d hope, then why not make a feature of them? A section of lowered ceiling that contains a ducted system can be used to define the cooking space in an open-plan room. You could go one step further and paint this bulkhead a different shade to make a statement.

CAPITAL BUILDING

Similarly, a ducted system fitted into a lowered ceiling can help bring focus to a statement piece, such as an elegant bed. The system then becomes an architectural element in its own right.

14 ceiling treatments that will make you want to look up

POC+P architects

Wall vents can also be concealed with attractive fretwork for an extra dash of style. However, be warned, this will draw attention rather than make it fade into the background. It’s a great solution for vents that cannot be disguised and simply need to be made more pleasing on the eye.

Icon Developments Ltd

Great ways of hiding exterior units
If the exterior AC unit is also an eyesore and cluttering up your outdoor area, then try shielding it from sight, and from sunlight to avoid chances of overheating. A simple lattice screen is an easy and low-cost way of obscuring any unsightly machinery.

Award Gates and Screens

Alternatively, you could fit a well-ventilated cover over and around it. This is a good solution for smaller outdoor spaces such as balconies, as the top of the cover can be utilised as a potting table or BBQ area. Just ensure items are light enough to be lifted off so you can access the AC unit when needed.

Pitched Pergolas & DeckStyle

It can be annoying when the only external spot to fit the AC unit is on your deck or verandah, but if you invest in a bespoke timber screen, your alfresco space will be transformed. Choose a design and timber stain that complements your deck and the screen will become as much a part of the outdoor scheme as the landscape.

Browse more inspiring decks

Tell us
How have you incorporated your AC system into your home? We’d love to hear your tricks in the Comments below.

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Comments (3)

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Ann-Marie Ryan

I'm not convinced it's a good idea to enclose the wall hung unit like that and actually the gallery fix works the best of those options visually anyway.

5 Likes 15 April 2017 at 9:30am

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ijp2

We have a cassette unit installed in the ceiling, it is neat, not obtrusive and very efficient.

3 Likes 16 April 2017 at 8:53am

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Alison Wright

We wanted to have our outdoor unit fitted under our deck for aesthetic purposes and to keep it cooler away from direct sun. The installers refused saying it needed better ventilation, so I'm not sure they can be enclosed. Our deck was 30cm higher than the unit 4metres deep & 10 metres wide, plus it had wooden slats around the exterior of the deck with large spaces between each slat.

1 Like 16 April 2017 at 6:01pm