Look, I get it. You found a sweet modern house tutorial online, but when it came to the living room, they just left this stupid empty wall where the TV should be. Now you're googling how to make a tv in minecraft because let's face it - a living room without a TV feels as wrong as eating soup with a fork. I've built dozens of these things across survival worlds and creative servers, and yeah, some methods work better than others. We're not just slapping some black wool on a wall and calling it a day. We're making something that actually looks good and might even do something cool.
Funny story - my first attempt at a Minecraft TV looked like a microwave. My friend wouldn't stop roasting me until I tore it down. Learn from my shame.
Why Bother Building a TV Anyway?
Besides the obvious "because it looks awesome in modern builds"? Let's break it down:
First, it's pure decoration gold. A well-made TV setup transforms empty rooms into lived-in spaces. Second, if you're into adventure maps or server lobbies, these can display custom images or give info. And third? Bragging rights. Nailing that minecraft tv design feels better than finding diamonds sometimes.
But here's what most tutorials won't tell you: Placement matters way more than you think. Stick a fancy TV in a medieval castle and it'll look like a time traveler's accident. Save it for contemporary builds or futuristic bases.
Gathering Your TV Building Kit
Don't even think about placing blocks until you've got this stuff ready. Nothing kills momentum like running back and forth to your chests.
| Material Type | Must-Haves | Nice-to-Haves | Where to Get It |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frame Blocks | Black Concrete, Deepslate | Polished Blackstone, Obsidian | Concrete: Mix sand/gravel + dye. Deepslate: Y-levels 0-16 |
| Screen Blocks | Black Wool, Black Concrete | Black Stained Glass, Lodestone | Wool: Shear sheep. Glass: Smelt sand + dye |
| Display Tech | Item Frames, Maps | Redstone Lamps, Glow Lichen | Item Frames: Leather + sticks. Maps: Paper + compass |
| Special Effects | Redstone Dust, Lever | Pistons, Daylight Sensors | Redstone: Mine below Y=16. Pistons: Wood + cobble + iron |
Pro tip: If you're in survival, gather DOUBLE the materials. You'll mess up the dimensions on your first try - everyone does.
The Simple Static TV (For When You Just Need It Done)
Okay, let's start with the basic minecraft television build even your grandma could make. This is perfect if you're short on time or just want placeholder decor.
Step-by-Step Static TV Construction
1. Build the frame: Create a rectangle 5 blocks wide and 4 blocks tall using black concrete. That's your TV outline.
2. Fill the screen: Replace the inner 3x2 area with black wool. This creates your screen surface.
3. Add details: Place a lever on the bottom-right as a "power button." Optional: Put a dark oak fence post horizontally under the screen as a TV stand.
| Block Style | Pros | Cons | My Personal Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Concrete Frame | Clean edges, fireproof | Hard to change later | ★★★★☆ |
| Black Wool Screen | Easy to obtain | Burns easily, dull texture | ★★★☆☆ |
| Obsidian Everything | Blast-proof (creeper safe!) | Pain to mine, too shiny | ★★☆☆☆ |
Is this method basic? Sure. But sometimes you just need something that screams "TV here!" without redstone headaches. The whole build takes under 2 minutes once you've got materials.
The Animated Redstone TV (Where Things Get Interesting)
Now we're talking. This is what people really mean when they ask about how to make a tv in minecraft that doesn't look dead. We're using item frames and maps to create changing "channels."
Fair warning: This eats up map space. Make blank maps first (paper around compass) and explore areas you want to "broadcast."
Building Your Living Room Cinema
1. Create screen cavity: Build a 3x2 hole in your wall where the screen goes. Go 2 blocks deep.
2. Install redstone: Place sticky pistons behind the hole facing forward. Connect with redstone dust to a hidden lever or button.
3. Frame it up: Surround the hole with your frame blocks (black concrete recommended).
4. Load your channels: Put item frames on the blocks in front of the pistons. Insert your custom maps into the frames.
When you flip the switch, pistons extend different maps into view. Want a weather channel? Make a map of snowy terrain. Sports channel? Map of a desert mesa that looks like a stadium. You get the idea.
| Channel Idea | Map Location to Explore | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|
| News Channel | Village with bulletin boards | Looks like reporters in front of buildings |
| Cooking Show | Your farm with crops and animals | Bright colors = appetizing food TV |
| Nature Documentary | Mushroom biome or coral reef | Exotic visuals hold attention |
| Sports Network | Desert with custom stadium build | Sand mimics arena lighting |
I tried this in my jungle base last month. Made a "jungle survival" channel showing my treehouse, and guests actually stood there watching it. Felt slightly too proud.
Pro-Level TV Tricks They Won't Tell You
Here's where we separate casual builders from the TV pros. These techniques make your build pop:
Screen Lighting Hacks
Normal screens look flat. Fix it:
- Place glow lichen BEHIND black stained glass for subtle backlight
- Hide sea lanterns under carpets below the TV as a "stand light"
- Use daylight sensors to automatically turn on "glow" at night
Sound System Integration
Because silent TVs are creepy:
- Hide note blocks under floor with pressure plates
- Connect jukebox to redstone for theme songs
- Use different wood types for varied note block sounds
My favorite trick? Put a painting BEHIND your screen area. When the TV's "off," you see art. Flip a switch and pistons cover the painting with your screen. Pure magic.
Fixing Common TV Building Failures
Built something that looks more like a broken ATM than a TV? Been there. Here's troubleshooting:
| Problem | What Went Wrong | How to Fix It Fast |
|---|---|---|
| Screen looks too dark | Used solid blocks instead of see-through | Swap to black stained glass with light behind |
| Redstone not working | Pistons facing wrong way | Break and replace facing SCREEN not wall |
| Maps disappearing | Item frames popping off | Check for block updates nearby (water flow?) |
| "TV" looks like a painting | Forgot the frame details | Add depth with stairs/slabs around edges |
If all else fails? Cover it with a painting and pretend you meant to do that. Your secret's safe with me.
TV Design Showdown: Comparing Styles
Not all TVs fit every build. Choose wisely:
| TV Style | Best For | Difficulty | Resources Needed | Realism Factor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retro Box TV | 80s builds, nostalgia rooms | ★☆☆☆☆ | Wood planks, gray wool | ★★★☆☆ |
| Flat Screen Modern | Penthouses, lab designs | ★★★☆☆ | Black concrete, glass | ★★★★☆ |
| Holo-Display | Sci-fi bases, future tech | ★★★★★ | End rods, glass, beacons | ★★★★★ |
Personally, I think ultra-thin designs using black stained glass look most realistic. But that hologram TV? Yeah, it takes insane resources but makes visitors' jaws drop.
Making Your TV Actually Useful (Beyond Decor)
Why stop at pretty? Turn that screen into functional tech:
- Server Info Board: Display maps showing key locations (shops, spawn, events)
- Adventure Map Cutscenes: Coordinate multiple TVs to tell a story
- Redstone Alert System: Make screen flash red when mobs breach defences
- Secret Door Disguise: Hide piston doors behind "TV off" screen
On my SMP server, we've got news stations broadcasting map art of player events. Last week someone displayed a "BREAKING NEWS" map after stealing all the pumpkins. Annoying? Yes. Creative? Absolutely.
Minecraft TV FAQ: Quick Answers
Can you make a working TV without mods?
Sort of. With maps and redstone you get changing images - like flipping channels. But actual video? Nah. That requires mods like ComputerCraft.
What's the cheapest TV build for survival?
Black wool frame (8 pieces) with cobblestone stand. Costs basically nothing if you've got sheep nearby.
How do I make the screen glow?
Three ways: 1) Use glow item frames (Java Edition only) 2) Place light blocks behind black glass 3) Hide sea lanterns under carpet below the TV.
Do resource packs help?
Definitely. Texture packs with custom TV models exist, but they change ALL blocks. Better to use default blocks for server compatibility.
Look, I've seen people overcomplicate how to make a tv in minecraft way too much. At its core? It's art with redstone magic. Start simple, iterate later. My first working TV took six hours and three mental breakdowns. Now I throw them together while mining cobblestone. You'll get there.
Final tip: Build it NEAR your storage room. You'll make fifteen trips for materials you forgot.
Go build something awesome. And maybe show me screenshots? I collect terrible first attempts - makes me feel better about mine.
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